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POVERTY, ENERGY & GENDER
Regional Seminar held in Windhoek, Namibia 29th – 31st May 2002
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BACKGROUND
Developments towards ensuring a sustainable energy future, the critical role of gender in society and measures to combat poverty in the developing world are often discussed in isolation. This gap in Southern African development policy has been identified by the Southern African Poverty Network (SARPN), the Renewable Energy Information Network of Namibia (REINNAM) and EMCON Consulting Group as a vital link in integrated regional and rural development. Indeed, the proximity of the World Summit on Sustainable Development in August in Johannesburg, South Africa, which has a particular focus on poverty alleviation, gives an added impetus to the issue in terms of raising it before the Summit. Therefore the three organisations have entered into an alliance in order to critically discuss and debate the link between poverty and energy in an integrated manner in regional public policy.
The purpose of SARPN is to provide a facility for raising the level and quality of public debate on poverty across the Southern African Development Community. To this end, SARPN together with REINNAM and EMCON have organised a Regional Seminar, which will be held in Windhoek, NAMIBIA. The objectives will be to draw together national and international experts and facilitate participation from a range of regional stakeholders to evolve pragmatic ways in which poverty, gender and energy can be integrated into development policy. These stakeholders will include decision-makers, policy-makers and project coordinators from both government and NGO levels. The conference aims to highlight the correlation between gender, energy and poverty, through analyzing regional attempts at addressing these issues and, building on mutual experiences, devising duplicable strategies that would alleviate shortage and profusion respectively.
In order to facilitate an effective means of sharing and disseminating information, two delegates from various SADC countries will attend the conference. The delegation will comprise members of the public and private sector, with expertise and experience in the field of poverty and/or energy. The ultimate purpose of the Seminar will be to allow the delegates to prompt a draft Strategy on Gender, Energy & Poverty for presentation and possible implementation in their home countries.
PROGRAMME
Wednesday, 29th May 2002
Day 1 |
| TIME |
PROGRAMME ACTIVITY |
RESOURCE PERSON(S) |
| 8:30 – 9:00 |
Registration of Participants |
| 9:00 – 9:10 |
Official Welcome and Opening |
Mr Jesaya Nyamu, Minister, Ministry of Mines and Energy |
| 9:10 – 9:30 |
Statement by the Ministry of Health & Social Services |
Deputy Minister Richard Kamwi |
| 9:30 – 9:50 |
Statement by the Ministry of Women Affairs and Child Welfare |
Deputy Minister Marlene Mungunda |
| 9:50 – 10:45 |
Presentation of Programme
Introduction of Participants
Rules of Participation
Setting of Expectations |
Mr Robert Schultz, REINNAM Project Manager |
| 10:45 – 11:00 |
Break |
| 11:00 – 11:40 |
Namibia’s Energy Sector – An Overview |
Mr Martin Heita, Director of Energy, Ministry of Mines and Energy |
| 11:40 – 12:20 |
Status of ESI Reforms and Licensing in Namibia |
Mr Paulinus Shilamba, Electricity Control Board |
| 12:20 – 13:00 |
Rural Electrification in Namibia |
Ms Davidzo Namate, Acting Chief Electrical Engineer, Ministry of Mines and Energy |
| 13:00 – 14:00 |
Lunch & late Registration |
| 14:00 – 14:10 |
Introduction |
REINNAM, SARPN, EMCON |
| 14:00 – 14:55 |
Paper: Gender, Energy & Poverty: A Situational Analysis
- Definition and Characteristics of Poverty
- Local and regional impact of poverty on national well-being, economic implications and the social fabric
- Urban & rural difference in energy, poverty and gender
- Links between poverty, gender and energy
- Literature review
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Mr Daniel Motinga, Namibia Economic Policy Research Unit (NEPRU) |
| 14:55 – 15:50 |
Paper: Basic Requirements for the Alleviation of Poverty, Gender Inequalities and Access to Energy
- Education, Health Services and Business Development
- The Role of Energy
- Literature Review
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Mr Mihe Gaomab II, Independent |
| 15:50 – 16:10 |
Break |
| 16:10 – 17:00 |
Presentation: Regional Policies pertaining to Gender, Energy and Poverty Alleviation
- Overview of National Policies, Strategies and Implementation Plans
- Networks, Interventions, Projects and Initiatives
- Challenges, Barriers, Obstacles and Lessons Learnt (power sector reform, globalisation, etc.)
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Ms Alix Clark, Independent |
| 18:00 – 20:00 |
Light Dinner |
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Thursday 30th May 2002
Day 2 |
| 9:00 – 10:30 |
Discussion Presentation
Theme:
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Mr Corneels Jafta, Polytechnic of Namibia |
| 10:30 – 11:00 |
Break |
| 11:00 – 13:00 |
Discussion Presentation
Theme:
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Ms Tieho Makhabane, Gender, Energy and Development |
| 13:00 – 14:00 |
Lunch |
| 14:00 – 15:30 |
Discussion Presentation
Theme:
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Mr Musooka Kiwanuka, Solar Energy for Africa Ltd |
| 13:30 – 16:00 |
Break |
| 16:00 – 17:00 |
Report-back, Debate, Consensus and ConclusionsOverall Recommendations and Drafting of Strategy |
| 18:30 – 20:00 |
Light Dinner |
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Friday 31st May 2002
Day 3 |
| 8:30 – 10:00 |
Country Discussions: Way Forward and Plenary
The Policy Impact Toolkit
Define National Issues and Objectives on Gender, Energy and Poverty
Draft a National Strategy |
| 10:00 – 10:30 |
Break |
| 10:30 – 13:00 |
Final Plenary
Presentation of Draft Strategy by Country Groups
Up-coming events related to Gender, Energy and Poverty
Official Close |
| 13:00 – 14:00 |
Light Lunch |
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