India Gender Equality Results Case Study

Enhancing Energy-Based Livelihoods for Women Micro-Entrepreneurs

,

• Publisher: Asian Development Bank
• Year: 2018
• Print ISBN: 9789292610807
• eBook ISBN: 9789292610814
• Topic: Business
• Subtopic: Entrepreneurship
• Index: Business

Reliable supply of 24-hour electricity in the State of Madhya Pradesh since 2014 has transformed the lives of many, including women from low-income households. An Asian Development Bank project validates how women can be empowered through capacity development in efficient use of electricity and energy-based enterprises, and provision of business development services. The case study builds up on the project progress so far, showcasing women who, along with their sense of personal empowerment, have increased their incomes and savings through microenterprises. The case study reaffirms that a steady supply of electricity, coupled with capacity development, helps create an arena where men and women are accorded equal participation in business opportunities.

Introduction

The energy sector is a nontraditional area for women not only because of the stereotypical view of energy technological development as men’s domain but also because of the sector’s general lack of recognition of the distinct energy needs of women. This has resulted in the predominance of men in the sector and women’s lack of access to energy resources for their specific needs. This problem has, however, entered the radar of concerns of the global movement for social development and gender equality as demonstrated by the inclusion in the United Nations 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) for 2016–2030, the goal of ensuring access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all as the seventh SDG. Moreover, unlike in the previous United Nations Millennium Development Goals (2000–2015), reporting on the progress of SDGs includes (as part of the report on SDG 7) not only the proportion of the world population with access to electricity but also the proportion with access to clean fuels and technologies for cooking.¹

Even prior to the adoption of the 17 SDGs as the agreed framework for international development, body of knowledge and effective practices in facilitating women’s claiming of space in the supply and demand chains of energy development have started to emerge. The overall goals are to reposition the energy sector as an arena providing equal participation opportunities for both women and men, and to redesign energy technological development and distribution to equitably respond to the distinct needs and interests of women and men.

To contribute to this body of knowledge and effective practices, the South Asia Department of the Asian Development Bank (ADB) has documented related exemplary programs and projects of its developing member countries. Among them is an ADB-financed technical assistance (TA) project of the Government of Madhya Pradesh in India, Enhancing Energy-Based Livelihoods for Women Micro-Entrepreneurs.² This case study report presents this TA project and its contributions to the optimization of available power supply for women’s empowerment and gender equality results in Project-covered areas.

Project Aims and Expected Outcomes

From July 2011 to June 2017, ADB supported the implementation of the TA project, which supplemented an ADB-financed program of the Government of Madhya Pradesh, the Madhya Pradesh Energy Efficiency Improvement Investment Program (Project 1). The program was approved in July 2011 and implemented in October 2011, with expected completion in February 2018 (see Box 1 for basic information on the program and project).

Box 1: Program and Project Basic Facts

Loan:	Madhya Pradesh Energy Efficiency Improvement Investment Program (Project 1)
Project number:	43467-015
Loan approval number:	2764
Loan approval:	15 July 2011
Loan signed:	17 August 2011
Loan effectiveness:	19 October 2011
Closing date (original):	28 February 2015
Closing date (revised):	28 February 2018
Executing agencies:	DISCOM-C, DISCOM-E, and DISCOM-W
Financing:	$200 million
Gender classification:	Effective Gender Mainstreaming ^a
Sector:	Energy
Supported TA:	Enhancing Energy-Based Livelihoods for Women Micro-Entrepreneurs
TA approval number:	7831
TA approval date:	7 July 2011 (MFF)
TA closing date (revised):	30 June 2017
Financing:	$1.0 million

DISCOM-C = central zone distribution company, DISCOM-E = eastern zone distribution company, DISCOM-W = western zone distribution company, MFF = multitranche financing facility,

TA = technical assistance.

Note: In this report, “$” refers to US dollars.

a ADB. 2012. Guidelines for Gender Mainstreaming Categories of ADB Projects. https://www.adb.org/sites/default/files/institutional-document/33623/files/guidelines-gender-mainstreaming-categories-adb-projects.pdf

Source: Project documents, project management unit.

The program aimed at enabling three electricity distribution companies (DISCOMs) to supply quality 24-hour power supply to rural households in the state of Madhya Pradesh. It was expected to bring better development opportunities in education, business, industry, and entertainment; and upgrade the overall quality of life of the rural population of Madhya Pradesh. It had four main components: (i) separate power supply to farmers and households through feeder separation, (ii) install high voltage distribution system, (iii) supply quality improvement and metering, and (iv) upstream 33-kilovolt network strengthening. The executing agencies for the progrman were the three electricity DISCOMs: (i) Madhya Pradesh Madhya Kshetra Vidyut Vitaran Company Limited (central zone distribution company), (ii) Madhya Pradesh Poorv Kshetra Vidyut Vitaran Company Limited (eastern zone distribution company), and (iii) Madhya Pradesh Paschim Kshetra Vidyut Vitaran Company Limited (western zone distribution company). The executing agency for the technical assistance project was the Energy Department of Madhya Pradesh.

To optimize the impacts of the program for women beneficiaries, the Government of Madhya Pradesh and ADB agreed to attach the project, which specifically targeted self-help groups (SHGs) of women in program covered areas. The project aimed at enhancing women’s knowledge of the productive and efficient use of electricity both for household and economic activities. It also sought to encourage women entrepreneurs to engage in energy-based enterprises by providing them with skills training and business development services (BDS). Hand in Hand India in joint venture with the Frankfurt School of Finance and Management implemented the project in 2013–2015 with guidance from DISCOMs.

The expected gender equality and women’s empowerment results of the program and project were the following:

• increased access of women to modern energy services and the accompanying economic opportunities, which would result in (i) decreased time spent on household chores; (ii) reduced drudgery; (iii) increased income-generating activities, (iv) increased sense of safety and personal empowerment, and (v) improved quality of life; and

• development of the energy sector with strengthened and expanded women-managed energy enterprises as well as improved capacity of women to produce and supply energy products and services.

Gender Equality Issues in Energy Development

Madhya Pradesh has taken many steps in the past for women empowerment. Many women empowerment schemes launched by Madhya Pradesh were emulated by other states. Madhya Pradesh is keen on improving its human development index. Its literacy rate is also improving. Looking at the keenness of Government of Madhya Pradesh to take up women empowerment as an agenda, a project to enhance energy-based livelihoods for women entrepreneurs was proposed.

Low access of women of low-income households to key resources such as energy and land can adversely impact the other measures taken to ensure gender equality. Household responsibilities of women also make them most vulnerable to inadequate power supply and load shedding. Furthermore, the following gender issues underscore the importance of specifically targeting women in the optimization of the benefits of improved power supply:

a. Social and Political Norms and Practices Affecting Women’s Access to Energy

• Social and cultural constraints on women’s participation in productive and community endeavors. Women’s participation in decision-making and ability to seize development opportunities are often restricted by traditional gender norms. Household chores and reproductive roles provide them little space to take part in activities outside their homes, including training in the management of energy projects and in energy-related livelihood skills. Because of these, women benefit less from networking opportunities for energy-related enterprises. They also often lack voice to make their energy needs and priorities heard. For instance, they do not have control over the types of fuels to use and types of equipment to purchase. In most cases, they are not involved in planning house ventilation and lighting.

• Limited institutional capacity on gender equality and women empowerment issues. Institutions working in energy sector projects often lack both the understanding of gender issues and capacity to take affirmative actions. Allocating resources and building institutional awareness to promote gender equality re...

Table of contents

• Front Cover
• Title Page
• Copyright Page
• Contents
• Tables, Figure, and Boxes
• Foreword
• Abbreviations
• Summary
• Introduction
• Appendixes
• Footnotes
• Back Cover