Solutions Panorama

Incorporate Gender Sensitivity into
Energy Projects
As part of the United Nations Development
Programme’s Africa Adaptation Program,
the government of Lesotho has incorporated
gender sensitivity into energy programming
and climate discussions. Wind and solar
energy projects, which aim to build capacity
to e ffectively address energy issues, used
gender-sensitive planning and programming
in order to support more equitable decisionmaking
and to empower those who are
disenfranchised. The private sector has also
played a role, designing and testing marketbased
fiscal and regulatory instruments
which account for issues of gender and
marginalization. Additionally, the Ministry
of Natural Resources’ Health and Energy
Climate Change Adaptation project, which
incorporates health and energy aspects
of climate change adaptation into existing
government programs, held conferences and
activities designed to increase knowledge on
climate change and gender.
Learn more: undp.org
Use Participatory Learning to Improve
Maternal and Newborn Care
A 2013 study found that women’s groups
across Bangladesh, India, Malawi, and Nepal
that have practiced participatory learning and
action were both cost effective and successful
in substantially reducing maternal and newborn
deaths. The women’s group approach centers
on a local, literate, female facilitator who is
trained in maternal and neonatal health issues.
The facilitators support women’s groups
through ten monthly meetings, featuring
stories, participatory games, and picture cards
that address prevention and care-seeking for
typical problems in women and their newborns.
These strategies aim to encourage appropriate
home prevention and care practices for women
and their newborns, and to inspire appropriate
care-seeking behaviors, particularly regarding
antenatal care and institutional delivery.
Learn more: womendeliver.org
Use Mobile Money Disbursements for
Greater Economic Freedom
The Shakti Foundation, through the United
States Agency for International Development’s
Mobile Solutions Technical Assistance
and Research program, is partnering with
Airtel Bangladesh Limited to use mobile
money to disburse micro-credit to farmers
and paychecks to employees. Using mobile
disbursement allows both female staff and
farmers to have greater direct control over
their money, as it is held in a mobile wallet,
offering greater privacy than cash payments. It
reduces both the risk of gender-based violence
often associated with carrying cash, and the
transactional and opportunity costs associated
Learn more: fhi360.org
WOMEN DELIVER 2016 CONFERENCE: SOLUTIONS PANORAMA 134