National Study on Gender in the Energy Sector Presented in Tunisia
Integrating Women for a Comprehensive Energy Process
A national study on gender in the energy sector, conducted in Tunisia over the past five months, was presented yesterday at a national congress titled "Gender and Energy" in Tunis. The event was organized by the Ministry of Industry, Mines, and Energy, in collaboration with the German Corporation for International Cooperation (GIZ), its strategic partner in energy transition.
Objective: A Just and Equitable Energy Transition
The congress, held under the theme "Integrating Women for a Comprehensive Energy Process," aims to combine all efforts for a just, equitable, and global energy transition through the inclusion of equal opportunities between men and women. This is particularly important since women, especially those in rural areas, are more exposed to the impacts of climate change and are more willing to adapt to them. However, they are not sufficiently represented in decision-making positions in the energy sector.
Significant Potential to be Mobilized
In her opening speech, Ichraf Smadhi, Director General of the Cooperation and External Relations Office at the Ministry of Industry, Mines, and Energy, highlighted the low representation of women in the energy sector. Despite the persistent obstacles, she revealed a significant potential to be mobilized. "Promoting increased participation of women in the energy sector is not only a matter of equity, but also a strategic lever for resilience and competitiveness," she argued. This, she believes, could lead to the construction of a more just and equitable energy system.
Defining a Strategic Vision for Gender and Energy
The debate, which brought together a panel of participants from public institutions, the private sector, civil society, and international partners, focused on the results of the study and the assessment of the current situation to define a strategic vision for gender and energy. The goal is to strengthen the presence of women in the energy sector. In the face of the challenges posed by the transition to a green economy, the gender approach in the national energy strategy 2035 remains a major issue today.
Towards a Guide for Good Practices
The study is part of the global project "Feminism in Action for Structural Transformation (Fast)," launched two years ago, which aims to create favorable conditions for viable and sustainable female participation in the energy sector. The project is based on four main axes: "Policy instruments and processes," "Advisory and capacity building," "Knowledge management and best practices," and "South-South and North-South exchange." The objective is to optimize the participation of women at all levels of the energy sector and to better manage the data necessary for improving women's employability.
A National Guide for Good Practices
To achieve this, a national guide for good practices will be developed, grouping a set of operational indicators for decision-making. As Bechir Lassoued, Senior Gender Expert, emphasized, this gender-based study aims to optimize women's participation in the energy sector and to better manage the data necessary for improving women's employability. The integration of women in the energy sector is more than ever a condition for an inclusive and sustainable energy transition.
