In May 2013, the Government of Sierra Leone, the Mano River Union (MRU), the ECOWAS Centre for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency (ECREEE), the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) and the African Development Bank (AfDB) jointly organized a gender conference on Women’s Economic Empowerment through Energy Access in the MRU Sub-Region in Sierra Leone. This regional conference was hosted by the Government of Sierra Leone from May 7th- 9th in the nation’s capital, Freetown. In attendance were the Ministers responsible for Energy and Gender in the Mano River Union (Sierra Leone, Liberia, Guinea, and Côte d’Ivoire), the ECOWAS Commissioners for Infrastructure and Gender, as well as other key experts from the ECOWAS region.
This background paper presents: (a) an overview of the current state of affairs in the MRU subregion with regard to gender, the energy sector, and women’s economic empowerment at the regional and national levels based on a desk review and input from the organizing parties; (b) an assessment of existing gaps and opportunities related to improving women’s economic
empowerment through energy access; and (c) recommendations.
Documents
Year Published
2013
