Define

In this phase, it is recommended that information is gathered on the situation of women and men in a particular area. This means looking for sex-disaggregated data and gender statistics, and checking for the existence of studies, programme or project reports, and/or evaluations from previous periods.

Did you know that EIGE has a Gender Statistics Database? Check whether there are relevant statistics to feed into your analysis.

Examples of gender and energy statistics

Examples of studies, research and reports

Did you know that EIGE has a Resource and Documentation Centre? Check whether there is relevant information to feed into your analysis.

One of the first steps to take when defining your policy/project/programme is to gather information and analyse the situation of women and men in the respective policy area. The information and data you collected will allow an understanding of the reality and assist you in designing your policy, programme or project. Specific methods that can be used in this phase are gender analysis and gender impact assessment.

Examples of gender analysis

Examples of stakeholders that can be consulted

For a more detailed description of how gender can be mainstreamed in this phase of the policy cycle, click here.

Plan

In this phase, it’s appropriate to analyse budgets from a gender perspective. Gender budgeting is used to identify how budget allocations contribute to promoting gender equality. Gender budgeting brings visibility to how much public money is spent for women and men respectively. Thus, gender budgeting ensures that public funds are fairly distributed between women and men. It also contributes to accountability and transparency about how public funds are being spent.

Example of gender budgeting in energy

Examples of indicators for monitoring gender and energy

Lack of sex-disaggregated data in the energy field is a major problem in adopting gender oriented policy in this field in the EU: No data – no visibility; no visibility – no interest. According to Clancy, the lack of gender disaggregated data has been partly attributed to policy makers and planners who aren’t aware of the gender effects of energy policies. On the other hand, it is also attributable to the weak communication of existing gender tools for gender mainstreaming in the energy field.

While the European Commission undertook efforts in collecting data disaggregated by sex for some energy-related indicators (e.g. home heating, skills and education, employment by sector of activity), much of the indicators used to monitor progress on the advancement towards the 2020 energy targets are not disaggregated by sex.

However, the following are useful indicators for measuring gender inequalities in the energy sector.

When preparing calls for proposals as part of funding programmes, or terms of reference for public procurement procedures, do not forget to formalise gender-related requirements. This particularly affects contractors to be hired for policy support services. This will ensure the projects and services which the European Commission will fund are not gender-blind or gender-biased.

Example of procurement

For a more detailed description of how gender can be mainstreamed in this phase of the policy cycle, click here.

Act

In the implementation phase of a policy or programme, ensure that all who are involved are sufficiently aware about the relevant gender objectives and plans. If not, set up briefings and capacity-building initiatives according to staff needs. Think about researchers, proposal evaluators, monitoring and evaluation experts, scientific officers, programme committee members, etc.

Examples of capacity-building initiatives about energy

Example of gender language in energy

Check

A policy cycle or programme should be checked both during – monitoring, and at the end – evaluation, of its implementation.

Monitoring the ongoing work allows for the follow-up of progress and remedying unforeseen difficulties. This process should take into account the indicators delineated in the planning phase and realign data collection based on those indicators.

At the end of a policy cycle or programme, a gender-sensitive evaluation should take place. Make your evaluation publicly accessible and strategically disseminate its results to promote learning potential.

Example of monitoring and evaluating gender in energy