Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia Economic and Social Commission for Western Regional Initiative for Promoting Small-scale Renewable Energy Applications in Rural Areas of the Arab Region Regional Initiative for Promoting Small-scale Renewable Energy Applications in Rural Areas of the Arab Region Study on Gender Mainstreaming, Social Inclusion, Human Rights Processes and Outcomes of Access to Energy in Targeted Local Communities in Tunisia VISION ESCWA, an innovative catalyst for a stable, just and flourishing Arab region MISSION Committed to the 2030 Agenda, ESCWA’s passionate team produces innovative knowledge, fosters regional consensus and delivers transformational policy advice. Together, we work for a sustainable future for all. E/ESCWA/CL1.CCS/2020/TP.6 Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia Regional Initiative for Promoting Small-scale Renewable Energy Applications in Rural Areas of the Arab region (REGEND) Study on Gender Mainstreaming, Social Inclusion, Human Rights Processes and Outcomes of Access to Energy in Targeted Local Communities in Tunisia UNITED NATIONS Beirut © 2020 United Nations All rights reserved worldwide Photocopies and reproductions of excerpts are allowed with proper credits. All queries on rights and licenses, including subsidiary rights, should be addressed to the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA), e-mail: [email protected]. The findings, interpretations and conclusions expressed in this publication are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the United Nations or its officials or Member States. 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United Nations publication issued by ESCWA, United Nations House, Riad El Solh Square, P.O. Box: 11-8575, Beirut, Lebanon. Website: www.unescwa.org. Photo credit: Cover: © iStock.com Inside Pages: © Author and © iStock.com 3 Preface The Energy Section in the Climate Change Rural Women Support Office (BAFR) at the and Natural Resource Sustainability Cluster Ministry of Agriculture, Water Resources and (CCNRS) at the United Nations Economic and Fisheries; Khaled Bedoui, ESCWA Consultant Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA) in Tunisia; and Mohamed Zied Gannar, Energy prepared this report, within the context of the Section Economic Affairs Officer, ESCWA. Regional Initiative for Promoting Small-scale Fidele Byiringiro, Economic Affairs Officer, and Renewable Energy Applications in Rural Areas Jil Amine, Sustainable Development Officer, of the Arab Region (REGEND). The initiative was launched by ESCWA in partnership both at ESCWA, provided peer review. Support with the Swedish International Development was provided by Maya Mansour, Research Cooperation Agency (Sida). Assistant and George Saliba, Individual Contractor at ESCWA. REGEND is being implemented with a view to supporting rural communities across the region, and is currently being rolled out in three pilot countries, namely the Hashemite Data sources Kingdom of Jordan, the Lebanese Republic and the Republic of Tunisia. It provides for the The report uses data from a number of sources, assessment of key areas, including access to including key national stakeholders and energy, entrepreneurial development, gender members of the REGEND national facilitating mainstreaming, social inclusion, human rights and building resilience to climate change. team, including: Mohamed Abdessalem, REGEND will help identify challenges and Central Director, General Commission for recommendations to ensure that renewable Regional Development (CGDR); Nafâa Baccari, energy technologies, entrepreneurial Director of Renewable Energy, National development, education, awareness-raising Agency for Energy Conservation (ANME); activities and policy formulation promote Helene Ben Khemis, Chief of Section, ANME; gender mainstreaming and the economic Kaouther Kouki, Chief of Service, Agency for empowerment of women. the Promotion of Agricultural Investments (APIA); and Hedia Sassi Chaabouni, Director, The report covers the case study for Tunisia, National Water Distribution Utility (SONEDE), and was prepared by Hatem Miliki, gender expert, with substantive contribution and Tunisia. The report draws on the outcomes supervision by Radia Sedaoui, Chief of the of the study for Tunisia, and those related to Energy Section. Valuable inputs were provided national and regional workshops and focus by Narjess Hamrouni Idriss, General Director, group discussions. | Preface 5 Executive Summary Since 2011, Tunisia has undergone a complex country’s overall trade deficit. A solar plan has political transformation that paved the way for been adopted that favours renewable energy public sector management and governance (RE), with the target of reaching 30 per cent of the reform. This has included a restructuring of electricity mix institutional mechanisms and, to ensure greater by 2030. transparency and accountability, participation of the population in decision-making at all levels. Since 2011, Tunisia has undertaken reforms aimed at enhancing gender equality. Changes The fundamental rights and freedoms enshrined include women’s political participation (parity in in the new constitution of 2014 national and local elections), addressing violence have allowed citizens movements to emerge in against women, and the lifting of reservations to different areas, advocating for an end to the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms all forms of insecurity, exclusion of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW). The and discrimination. improvement noted in Tunisia’s ranking ahead of other Arab countries, such as Algeria and The political progress achieved remains fragile Jordan, according to the Global Gender Gap given the presence of strong inequalities index remains limited in the economic sector. between regions and areas (rural/urban), and the rise of social movements in disadvantaged areas Despite their access to and progress in calling on the Government to develop interior education, and access to health, employment regions according to specific need. Political and political life, women remain vulnerable, instability has limited public finances, while the particularly in rural areas. According to the 2014 complexity of reforming public administrations general population census, the unemployment reduces the ability of authorities to achieve rate for women was 21 per cent (compared with meaningful change. 12 per cent for men), their participation rate in economic life was 28 per cent (72 per cent for The country is experiencing a slowdown in men) and they represented more than 67 per economic growth, relatively high inflation and cent of the illiterate population. The wage gap a chronic and structural deficit in its balance of between men and women was about 35 per cent payments. A greater reliance on debt, especially in 2012. foreign debt, is becoming more prevalent. At the national level, a debate is under way on the need In rural areas, where women represent for more significant reform of management and 32 per cent of the total female population governance of public finances. of Tunisia, their situation is more problematic. Only 4 per cent of women own land and The debate on public finance reform is largely 6 per cent livestock. Access to finance is concerned with the compensation policy that extremely low and financial and commercial has been in place for many years, including decision-making within households remains a significant part related to energy subsidies. dominated by men. These difficulties are Since 2000, Tunisia has had a deficit in its energy compounded by the higher participation of balance, which in 2018 reached one third of the women in unpaid productive activities, as low- | Executive Summary 6 wage labourers and under poor work conditions gender equality indicators in the economic that can threaten their lives. Several fatal sector (investment, access to credit, financial accidents have been recorded relating to the and commercial transactions), scant data transport of women workers from rural areas. and, therefore, gender analysis are available in the energy field. This statistical weakness, • Within this context, ESCWA launched the despite annual gender report publications, Regional Initiative for Promoting Small-scale must be addressed to better guide Renewable Energy Applications in Rural policymakers and stakeholders. Areas of the Arab region (REGEND). The main objective is to improve livelihoods, • Despite the interest of the Tunisian authorities satisfy energy needs, increase economic in espousing gender equality through policies