Training of Trainers by WECF: gender mainstreaming and women empowerment in the RHC sector

On the 4^th and 5^th of May 2022, WECF (Women Engage for a Common Future) conducted a two half-days Training of Trainers for the W4RES project partners.

The W4RES project aims to increase the participation of women in the field of Renewable Heating and Cooling (RHC). Therefore, WECF, together with Kathrin Goldammer (RLI), Timo Karl (WWEA), Heidi Hjorth (Copenhagen social) and Christine Lins (GWNET), set up an extensive training program for gender mainstreaming and women empowerment in the RHC sector.

The program consists of several units of modules, totalling 11 modules:

• The first one “Lectures: Women empowerment in RHC sector” introduced theoretical knowledge and understanding about the nexus between gender, women and energy. A introduction on gender dimensions and barriers hindering the path to gender equality as well as solutions to tackle them was organised shared during team reflection sessions.
• Then, six gender tools and instruments were presented and practised as part of the second unit of modules “Toolkits: Gender tools and instruments”: e.g. gender indicators for RHC sector by Heidi Hjorth (Copenhagen social); gender-responsive communication by WECF and women empowerment in leadership positions by Christine Lins (GWNET).
• The third and last unit of modules “Good practices: Gender-transformative RHC sector” shared experiences from successful initiatives of the RLI energy research center by Kathrin Goldammer as well as of gender-just energy communities by Timo Karl (WWEA). It gave a hint of what can be achieved by applying the previously presented and appropriated gender tools and instruments.
• The final module of this block and overall training invited participants to apply the newly acquired skills and engage in first steps of a gender action plan (GAP) for their workplace.

How can you benefit from it?

The program has been built to empower the RHC private sector (energy utilities, company, energy communities, etc.) and decision-makers on women empowerment in the sector.

W4RES partners will in turn conduct this training in their respective countries (Belgium, Bulgaria, Denmark, Germany, Greece, Italy, Norway, Slovakia) in the upcoming months of the project. For a broader and international audience, we are organising a series of webinars showcasing some of our modules on raising awareness, gender tools and instruments as well as good practices together with the European Centre for Women and Technology (ECWT).

Calendar and events information will be shared on the newsletter and social media of the project and of WECF.

What's in it for you?

New skills acquired by participants will be sustained by the distribution of a training package. The package contains a step-by-step toolkit to build a gender-responsive energy private sector, bringing together guidelines and examples on how to use the gender tools and instruments introduced and practiced, as well as a GAP template including the outputs of the first steps developed during the training. This is complemented by a gender glossary and frequently asked questions (FAQs) based on questions collected from numerous WECF events.

Here is a glimpse of the training. WECF would like to thank all W4RES partners for the inspiring and interactive exchange!

Authors: Marilys Louvet (WECF), Annika Strebel (WECF)