This gender mainstreaming guide offers advice on how to integrate gender concerns within the Africa Biogas Partnership Program (ABPP).

The ABPP is a six country initiative for supporting the construction of some 70,500 biodigesters over a period of five years.

This guide, developed by the International Network on Gender Mainstreaming and Sustainable Energy (ENERGIA) , provides guidance on how to integrate gender concerns within the ABPP and in biogas programs in general, including:

• what gender interventions can be undertaken as part of ABPP program activities,
• what institutional aspects need to be looked at and
• how to monitor the progress made on gender aspects of the program.

The gender mainstreaming guide targets non-gender specialists in recognizing and addressing gender issues in their work, with the intention of demystifying gender, and clarifying the concept and practice of ‘gender mainstreaming’ within ABPP.

Most importantly, it shows how gender mainstreaming in ABPP can help the Program realize its goal of achieving the MDGs (Millennium Development Goals) better and enhance its sustainability, in other words, to increase the chances that the users, both men and women, will continue to maintain and use their biodigesters even after the ABPP has withdrawn its support.

More specifically, it aims to provide the NIAs (National Implementing Agencies) participating in the ABPP the necessary knowledge and information to

• identify gender issues pertinent to their national biogas programs, through use of practical tools,
• identify, plan and implement gender-focused activities in their programs, and
• track the performance of the program on gender issues.

Read A guide on gender mainstreaming in the Africa Biogas Partnership Program.