GENDER SURVEY
Results from Facilitation of the Achievement of Sustainable National Energy Targets of Tuvalu (FASNETT) Project Gender Survey
WHEN AND WHERE?
The survey was from May to June 2020.
HOW WAS IT CARRIED OUT?
The Gender Survey used three methods: (i) time-use survey; (ii) single-sex focus group discussions; and (iii) key informant interviews.
WHO PARTICIPATED?
A total of 229 participants in Fongafale settlement (40 participants from each of the 5 settlements). The participants consist of 20 men (10 aged between 18 and 40; and 10 aged between 41 and 90+) and 20 women (same age group with those of males) per settlement
TIME USE STUDY
Time-use Survey Analysis
TYPE OF ACTIVITY & KEY
vs WOMEN
MALE
20 men (10 aged between 18 and 40; and 10 aged between 41 and 90+)
FEMALE
20 women (same age group with those of males) per settlement
Tending to family garden, poultry and animals (GA) Sleeping (SL) Caring for children, elderly or sick relatives (CA) Study or schooling (ST) Cooking (CO) Cleaning or washing (CW) Office work (OW) Farming for commercial sale (FA) Fishing (FS) Gleaning reef or mangroves (GL) Travelling for work, studies or other activities (TR) Leisure/relaxing (includes eating meals) (LR) Producing items for sale or home use (PP) Other work (OT)
0 hrs 0.1 hrs 0.3 hrs 7.8 hrs 5.2 hrs 4.5 hrs 0.8 hrs 2.8 hrs 0.3 hrs 0.3 hrs 0.4 hrs 0.7 hrs 0.4 hrs 0.4 hrs 0 hrs 0.1 hrs 0.3 hrs 7.8 hrs 5.2 hrs 4.5 hrs 0.8 hrs 2.8 hrs 0.3 hrs 0.3 hrs 0.4 hrs 0.7 hrs 0.4 hrs 0.4 hrs
MEN
0 hrs 0 hrs 0 hrs 8.5 hrs 5 hrs 4.4 hrs 1.5 hrs 1.6 hrs 0.2 hrs 0.1 hrs 0.5 hrs 1 hrs 0.8 hrs 0.4 hrs
FOCUS GROUP DISCUSSIONS
No opportunities have been given to all respondents to be involved in decisionmaking,training,education, and research.
Electrical appliances that are commonly used in homes comprise internet modems, washing machines, and carpentry tools.
Women felt safe walking at night when street lights are fully working.
Solar PhotoVoltaic (PV) systems are cheaper to use than normal fossil fuel-based electricity.
The men and women felt that future solar PV based projects must be designed in a way that will still operate and safe to use during cyclones and storms. All men and women felt that the capacity of back-up generators need to be increased to cater for the increasing demand for electricity. They also felt that more opportunities are needed for education and research opportunities on clean energy, more public awareness on projects, and, upgrade and maintenance of lamp posts along the streets.
• High unemployment among youth,
• Lack of children supervision as adults are involved in other social activities like bingo;
• high cost of electricity and frequent blackouts; and
• remote locations of two settlements.
ISSUES AFFECTING PEOPLE’S QUALITY OF LIFE
• In terms of energy-use, men had a higher demand for electricity than women,
• Women’s use of makes their work easy when undertaking reproductive activities such as washing and sewing.
Benefits of Renewable Energy and FASNETT Project
• The men and women have been hearing about energy efficiency on the radio and this has helped them conserve the use of electricity in their own homes.
• They believe that FASNETT’s demonstration activity on floating solar PV technology will help meet their demand for electricity and reduce the cost of electricity and fuel-use, and hopefully allow them to save money.
KEY
INFORMANT INTERVIEWS
KEY RECOMMENDATIONS
• Consult with communities and involve both men and women in decision-making when developing projects.
• Conduct awareness training activities so that the project’s benefits and visibility is made known to all project beneficiaries.
• Maintenance of public power utilities should be done regularly so that power is available 24 hours per day, 7 days a week.
• Provide education/training opportunities to employees of the Tuvalu Electricity Corporation (TEC); and Tuvaluans with career prospects in the energy sector.
• Ensure that all needed and required equipment for the project are readily available at the project site.
• Improve awareness of the sustainability and benefits of the project.
