This guidebook reviews the evidence of the contributions of voluntary sustainability standards (VSSs) to gender equality and women’s empowerment in agriculture, explains how VSSs can be used as a tool to meet related components of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and provides recommendations for development organisations.
The study explores the link between financial returns and gender diversity; the lack of women in the industry; and steps needed to achieve gender balance. One of the key findings of the report is that private equity and venture capital funds with gender-balanced senior investment teams generated 10 percent to 20 percent higher returns compared with funds that have a majority of male or female leaders.
This publication focuses on the management of the nexus of energy, food and natural resources in sub-Saharan Africa, with a clear focus on gender roles and implications. It presents case studies that showcase a range of options available to improve biomass use, especially in locations and among populations who currently depend on conventional fuels like firewood or charcoal. Although many of these options are context specific, the provided examples demonstrate that generalizable options exist to improve energy access, reduce waste, protect our soils and empower women.
This policy brief, Off-grid productivity: powering universal energy access, outlines how mainstreaming productive uses of energy (PUE) can drive economic development, boost demand for energy, and support governments' sustainable development plans based upon evidence and experiences from the Energy Change Lab, a programme led by IIED and Hivos that works closely with partners in Tanzania on productive uses of energy (PUE) for community entrepreneurs.
This report examines the question of gender equity throughout the energy sector. Building on a survey of employees, companies, and institutions, it finds that much remains to be done to boost women’s participation and allow their talents to be fully utilised.