Empowering Women’s Leadership and Participation in Cuba’s Renewable Energy Sector
Sherritt is a proud co-funder, along with Global Affairs Canada and the Cuban Government, of Empowering Women’s Leadership and Participation in the Renewable Energy Sector in Cuba (FORMER – Cuba), a multi-year community benefits project that is being implemented by Cowater International in partnership with Union Eléctrica (UNE), the official Cuban counterpart. UNE is the national counterpart executing the project and will therefore be responsible for contracting the photovoltaic systems.
FORMER aims to enhance the social and economic well-being of women and vulnerable communities through the use of renewable energy (RE). Specifically, this project aims to:
- Increase the productivity of women in Holguin through the utilization of climate-resilient RE technologies;
- Increase the participation of women in the RE educational sector; and
- Develop a more robust, inclusive and gender-responsive renewable energy sector in Cuba.
FORMER is expected to benefit 7,300 people through the installation of solar panels that will provide energy to 1,050 homes in 14 municipalities in the province of Holguin, with priority given to female-headed households.
During the inception phase in 2020, the Project Implementation Plan and first Annual Work Plan were developed in close collaboration with key Cuban counterparts including MINEM (Cuban Ministry of Energy and Mines) and UNE. In parallel, the project’s Gender Equality Strategy and Environmental Management Plan were developed. Various virtual workshops and local field consultations were carried out, providing substantial information on the current situation of women in Holguin and helping identify capacity gaps and barriers to be addressed for enhanced women’s participation in the RE sector.
In 2021, the project team will finalize the Environmental Management Plan and develop the Construction Plan in order to obtain the required environmental licences and permits to initiate the construction and installation phases of RE solutions. The team will also develop awareness raising campaigns on the use of RE in target communities.