Democratic governance and women's rights in West Africa

The fragility of the region in terms of history, religions, and fragmentation along the lines of Anglophone and Francophone, as well as the endemic nature of coup d’états and conflicts, are significant to the evolution of governance structures and (lack of) women’s rights promotion. A comparative framework is developed in this paper, placing West African sub-region countries in a historical context to enable exploration of relevant questions regarding governance, and to locate their meaning in women’s lives. The paper emphasizes the lack of extant literature related to women and governance, and the challenges in creating democratic political institutions that are committed to women’s right

Powerful-synergies: Gender Equality, Economic Development and Environmental Sustainability

This is a collection of evidence-based papers by scholars and practitioners that explore the interconnections between gender equality and sustainable development across a range of sectors and global development issues such as energy, health, education, food security, climate change, human rights, consumption and production patterns, and urbanization. The publication provides evidence from various sectors and regions on how women's equal access and control over resources not only improves the lives of individuals, families and nations, but also helps ensure the sustainability of the environment

Impact Assessment of the Promotion of LPG Use in Ghana

This report covers an exercise carried out between 30th- 31st May, 1990 and 2nd- 3rd June, 1990 in Kokomelemle to assess the impact on the public of the new LPG marketing arrangements with a view to improving it for the benefit of users. This assessment of the LPG promotion is one of the activities under the project "Assessment of Socio-economic Impact of selected NEB Project". Two surveys were conducted. The first was a random-sample survey of residents in the Accra-Tema area. This was essentially a Knowledge and Awareness (KAP) study on the LPG programme. Three hundred (300) people were interviewed. The second survey was a representative sample survey of urban households in Kokomelemle, a suburb of Accra. This survey went beyond a KAP assessment to also quantify actual use of LPG prior and after the launching of the LPG marketing arrangements. Three hundred (300) households constituted the sample size and the principal male or female was interviewed in the sample households

Gendered experiences of access to electric power The case of a rural electrification programme in Ghana

SIGLEAvailable from British Library Document Supply Centre- DSC:DXN054590 / BLDSC - British Library Document Supply CentreGBUnited Kingdo

Social Impact Assessment of the Apollonia Model Village Biogas Project

Social Impact Assessment ProgrammeThis study presents the status of biogas usage in Apollonia and discusses the scope for future action on similar projects. The study reveals that the enthusiastic attitude toward the biogas technology among the people of Apollonia has waned considerably in recent times. The reasons for this situation has been examined, a major factor being the need to highlight the link of biogas with the main economic activity of the village. It was also felt that the project did not identify and work with women as the direct users of biogas for cooking. In addition, far from minimising the workload, the technology has increased the time for cooking whereby most of the biogas user households continue to collect the same quantity of firewood in addition to using biogas. Recommendations towards achieving optimum conditions for the development and transfer of the biogas technology are presented. The strategy underlying these recommendations, sees rural development as a total mix within which the energy factory is one aspect

Social Impact Assessment on the Improved Charcoal Stoves Project

Social Impact Assessment ProgrammeThe objective of the Improved Charcoal Stove programme was to encourage the proper utilization of charcoal to reduce wastage both at the household and the national charcoal producing levels. Embarked upon as part of the Renewable Energy Development Programme of the National Energy Board (NEB) , the stoves programme was basically aimed at disseminating more efficient charcoal burning stoves. It was noted that the traditional coalpots contribute to large extent to the inefficient utilization of charcoal and that if technological improvements could be made, charcoal used for cooking meals at a time will minimise. This will affect income levels, as well as reduce the quantity of wood required to produce charcoal for cooking in urban households..

Technical Report: Socio-Economic Impact of Selected Ministry Projects

Social Impact Assessment ProgrammeIn the 1990 Work Programme of the then National Energy Board (NEB) of the Ministry of Energy, a project titled, "Assessment of Socio-Economic Impacts of Selected National Energy Board Projects" was one of the four projects to be implemented under the Project Management, Monitoring and Evaluation Unit. The objective of this project was to provide an effective means of obtaining feedback on the efforts of the Ministry to improve energy production, supply and use in the country, to serve as a basis for constant review of energy sector activities. It sought to monitor and evaluate the social, economic and cultural impacts of the Ministry of Energy initiated projects to establish their positive and negative consequences on beneficiaries. Through the evaluative studies, it was intended that guidelines would be evolved to provide key indicators for assessing the real benefits and costs for specific target groups to establish a basis for expanding or minimising the scope of specific project activities to make them more effective. The National Energy Board (NEB) was dissolved in 1991 and has since operated under the name the "Technical Wing of the Ministry of Energy". Early this year, the constitutional government of the Fourth Republic of this country, has widened the scope of activities of the Ministry of Energy by including the activities of the Mining sector. Thus the Ministry of Energy is now known as the "Ministry of Energy and Mines. " It is important to point out that these changes have not affected the work programme of the Technical Wing whose role and functions are concentrated on energy programmes aimed at improving the socio-economic development of the country..

Socio-Economic Impact Assessment of the Appolonia Rural Energy and Environment Project

Appendices includedSocial Impact Assessment ProgrammeThis study was undertaken within the framework of the Ministry of Energy's project "Assessment of Socio-Economic Impacts of Selected Ministry Projects." This project seeks to provide an effective means of obtaining feedback on the efforts of the Men to improve energy production, supply and use in the country. This will serve as a basis for constant review of energy sector activities. ~ The Integrated Rural Energy and Environment project at Appolonia was established as part of the Renewable Energy Development Programme of the Ministry of Energy. It started in December 1987 and was formally commissioned in June 1992. This study is an attempt to evaluate the socioeconomic benefits and cost of the~roject to the people of Appolonia. By so doing, lessons both positive and negative would come out as a guide towards future efforts to promote biogas use in other parts of the country

Monitoring and evaluation of the Performance of Solar Photovoltaic System in Ghana: A Sociological Perspective

Social Impact Assessment ProgrammeIn August 1989, the National Energy Board (now the Ministry of Energy and Mines), initiated the project, "Monitoring and Evaluating the Performance of Solar Photovoltaic Systems in Ghana. " The main objective of this project was to identify the Photovoltaic systems in Ghana, provide an update of information about the various applications, with a view to providing information guides for both existing and potential users. To date, the project has succeeded in identifying the various applications of PV systems in the country. In a document, "Current Status of Solar Photovoltaic Applications in Ghana" (January, 1993) the project coordinator has succeeded in compiling details about the utilization of PV systems in Ghana. What is lacking however, is an assessment of the social consequences for PV utilization. The almost exclusive pre-occupation with the technical details of the systems' performance does not provide a total picture for future policy decisions about PV systems in Ghana. It is this gap that this study seeks to address