FUNAE adopts Gender and Social Inclusion Policy

FUNAE – Fundo de Energia, FP (ALER Member) has validated its new Gender and Social Inclusion Policy, reinforcing the institution’s commitment to a more inclusive and equitable energy transition in Mozambique. The policy establishes principles, commitments and responsibilities aimed at promoting gender equality and social inclusion across FUNAE’s programmes, operations and investments.

The policy acknowledges that energy poverty disproportionately affects women, young people, persons with disabilities and other vulnerable groups, particularly in rural areas, and seeks to ensure more equitable participation and more inclusive access to the benefits of energy projects.

Key measures include the creation of a Gender and Social Inclusion Unit, the integration of gender criteria into project financing and selection mechanisms, and the requirement to develop specific Gender Action Plans for every project supported by FUNAE.

The initiative promotes the effective participation of women, young people, persons with disabilities and other underrepresented groups in consultation and decision-making processes, while strengthening productive uses of energy as a tool for women’s economic empowerment. It also includes the systematic collection of sex-disaggregated data and the implementation of measures to prevent gender-based violence in projects supported by the institution.

Aligned with Mozambique’s Just Energy Transition Strategy, the Gender Strategy for the Mining and Energy Sector, and the requirements of the Green Climate Fund (GCF), the policy represents an important step towards integrating gender and social inclusion considerations into the expansion of energy access across the country.

More information here.