kupang.tribunnews.com – The Regional Government of East Sumba Regency hopes that through gender integration and renewable energy models developed by the Ministry of Women’s Empowerment and Child Protection together with Hivos in Luku Wingir Village-Kambata Mapanbuhang District which was selected as a pilot project, can increase the economic needs of the local community.

This was stated by East Sumba Regional Daily Executor, Domu Warandoy in the opening of The Regional Model Development with Gender Responsive Energy Management in East Sumba District, in East Sumba Regional Secretariat Hall, Thursday (08/09/2018).

Warandoy also said that the Regional Government of East Sumba was very grateful because Ministry of Women’s Empowerment and Child Protection together with Hivos had made Luku Wingir Village a pilot project of the program as well as with other NGOs, because for the East Sumba Regional Government, Luku Winggir Village was one of the most far villages from urban areas.

In addition, through the program Ministry of Women’s Empowerment and Child Protection together with Hivos had provided a lot of assistance to Luku Wingir residents, one of the assistance was the development of Micro Hydro Power Plant that had bring light to the residents. In addition, through the Micro Hydro Power Plant, residents have also taken advantage of economic activities.

“Through this activity too, we want to invest more to the activities that integrated with Regional Working Unit in Luku Wingir village because many RWUs provide support in the form of community development in the village and make this village a pilot project for Gender and Renewable Energy empowerment,” said Warandoy.

Deputy for Gender Welfare of Ministry of Women’s Empowerment and Child Protection, Agustina Erni, also explained that in 2016 Ministry of Women’s Empowerment and Child Protection had initiated initiatives to conduct preliminary studies on gender integration in the issue of renewable energy in Indonesia.

One of the efforts carried out by the Ministry of Women’s Empowerment and Child Protection to compile the roadmap is by building the gender communication and energy forum which carried out by non-government institutions.

Erni said, the forum intends to develop a model of gender integration and renewable energy. This is in line with the Sumba Iconic Island (SII) initiative that initiated by the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources in 2010.

The development of this model is expected to involve the Sumba community from the level of government to the level of society.

Erni said, the coordination-based decision with the local government of Luku Wingir Village stated that Kambata Mapambuhang District becomes the pilot project site of this development.

This decision is expected to improve rural economies based on renewable energy with a gender perspective.

Erni said, the consideration of the selection of the village as a pilot project is because in the area already has Micro Hydro Power Plant with 22 Kwh which currently operates through the second phase of Regional Revenue and Expenditure budget.

Erni said, therefore Ministry of Women’s Empowerment and Child Protection considered it is important to hold workshops related to gender integration and renewable energy models to all stakeholders with the aim of providing knowledge to participants regarding initiatives to develop gender discourse in renewable energy terrain and to make a joint action plans related to the preparation of gender integration and renewable energy models in East Sumba.

In addition, the workshops also aim to get input related to the preparation of the integration model and the potential replication of the model in other districts and also to develop joint action plans related to the development of gender integration and renewable energy models in East Sumba.

Also present as speakers in the event the Director of the Geothermal Bureau, Director General of EBTK the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources Ida Nurhatin, and Secretary of the Deputy for Gender Welfare for Ministry of Women’s Empowerment and Child Protection, Ratna Susianawati. There were also a number of relevant Regional Working Unit representatives and Luku Wingir Village Head.

(Source: http://kupang.tribunnews.com/2018/08/09/sumba-timur-berharap-melalui-energy-terbarukan-meningkatkan-ekonomi-masyarakat-luku-winggir)