The United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA) is working on a “Regional Initiative for Promoting Small-Scale Renewable Energy Applications in Rural Areas of the Arab Region (REGEND)”, which is funded by the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida). REGEND aims to improve the livelihood, economic benefits, social inclusion and gender equality of Arab rural communities particularly marginalized groups, by addressing energy access, water scarcity and vulnerability, climate change and other natural resources challenges in three targeted countries, Jordan, Lebanon and Tunisia.
  
In this context, ESCWA is organizing a capacity-building workshop on “Use of small-scale Renewable Energy for Rural Development in Tunisia”, in partnership with the National Agency for Energy Conservation (ANME) and the General Commission for Regional Development (CGDR) in Tunisia, to enhance the competencies of local officials in Chorbane (Governorate of Mahdia), in particular those working in the agricultural sector. The aim of the workshop is to provide the agricultural sector with the necessary information on renewable energy use, the technical and administrative support and ability to  enhance gender equality and rural women’s empowerment and entrepreneurship in income-generating activities. The workshop will also highlight the importance of reducing production inputs costs (especially energy cost) and in raising production revenues while preserving the environment through energy sustainability in line with the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals, adopted by the United Nations in 2015, and which promotes good environmental management that includes food, water and energy, natural resources sustainability, improvement of livelihoods, food and water security, energy sustainability, gender equality, women’s empowerment, entrepreneurship and increasing income, through a simplified scientific and distinctive approach integrating lectures, exercises, and practical training.

The theoretical and practical knowledge and skills acquired throughout the training will enable the trainees to familiarize themselves with all areas related to the use of small-capacity renewable energies for rural development in the Tunisian context.