This document discusses a project to empower indigenous women in remote areas of the Peruvian Amazon through training in solar energy. The project will select 11 women from 8 indigenous communities to receive training in installing and maintaining solar photovoltaic systems. Upon completing the training, the women will return to their communities and install solar systems to electrify households and support local economic activities, improving quality of life. The project aims to build local capacity and address the lack of energy access in these off-grid areas in a sustainable way through the use of renewable resources.

1. 2018
PE
CLIMAY
ENERGÍA
WOMENINSOLARENERGY-WISE
Peru is considered one of the megadiverse countries in the world, but this is compromised by
the high deforestation rate especially in the Amazon region, which contains more than 74% of
Peru’s total forests and is home to indigenous peoples and communities that are dependent on
forests. Communities in remote, rural areas such as these, have a lack of access to conventional
power sources. As these communities have to rely on kerosene or wood for basic energy needs,
pressure on the local environment increase, having a negative impact on the forests where
they dwell, as well as on the global environment. Insufficient lighting also hinders access to
information.
Access to energy brings with it many benefits for the population. For women in developing
countries in particular, energy access can improve their conditions in different aspects,
increasing quality of health and education and opening up new opportunities for income
generation. Understanding the shortage of electricity in remote areas of Peru, we propose to
develop a solution proposal that generates self-sustainable clean energy and that adds to the
initiatives with support of women.
EMPOWERINDIGENOUSPEOPLESINTHEENERGYTRANSITION
DedicatedGrantMecanism:DGMSawetoPeru
The Dedicated Grant Mechanism (DGM), created by Forest Investment Program (FIP), provide
the indigenous and local communities financing and learning mechanisms to support their
participation in and complement the FIP investment programs and projects processes at local,
national and global scales. In Peru, where is called “DGM Saweto Peru: Living Memory”, this
mechanism seeks to support indigenous communities in the Peruvian Amazon to improve their
forest management practices in a more sustainable way.

2. WomenInSolarEnergy-WISE
What we will do
WWF Peru seeks to promote the empowerment of women from indigenous communities in
the peruvian amazon by supporting their professional development within the energy sector to
improve their quality of life by:
• Training women from indigenous communities on solar photovoltaic systems and
installation
• Build local capacity and electrify poor “off -the-grid” communities with clean, low-cost
solar energy
• Improve the social and economic situation of the native communities part of the DGM
Saweto Peru project.
• Bridge the gender gap by empowering women
Firstphase
WOMENSELECTION
Eleven women will be selected to be part of the training program provided by the Women’s Solar
PV School (WSPVS) by the local committee of the communities part of the initiative “Forest
Entrepreneurs” and the Regional Coordinator of Indigenous Peoples San Lorenzo (CORPI-SL)
according their follow criteria.
Secondphase
TRAININGININSTALLATIONANDMAINTENANCEOFPHOTOVOLTAICSYSTEMSINCUTERVO
The women will travel to the Women’s Solar PV School (WSPVS) designed by Practical Action and
located in district of Cutervo, Cajamarca, where they will have training courses in photovoltaic
systems with a gender focus in two modules:
• Module I: Introduction to the school, renewable energies and their use for rural
electrification, clean cooking and heating
• Module II: Installation and maintenance of photovoltaic systems.
Improvingtheeconomicsubsistenceofindigenouspeoples withrenewableresourses
Eight Native Communities, targeted in the Alto Amazonas Province (Loreto, Peru), are part of
the initiative “Forest Entrepreneurs” on the framework of DGM Saweto Peru. This initiative
aims to contribute to the improvement of the subsistence economic means of the indigenous
communities of the Peruvian Amazon through the sustainable use of their natural resources as
working with Paiche aquaculture.
With no access to electric lighting, they are limited to the exposure needed to improve their
economies. In this context, we aim to provide training opportunities for women in a Women’s
Solar PV School (WSPVS). Through practical training and skills development, employment
and entrepreneurship opportunities, they will successfully step into the role of technicians,
promoters, and managers of sustainable access to energy with renewable resources.

3. Thirdphase
INSTALLATIONOFSOLARSYSTEMSINTHECOMMUNITIES
Upon their return to their communities, the «Solar Women Technicians» will work in the
installation of micro grids for their communities and equip nearly how many households in solar
photovoltaic systems used for basic needs like lighting. They are also in charge of the maintenance
and repair of the equipment.
Fourthphase
REFUNDFOR MAINTENANCE
Upon their return to their communities, the «Solar Women Technicians» will work in the
installation of micro grids for their communities and equip nearly how many households in solar
photovoltaic systems used for basic needs like lighting. They are also in charge of the maintenance
and repair of the equipment.
Where
Training: Women’s Solar PV School (WSPVS) designed by Practical Action and located in district
of Cutervo, Cajamarca.
Installation: 8 rural communities in Alto Amazonas, Iquitos, part of the DGM Saweto Peru
project.
When
First phase: September 2018
Second phase: October 2018
Third phase: January 2019
Fourth phase: June 2019
Who
WWF Perú, AIDESEP, Practical Action, Ministry of Energy and Mines, indigenous peoples. With
the support of partners.
Sustainability
This initiative is part of the Climate and Energy Program of WWF Peru in coordination with
the Forests Program, who lead the Indigenous Peoples Program of WWF Peru, as well as with
AIDESEP.