The document summarizes a regional project aimed at strengthening the advocacy capacities of youth in the Arab world on climate and energy policies. It discusses objectives to build skills in energy and climate fields and integrate societal aspects like gender disparities. A key output is a policy paper presenting recommendations from 12 young professionals and activists from 10 Arab countries (majority women) to regional decision-makers on energy visions and policies. The project also aims to empower women in sustainable energy and give them a platform to influence decision-making processes.

1. Climate and Energy Policies
Advocacy of Youth in the Arab
World
Enabling Women in Sustainable Energy Field: A step towards
Sustainable Communities
International Beirut Energy Forum
25 September 2019 Beirut, Lebanon

2. About The program
• Regional project on Climate and Energy Policies Advocacy of Youth in
the Arab World by the Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung (FES)’s Regional
Climate and Energy Project MENA & Germanwatch.
• The project started in March 2019 and lasts until October 2019.
• 12 young Professionals, Researchers and Activists from 10 Arab
Countries - 8 are women.

3. Objectives
• Strengthening the capacities of the regional youth within the energy
and climate field, such as building more advocacy and research skills.
• Integrating societal aspects of energy and climate into the policy,
especially gender disparities.
• Writing a position paper on energy and climate for the Arab region,
which includes the vision and recommendations of the youth based
on the current instated energy and climate policies.

4. Policy Paper (The output)
This policy paper will be presented to regional decision-makers to be
aware of what the youth of the region is expecting from the energy
field, as well as civil society actors and international organizations
working in the MENA region.

5. Vision
Accomplishing sustainable and renewable energy transition for climate
action through youth empowered MENA cooperation and the inclusion
of all relevant actors, especially women!

6. Objectives: Women Empowerment
• The program was diverse and inclusive; the majority of participants were women from
STEM background with an energy perspective.
• A chapter dedicated to societal aspects of the energy transition, with a special focus on
gender.
• Giving women exposure and a platform to express their opinions.
• Ability to network and meet professionals and youth from the field.
• Mentorship tool for policy makers to include more women in the decision making
process.

7. Youth and Gender in Climate & Energy
 The Arab Countries are
characterized by young
populations
 Control Youth Immigration and
empower women by providing
new opportunities
 Entrepreneurial potential in
sustainable energy sector for
women
 Youth has the passion for
climate change & environment
 Developing research program
in climate change, RE & EE
Youth &
Gender
Employability
Activism
Innovation
Engagement

8. Societies for Energy and Climate Justice
Challenges:
-Absence of inclusive policies that take into
account all stakeholders.
-Lack of civil society’s engagement in decision
making and advocacy.
-Lack of energy culture and sustainable social
behavior in the region.
Social injustice is the unequal quality of life and access to goods within a society
and across countries. Climate change and energy injustice are forms of social
injustice and are evident on a country level, intergenerational and gender level.
Recommendations:
-Enable NGOs and civil societies to effectively
engage in decision making.
-Build regulatory frameworks that empower
communities and build energy culture, particularly
for women.
-Support equal access, control, and distribution of
benefits for all communities and men and women.

9. Renewable Energy deployment for climate change mitigation
and adaptation in the MENA region
Challenges:
- Food and water security
- Sustainable & connected cities
- Protecting the most vulnerable, especially
women who are the most affected by
climate change
- Many multilateral agreements
- Few of them were successful
- MENA region is highly impacted by climate change and Renewable energy
deployment is the most efficient way for both climate change mitigation &
adaptation
Recommendations:
- Balance between climate change mitigation &
adaptation plans
- Joining NDC partnership initiatives and
reducing GHG emissions
- Empowering women and including them in
decision making processes

10. The Regional Dependency on Fossil Fuels of the MENA
Countries: How to lead a transition to renewable energy?
The Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region depends heavily on fossil fuels for energy supply
and domestic consumption. Currently, the MENA region can be classified into two main categories
due to inherent differences:
Challenges
Recommendations
Net Importing
Countries
Net Exporting
Countries
Energy Security
Vulnerability
( Economically and Politically)
Economic Dependency
Revenues and Reserves
Develop a clear plan for energy transition including all stake holders
Subsidies
Incorporate more local (RE) resources according to the respective needs of
each MENA country
Decouple fossil fuels from the economic model through diversification

11. Economy
Market
liberalization
Regional
integration
Transportation
Economic
diversification
Energy as catalyst for socioeconomic development

12. Realizing Renewables In Conflict Situations:
Challenges & Opportunities
Challenges of energy supply:
- Economic Challenges:
Destruction of power grid infrastructure,
lack of fiscal space, the limited ability to
expand already-stretched energy supplies.
- Political Challenges:
It is hard to install RE ,especially within
areas with highly damaged infrastructure,
no long-term guarantees.
- Technical & Cultural Challenges
The MENA region currently faces conflicts in Sudan, Palestine, Syria, Yemen, and Libya. These
conflicts have caused the death of hundreds of thousands of people and displaced millions
over the past decade. In this areas access to energy is increasingly recognized as a main
challenge for recovery.
Recommendations:
-Develop a common strategy for cooperation
and integration among MENA states.
-Expand the use of decentralized energy
solutions not only for short-term needs.
-Facilitate small & medium sized businesses as
well as start ups, while supporting their
capability to acquire loans.

13. Programs like this should be encouraged:
• Visibility and inclusion of women
• Gender perspective in energy and environmental policies
• Women as experts in the training

14. Thank you for Your
Attention!