Uzbekistan Country Gender Assessment: Update

Gender in ADB Operations in Uzbekistan

Energy

the household electrification rate in Uzbekistan is almost 100%, but the aging infrastructure and equipment need upgrading and renovation, especially in the rural areas. Major concerns include the unsustainability of power supply due to frequent interruptions, poor power quality, and voltage fluctuations. Unreliable power supplies affect women’s time use while performing their traditional social roles and create barriers for working women. as homemakers, women typically perform most household and family obligations, making them key consumers of electricity. Without reliable energy sources, women cannot use labor-saving appliances
(e.g., washing machines, electric cooking stoves, vacuum cleaners). electricity makes it easier for women to bathe their children, do the laundry, cook, complete other household chores, and engage in productive activities. Unreliable energy supply affects women employed the formal sector in two ways: (i) they must manage their job responsibilities while power is available,
and (ii) they must cope with household and family needs. energy inefficiencies also diminish women’s income-earning opportunities.

energy-related adB projects offer positive examples of how improved access to good-quality power supplies increases efficiency. Utility modernization would benefit both women and men. However, the lack of a sense of ownership among Uzbekenergo management will delay Gap implementation.

the strategy aims to improve gender mainstreaming in the energy sector by

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  endorsing the gender policy to increase the executing agency’s sense of ownership;
  
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  envisaging Gap-based skills-mapping exercises to redress the risk of job loss, especially among women, and further serve as the basis for staff retraining and education;
  

Executive Summary xv

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  supporting time-use studies to measure how an adequate supply of electricity decreases women’s work burden; and
  
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  supporting joint strategies by Uzbekenergo, the Ministry of Higher and Secondary Special education, the WCU, and other relevant stakeholders to introduce a 30% quota for young girls’ admission to technical universities with energy specialties.