USAID FROM THE AMERICAN PEOPLE INTEGRATING WOMEN INTO GRAMEEN SHAKTl'S RENEWABLE ENERGY VALUE CHAIN IN BANGLADESH A STUDY OF THE PROJECT AND LESSONS LEARNED November 20 14 This publication was produced for review by the United States Agency for International Development. It was prepared by David Hemson and Nancy Peek of Development & Training Services, Inc. ( dTS) with the Bangladesh Institute for Development Studies. Acknowledgments: The authors appreciate the contributions of Pamela Baldinger and Jeffrey Haeni. who served as external reviewers. The authors wish to thank Sidney Moore for helpful editorial comments. Early stages of the report benefited greatly from the contributions of Dr. Mohammad Yun us, Dr. Kazi Ali T oufique, and Dr. Nazneen Ahmed from the Bangladesh Institute of Development Studies. This study was carried out with support provided by the United States Agency for International Development, USAID Contract Number AID-RAN-1-00-09-00015, Task Order Number AID-OAA-T0-12- 0000 I, Global Climate Change Monitoring and Evaluation Project. Development & Training Services, Inc. (dTS) is an international development company that leads initiatives in social and economic development with a view to promoting equality, accountability, and sustainability. For information about dTS and its projects worldwide contact Development & Training Services, Inc. (dTS). 4600 North Fairfax Drive, Suite 402, Arlington. VA 22203, USA. Phone: +I 703-465-9388; Fax: +I 703-465-9344; Email: info@onlinedts.com; Internet: www.onllnedts.com. Recommended citation: Hemson, David and Nancy Peek. 20 14. Integrating Women into Gromeen Shakti's Renewable Energy Value Chain in Bangladesh: A Study of the Project and Lessons Learned. Arlington, Virginia, USA: Development & Training Services, Inc. (dTS) and Bangladesh Institute for Development Studies. Cover photo: Grameen Shakti Integrat ing Women into the Renewable Energy Value Chain in Bangladesh INTEGRATING WOMEN INTO GRAMEEN SHAKTl'S RENEWABLE ENERGY VALUE CHAIN IN BANGLADESH A STUDY OF THE PROJECT AND LESSONS LEARNED DISCLAIMER The authors' views expressed in this publication do not necessarily refiect the views of the United States Agency for International Development or the United States Government. Integrating Women into the Renewable Energy Value Chain in Bangladesh i ACRONYMS dTS E3 GEF GTC GS ICS RET SHS Tk USAID USD Development & Training Services USAID's Bureau for Economic Growth, Education and Environment Global Environment Faci lity Grameen Technology Center Grameen Shakti Improved Cook Stove Renewable Energy Technology Solar Home Systems T aka (Approx. 77.5 T aka = 1.00 USD) U.S. Agency for International Development United States Dollar Integrating Women into the Renewable Energy Value Chain in Bangladesh APPENDICES Appendix A: List of Grameen Technology Centers, Number of Trainees and Groups of Respondents Interviewed for the Study .................................................................................................................................................................................... 37 Appendix B: Demographic, Motivational, and Situational Characteristics of GS T rainees .......................................... .39 Appendix C: List of Key Informants and Officials Interviewed .................................................................................................... .47 Appendix D: Survey lnstruments .................................................................................................................................................................... 48 Appendix E: Response to Study from Grameen Shakti .................................................................................................................. 93 Integrating Women into the Renewable Energy Value Chain in Bangladesh v expectation of being reached, or reliably serviced, by the under-resourced Bangladesh electricity grid. These rural households, women particularly, would benefit from access to renewable energy for operating solar￾powered lamps and accessing modern sources of communication such as television sets and cell phones. In two phases, from 2005 to 20 I 0, the project established 35 Grameen Technology Centers to provide 15 days of training to a total of 2,797 rural women in the technical skills required to assemble components, install, and maintain SHSs. The trainees also learned to promote SHSs to the public and to train users, often rural women in their homes. This technical training took place 1n small rural towns across all seven of Bangladesh's administrative divisions, with an added focus on GTCs in the cyclone-vulnerable coastal areas. Research insight was gained through a survey that interviewed a sample of women trained by the project, including all those subsequently employed by Grameen Shakti. Interviews were also conducted with GS regional and high-level management. It was found that as a result of the project. 35 GT Cs had been established and more than I 00 women engineers were employed and trained to be trainers 1n solar technology. The women engineers then trained almost 3,000 rural women as GS technicians. Overall, the trainees themselves, engineers, and managers rate the training as "good" or "excellent." Although the project outputs-i.e., number of SHSs installed and number of women trained-were achieved, the outcomes with respect to the training program were not fully realized. Although the supply market of SHS components was not considered in the research questions, it turned out that a key assumption of the project was massive in-country assembly of components (by the women technicians). It appears that imported components became cheaper over time and, with the growth in imported components, the market for in-country assembly never materialized. This explains why the trainees were not hired in larger numbers. In project reports written near the end of the first phase, Grameen Shakt1 noted that there was difficulty 1n providing trainees with employment and promised to take remedial measures to address the problem. Despite the impressive training achievement carried out by the GTCs and the women engineers, very few of the trainees-86 women, or just 3% of the women trained-are employed by GS and none were found to be engaged as entrepreneurs in the renewable energy sector post-training. Those 86 GS employees benefited from their training; many come from poorer families, in comparison to other trainees, and fewer had graduated from high school. As a result of the project, these trainees now have wonk in rural areas that would not have been available otherwise. These women employees earn income, are able to contribute to their household income, and are not faced with demanding work hours. Additionally, they have gained in self-confidence, civic participation, and positive attitudes about the future. The trainees who gained employment at GS could be considered as working in "green jobs," that is, involved in environmentally beneficial work. While there are not long working hours, as the work at GT Cs is irregular ( 14 days per month, on average), pay per day is above that in alternative sectors. The women technicians are paid by piece and earnings are reported to be uneven and dependent on the demand for components; no additional benefits, such as health care, are provided. The reported average daily earnings of 141 taka per day ($1.80 at the current rate of exchange) are below the international norm for poverty at the personal income level, which is $2 a day. Despite their monthly earnings being below that in other sectors, the women earn more daily. work considerably fewer hours, and express satisfaction with their work. Aside from opportunity for direct employment at GS, it was intended that trainees would engage in the RET sector as entrepreneurs, assembling SHS components outsourced from GT Cs or other solar providers Integrating Women into the Renewable Energy Value Chain in Bangladesh v11   instal Is al I three of the renewable energy systems (SHS, ICS, and biogas plants). Each branch office is led by a b1·anch manage1· who is an enginee1·; the majo1·ity of branch manage1·s are men. The branch manager's main responsibility is to market and sell the SHSs. Sales of renewable energy systems come with a three-year service agreement with GS. Each branch office hires local employees as field assistants to install and maintain SHS, ICS, and biogas plants. The field assistants typically specialize in one of the three renewable energy systems; they r·eceive on-the-job training by shadowing a colleague fo1· two or three months. The field assistants are employees of GS and almost all a1·e men.Typically, one field assistant at a branch office can look after 120 customers, travelling up to 20 km to and from the customer-using local transport (van, rickshaw or bus)-to install and maintain the SHSs and to collect monthly installments fo1· the systems. Figure I : Reporting structure of GS rural network in Bangladesh Regionaf Offices (166) supervise; Brand\ Offices and GTCS Branch Offices (1,307) Marektlng,sale 5", installatim , maint enance of GS-oroducts Grameen Technology Centers (46) ,6.ssemllly,repair oMS prod ..... ..Q 10000 250000 .£11 c.. ro E t;; L.LJ 8000 200000 .: V'l V'l \.:> ::c: '+- 6000 150000 V'l 0 '+- .... 0 Q) 4000 100000 .... ~ Q) E ~ =i 2000 50000 E z =i z 0 0 Year - Number of SHS Installations - Number of Employees The women technician trainees wei-e expected to be direct beneficiaries of the growing demand fo1- RET, particularly SHS products. Con·esponding to the growth in SHS sales and installations, G1·ameen Shakti expected gmwth in in-country assernbly of SHS cornponents that would provide income generating opportunities for the wornen trainees-trainees would work in the RET sector as either· employees or entr·epreneurs. However, as this study found, the anticipated employment genffation that was supposed to accompany the large increases in SHS sales and installations simply did not occur. This phenomenon was identified as a problem in a report in 2008, near the end of the fit·st phase. Most of the t1·ained women technicians were reported to be interested in working but were finding it difficult to obtain full employment. The report was reassuring. however, stating that Grameen Shakti had "already taken steps to solve this problem and create an enabling envimnment for the women technicians". 12 Table 2 presents the breakdown by division of key statistics from the study: number of GT Cs established (46), number of trainees (2,797), number of trainees working (86), number· of women engineers working at GT Cs (99), and total number of SHSs installed ( 1,275,605). 1 f-igures frurn an:hived Crarneen Shakti website, "Crarneen Shakti I 'rograrns at a Glance'', May )008. January ?009, July 70 I 0, October 20 I I , September 20 12, and September 2.0 I 3. ;; See Grameen ShakLi, 2008, Semi Annual Report on the Project., Rural Empowemienl Through Renewable Energy. Period September ?00/ to March ?008 p I J lnlegraling Women inlo Lhe P-enewable energy Value Chain in Bangladesh 8 capita income of less than $1 per day (see Table 5, Appendix B). These figures indicate that the project succeeded in attracting poorer women to participate in the training. The working trainees were more likely to be married and less likely to have completed secondary education than those in the non-working group. The two groups were similar in other respects: age at the time of training, age at marriage, number of children, economic wellbeing, and income. Trainees working for GS were more likely to have heard about the training from a GS-related 1nstitut1on, to have been motivated prror to training to work in the RET sector, and to have been unemployed or helping at home prior to training (see Tables 7, 8, and 9, Appendix B). Income data suggest that working trainees come from less affluent households than non-working trainees (see Table 2, Appendix B). Overall, most of the trainees passed the training course (Table 3 below) but the working trainees were more I 1kely to have achieved commendations for performance than non-working trainees. Whereas 58 percent of those employed by GS passed with a commendation only 4 3 percent of non-working trainees passed with a commendation. This indicates that GS is more likely to offer employment to those who did better in the training course. Table 3: Grades received by trainees Working Trainees Non-Working Trainees Grade/Result of Training (n=86) (n=252) Passed with commendation 58.1%" 43.3%* Passed 40.7% 56.4% Did not complete 1.2% 0.4% * Differences statistically significant at the p=0.05 level On average, the women working at GS live in less affluent households and there are indications that employment of trainees by Grameen Shakt:i has been "pro-poor". About 30 percent of the non-working trainees were involved in income generating activities post-training and their monthly earnings were considerably higher than those of working trainees. However, working trainees earned more for the time worked and contributed more, proportionally, to their households' total income. In many ways the working trainees appear to be ''dedicated achievers" who have made the most of their training opportunity and shared their gains with their household (see Section 6.1.3). It is 1nterest1ng to note that the working trainees appeared to be I) less motivated by short-term financial gain, 2) less likely to take the training to increase social status (see Table 8, Appendix B), and 3) less likely to be continuing with their education compared with non-working trainees. The vast majority of trainees in both groups (more than 80 percent) said they were motivated to take the training in order to get a better job: over half said they were specifically motivated to work in the RET sector. (The percentage is slightly higher for working trainees.) At the same time, twice as many non-working trainees said they took the training to receive the training allowance and, as previously noted, non-working trainees are more likely to have completed secondary education. At the risk of over-simplification, some portion of the non-working trainees can be thought of as "comfortable achievers," less driven by the need to obtain immediate employment. Generally, it seems that working trainees are more focused on, and more motivated by, the goal of getting a 1ob at GS, as demonstrated by their greater interest prior to training in being employed and their lesser interest in the financial stipend for training. Working trainees were also less affluent. had less education, Integrating Women into the Renewable Energy Value Chain in Bangladesh I 0 – had used the skills they gained in training, there was little evidence that this had resulted in economic benefits. The focus of training was consistently reported to be on assembling and servicing SHSs rather than on promotion and installation. Most of the t rainees working at GS are engaged 1n SHS assembly rather than installation, even though installation has more growth potential than assembly. Interestingly, while about half of the trainees have gone on to promote SHSs in their communities they have generally not been integrated into the sales and marketing aspects of the value chain. Opinions among the respondent groups differ about receipt of training to set up a small business. Women engineers and regional managers reported that the trainees received relatively more training on how to set up a small business, while the trainees reported that they received relatively less training on setting up a small business. However, contrary to expectations, very few trainees have gone on to install or repair SHSs as entrepreneurs. Trainees installing the charge controller. Women technicians report that they are not generally involved in home installations as this 1s regarded as heavy work Photo: Grameen Shakti Satisfied with the training program, overall, the women engineers and regional managers did recommend that if changes were to be made in the training program, the program should be longer and offer follow-up support post-training. In general, although respondents said they were quite satisfied with the quality and usefulness of the training, ant1c1pated economic benefits and integration of women into the value chain were not realized. Tables 8 and 9 summarize the type of training women said they received, which was mostly technical (79 and 84 percent). Only 15 and 19 percent of trainees said they received entrepreneurial training; a very small percentage (less than 3 percent) reported receiving both technical and entrepreneurial training. As mentioned previously, the content of the training mostly focused on construction/assembly and service, maintenance, or repair of SHSs. Table 8: Type of training received by women trainees Type of Training Received Working Trainees Non-Working Trainees (n=86) (n=252) Technical 79.1 % 84.1 % Entrepreneurial 18.6% 14.7% Both technical & entrepreneunal 2.3% 1.2% Integrating Women into the Renewable Energy Value Chain in Bangladesh 18 Table 9: Content of the training received by women trainees Percentage Who Agree That Trainees Received Specific Training Content Worl I 00 * Difference statistically significant at the p=0.05 level Non-Working Trainees (n=252) 45.6%'*' 47.6% 45.2%*• Trainees were also asked about their motivation for participating in the training (Table 8). Trainees who were motivated to work specifically in the sector appear to have been more likely to go on to earn income in the sector. Most of the respondents (about 84 percent) said they participated to gain skills. as they thought this would make them more qualified to get a job. More than half of the respondents said they were particularly motivated to work for GS or in the RET sector, but this figure is higher for the trainees now working for GS, 62 percent compared to 56 percent for those not working for GS. Also, trainees were asked about their possible indifference to taking the training as represented by the responses "to use spare time" and "to receive attractive training allowance". Over twice as many non-GS working respondents ( 15 percent) said they were motivated by the attractive train ing allowance as those now working for GS (7 percent); this difference between the two groups is statistically significant. This possibly indicates a group of trainees who were more interested 1n short-term welfare gains than on long-term returns to be earned from using new skills. Integrating Women into the Renewable Energy Value Chain in Bangladesh 45 Table 8: Trainees' motivation for taking the training Reasons Trainees Gave for Taking GS Training' Receive job Qualifications Work for GSNVork in R.ET Sector Increased Social Status Earn Better Salary Use Spare Time Receive Attractive Training Allowance I. Participants were able to select more than one answer so cumulative % > I 00 " Difference statistically significant at the p=0.05 level Percentage of Trainees Who Were Motivated to Take the Training for Specific Reasons Working Trainees Non-Working Trainees (n=86) (n=252) 82.6% 83.7% 61.6% 55.6% 2.3 %~ 6.8 %~ 9.3% 5.6% 18.6% 16.7% 7.0%* 15.1%" Trainees were also asked about their day-to-day activities before applying for training (Table 9). Most of the trainees were helping at home or unemployed prior to the training. The percentage is higher for trainees working for GS (71 percent) compared with non-working trainees (48 percent). More than a third of all the trainees were students. A much higher proportion of non-working trainees were students or employed prior to training (52 percent) compared with the trainees currently working for GS (29 percent); the difference is statistically significant. Table 9: Economic and social activities of trainees prior to training Economic and Social Activities Prior to Training Working Trainees Non-Working Trainees (n=86) (n=252) Unemployed, Helping at Home, and Other 70.9%** 48.4%** Employed. Self-employed, or Student 29.1%*" 51.6%** "* Difference statistically significant at the p=O.O I level While training helped most of the working trainees to come out of the house and take gainful economic activities, it seems the students were less likely to go on and earn income in the RET sector. As noted previously, a higher percentage of the non-working trainees have completed secondary school, so perhaps a large number of the students who participated in the training were more motivated to continue with their schooling rather than seek employment. Integrating Women into the Renewable Energy Value Chain in Bangladesh 46 APPENDIX C: LIST OF KEY INFORMANTS AND OFFICIALS INTERVIEWED Organization Name Position USAID/Bangladesh A.K.D. Sher Mohammad Khan Senior Energy Advisor and Country Coordinator SARI/Energy David Yanggen Deputy Director, Economic Growth Office Aniruddha Hom Roy Private Sector Advisor, Economic Growth Office Grameen Shakti Abser Kamal Acting Managing Director Fazley Rabbi Head of Administration SM Musa General Manager Wasim Reza Assistant General Manager (Head of IT) Rezaul Islam Assistant General Manager Suman Chakma Deputy Manager Abdullah Al Mamun Faridpur Divisional Manager T.M.Razzak Hassin Faridpur Regional Manager J1ban Krishna Mitra Gopalganj Regional Manager Motiur Rahman Gazipur Regional Manager Abdul Mamun Singa1r Regional Manager Kamal Hassin Faridpur Branch Manager Mostafizur Rahman Mawna Branch Manager Robiul Islam Singair Branch Manager Selena Begum Center 1n charge, GTC Singa1r IDCOL S.M. Formanul Islam Director Legal Affairs and Financial (Infrastructure Relations Development Company Limited) Bright Green Energy Dipal C. Barua, Founder and Chairman Foundation (BGEF) Integrating Women into the Renewable Energy Value Chain in Bangladesh 47 APPENDIX D: SURVEY INSTRUMENTS Integrating Women into the Renewable Energy Value Chain in Bangladesh 48 Bangladesh Institute of Development Studies E-17, Agargaon, Sher-e-Bangla Nagar, Dhaka-1207 Integration of Women into Grameen Shakti’s Clean Energy Program in Bangladesh QUESTIONNNAIRE FOR WOMEN TRAINEES AND EMPLOYEES Information and request for consent: The purpose of this survey is to assess the progress made and obstacles encountered in training and empowering women in Renewable Energy Technologies. The study will serve as a learning instrument to provide lessons in future interventions in empowering women in Renewable Energy Technologies. Please understand that you are not being forced to take part in this study and the choice whether to participate or not is yours alone. However, we would really appreciate it if you do share your thoughts with us. If you choose not take part in answering these questions, you will not be affected in any way. If you agree to participate, you may stop me at any time and tell me that you don’t want to go on with the interview. If you do this there will also be no penalties and you will NOT be prejudiced in ANY way. Please note that the information obtained in this survey will be treated as strictly confidential and individual responses or names will not be included in any reports or publications. Data will be used only for the research study to help direct policy improvements and assess the project impacts. Yes No Do you have any questions? 1 2 If YES, have these been satisfactorily answered 1 2 If YES, will you participate in this study? 1 2 If consent is given, the interviewer then states: Thank you for agreeing to participate, we will now make a start. SURVEY INFORMATION Respondent No: Interview date: Grameen Shakti’s Division__________________ District: _________________________________ Upazila: ______________________________ Union/Pourashava: _________________________________ Village/Ward: _____________________________ Mohalla/Para: __________________________ Important Landmark near the Household: _________________________________ Name of the Respondent: _______________________________________ Respondent’s Father/Husband name_____________________________ Respondent Category (Code): Codes Category Description 1 Women technicians who received the 15 day training and work at a GTC 2 Women technicians who received the 15 day training and work for Grameen Shakti (Branch) 3 Women who received the 15 day training and are currently not working at GS/GTC 4 Women technicians who did not receive the 15 day training and work at a GTC 5 Women technicians who did not receive the 15 day training and work for Grameen Shakti (Branch) Respondent’s Mobile Phone No: Day Month Year A. HOUSEHOLD ROSTER A01 A02 A03 A04 A05 A06 A07 A08 Enter all household members PID Name of the Household Members (including respondent) Relationship with the respondent (Code) Sex (1=Male, 2=Female) Age (Years) Marital Status (Code) Schooling status (Code) Current employment status (If engaged in more than one activity, list the one that gives the highest compensation) (Code) 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 Codes for Section A A03: Relationship with Respondent A06: Marital status A07: Schooling status Self 1 Daughter-in-law/ Son￾in-law 7 Unmarried 1 No schooling or incomplete primary 1 Husband/ Wife 2 Brother-in-law/ Sister￾in-law 8 Married 2 Completed primary 2 Son/ Daughter 3 Grandson/Granddaugh ter 9 Widow 3 Started secondary but did not complete 3 Brother/ Sister 4 Niece/ Nephew 10 Separated 4 Completed secondary/higher secondary 4 Father/ Mother 5 Other relative 11 Divorced 5 Completed Graduation and above 5 Father-in-law/ Mother-in￾law 6 Other non-relative 12 Completed vocational diploma/Polytechnic 6 A08: Current employment status Wage employment in farm sector 1 Barber 14 Wage employment in non-farm sector 2 Tailor 15 Salaried employment, regular monthly 3 Self-employed professional/specialist (doctor, nurse, spiritual healing, lawyer, tutor, religious imam/priest, etc.) 16 Self-employment in farm sector (agriculture, livestock, poultry, fishery, orchard/forestry, etc.) 4 Other self-employment 17 Self-employment in non-farm sector (owner of industry, manufacturing, processing, retail stores, trading, etc,) 5 Pensioner 18 Self-employed in RET sector 6 Interest/rent earner 19 Working in RET sector 7 Remittance earner 20 Transport owner/business 8 Housewife or help at home 21 Fisherman 9 Student 22 Skilled trades (carpentry, masonry, weavers, etc.) 10 Disable/Old age 23 Various repair work 11 Unemployed 24 Contractor 12 Child 25 Hawker 13 Any other dependent category 26 B. HOUSING, WATER, AND SANITATION B01. How many rooms are there in the dwelling house not including the kitchen and cow shed? ___________ B02. What material is used for floor? B03. What material is used for wall? B04. What material is used for roof? B02, B03, and B04: Codes for Materials for floor, wall, and roof Mud CI sheet (Tin) 1 6 Bamboo Brick/Cement 2 7 Thatched/Straw Tally 3 8 Jute stick Nothing (remain open) 4 9 Timber Others (Please specify)___________________ 5 10 B05. The type of latrine the household members use B06. What is principle source of drinking water for the household? Toilet, piped sewerage Toilet with septic tank Ring slab (water not sealed) Kancha (without septic tank) 1 3 5 7 Ring slab (water sealed) Ordinary pucca Bush/open space Others (Please specify) ___________ 2 4 6 8 Tube well Artisan well Pond/river/canal Public standpipe 1 2 3 4 Piped water, yard connection Piped water, house connection Ring well Others (Please specify) ____________ 5 6 7 8 C. HOUSEHOLD ASSETS Asset 1 = Yes 2 = No Asset 1 = Yes 2 = No Asset 1 = Yes 2 = No C01. Agricultural and non-agricultural/ Homestead land C05. Poultry C09. Television C02. Agricultural Equipments C06. Bicycle C10. Tools to construct SHS C03. Cows / buffalo/Horse C07. Furniture: cupboard C11. Solar Home System unit C04. Goat / sheep C08. Radio/ 2-in-1 C12. VCD/DVD Player C13. Improved Cook Stove (ICS) C14. Motor Cycle C15. Computer \ D. HOUSEHOLD INCOME Please consider all sources of monthly household income (wages, farm, and other activities and your contribution. Show the Prompt Card on HH income and ask her to make a selection D01 D02 (Put the Card Number, A, B, C, etc.) A = < 1500, B = 1500-1999, C = 2000-2499, D = 2500-2999, E = 3000-3999, F = 4000-4999, G = 5000-5999, H = 6000-6999, I = 7000-7999, J = 8000-8999, K = 9000-9999, L = 10000-12499, M = 12500-14999, N = 15000-17499, P = 17500-19999, Q = 20000-24999, R = 25000-29999, S = 30000-34999, T = 35000+ Scale of Total HH income (Enter category) Your Contribution (Enter category) E. HOUSEHOLD FINANCIAL STANDING I will now show you a few statements about your household income. Please choose the one that is closest to your situation. E01. Financial Standing Response 1 = Our household income covers our needs and we are able to save money regularly 2 = Our household income covers our needs and we are able to save money occasionally 3 = Our household income covers our needs, but by just enough, we don’t save 4 = Our household income does not cover our needs and we have some difficulties 5 = Our household income does not cover our needs and we have great difficulties (PLEASE REAND CATEGORIES and CODE ONE.) F. HOUSEHOLD FOOD SECURITY Over the past month how often, if at all, did you or any member of your household have to go without two full meals a day? F01. Food Security Response 1 = Always, 2 = Often, 3 = Sometimes, 4 = Never (PLEASE READ CATEGORIES 01 TO 04 and CODE ONE.) G. LIFE EXPERIENCE OF THE RESPONDENT (For the respondent who has marital status equal to 2 in A06) Indicator Response G01.Age at first marriage (year) G02.Number of children born (Put zero if no child is born live or stillbirth) G03.Do you use any contraceptives? (1 = Yes, 2 = No) H. PERSONAL FINANCIAL ASSETS OF THE RESPONDENT Do you have any of the following? (1 = Yes, 2 = No) Indicator Response H01. Savings (Savings Deposits/Fixed Deposits) in banks H02. Savings in microcredit organization H03. Savings in deposit pension scheme H04. Savings in bonds/insurance scheme/wage earners’ scheme/post office H05. Savings in informal organizations/cooperatives H06. Shares/stocks H07. Cash in hand (Tk. 500 or more) I. RESPONDENT’S ATTITUDE TOWARDS WOMEN’S EMPOWERMENT How does your family decide on the following? Indicators Now – After Training or Employment at the current job Before Training or Employment at the current job Codes: 5 = By the respondent herself , 4 = Husband/father, 3 = Respondent jointly with husband/father, 2 = Respondent jointly with others, 1 = Others, 8 = Not Applicable Shopping in the market place I011 I012 Visiting friends and relatives in the village I021 I022 Going outside the village I031 I032 Education of children I041 I042 Own healthcare I051 I052 Marriage of sons/daughters/other dependents I061 I062 Purchase of personal items such as clothes, jewelry, etc. I071 I072 Purchase of fixed property such as land, etc. I081 I082 Voting in the elections I091 I092 Family Planning I101 I102 Participation in civic/women’s organization I111 I112 J. RESPONDENT’S AWARENESS ABOUT WOMEN’S EMPOWERMENT Please respond to the following statements: Indicators Now - After Training or Employment at the current job Before Training or Employment at the current job Awareness Codes: 1 = Strongly agree, 2 = Agree, 3 = Neither agree nor disagree, 4 = Disagree, 5 = Strongly Disagree Women and men should have equal opportunities in society J011 J012 A woman’s income is important for her children’s development. J021 J022 A woman’s income does not increase respect from family. J031 J032 A woman’s income increases respect from community. J041 J042 I am not hopeful that the future will be better for women like me. J051 J052 I have control over the key choices in my life. J061 J062 K. PERSONAL TIME ALLOCATION OF THE RESPONDENT: 24 HOUR WEEKDAY Activity Now - After Training or Employment at the current job During Training Before Training or Employment at the current job Preparing/Cooking food K011 K012 K013 Washing clothes and bedding K021 K022 K023 Childcare K031 K032 K033 Sleeping K041 K042 K043 Time at work K051 K052 K053 Travel time for home vis-à-vis work station K061 K062 K063 Study time K071 K072 K073 Other activities, including socializing, shopping, etc. K081 K082 K083 Put 88 if not applicable L. KNOWLEDGE AND ATTITUDES ABOUT CLIMATE CHANGE Introduction to CC section (Read aloud): Climate change, also known as global warming, refers to changing global weather patterns, the phenomenon that the world’s average temperature has been increasing over the past decades, may be increasing more in the future, and that the world’s climate may change as a result. We’d like to ask you a few questions about this topic. L01. Have you heard of climate change before today? 1 = Yes, 2 = No L02. In your local area in the past 5-year, have the following become more frequent, less frequent, or have they not changed compared to the past? Codes: 1 = More frequent, 2 = Less frequent, 3 = No change compared to the past, 9 = Don’t know L021. Floods L022. Droughts L023. Number of hot days L024. Severe storms L03. In your local area, does the monsoon seem more predictable, less predictable, or has it not changed compared to the past? Codes: 1 = More predictable, 2 = Less predictable, 3 = No change from the past, 9 = Don’t know L04. If a 1 year-long severe drought happened in your local area, how big of an impact would it have on each of the following? 1 = Large, 2 = Small, 3 = As usual, 9 = Don’t know L041. Food supply of your household L042. Drinking water supply of your household L043. Income of your household L044. Health of the members of your household L045. Your house L046. Your community L05. If a severe drought happened in your local area, how long do you think it would take for your household to recover? (days), 9999 = Don’t know L06. If a severe flood happened in your local area, how big of an impact would it have on each of the following? Codes: 1 = Large, 2 = Small, 3 = As usual, 9 = Don’t know L061. Food supply of your household L062. Drinking water supply of your household L063. Income of your household L064. Health of the members of your household L065. Your house L066. Your community L07. If a severe flood happened in your local area, how long do you think it would take for your household to recover? (days), 9999 = Don’t know L08. How likely do you think it is that extreme weather will cause a natural disaster in your community in the next year? Codes: 1 = Very likely, 2 = Somewhat likely, 3 = Somewhat unlikely, 4 = Very unlikely, 9 = Don’t know L09. In the next five years, do you think you will need to do the following? 1 = Yes, 2 = No, 9 = Don’t know L091. Move temporarily because of severe environmental problems L092. Move permanently because of severe environmental problems L093. Rebuild your house L094. Make expensive repairs of the house L10. Do you think you and your family are ready to deal with a natural disaster if one should happen in the area where you live? 1 = Yes, 2 = No, 9 = Don’t know M. TRAINING AT GTC We now want to know if you participated in Grameen Shakti’s Women Technician Training offered at GTCs between 2006 and 2010. M01. Did you hear about the 15-day training offered at the GTCs between 2006 and 2010? 1 = Yes, 2 = No IF NO, SKIP TO SECTION ON OTHER TRAINING (M13) M02. How did you learn about the training offered by the GTC? (Maximum two answers possible) Codes: 1 = From GS/GTC, 2 = From micro credit borrowers of Grameen Bank, 3 = From family members, relatives or friends, 4 = From advertisements/flyers, 5 = Previous trainees, 6 = Others (Please specify) ___________ M03. Did you apply for the 15-day training? 1 = Yes, 2 = No IF YES, PROCEED TO M5 M04. If NO, why did not you apply? (Maximum two answers possible) Codes: 1= Was not interested, 2 = Was discouraged by my family members, 3 = Was not allowed by my employer, 4 = Was busy at home, 5 = Had alternative prospects for employment, 6 = Already knew a lot about RET, 7 = GS/GTC provided me work and on the job training rather than formal RET training alone, 8 = Others (Please specify) ________________ PROCEED TO SECTION ON OTHER TRAINING (M13) M05. Why did you want the training? (Maximum two answers possible) Codes: 1 = To be qualified to get a job, 2 = Was motivated to work for GS/RET, 3 = To increase my social status, 4 = To earn a better salary, 5 = To use spare time, 6 = Training allowance was attractive, 7 = Others (Please specify) ___________ M06. What were you doing before you applied for the training? Codes: 1 = Unemployed, 2 = Housewife/Helping at home, 3 = Student, 4 = Had another job, 5 = Self-employed, 6 = Others (Please specify) _____________ M07. Did you receive GTC training? 1 = Yes, 2 = No IF YES, PROCEED TO M09 M08. If you were not selected for the training, what do you think were the reasons? (Maximum two answers possible) Codes: 1 = I was not eligible, 2 = There were too many other applicants, 3 = My home was too far from the GTC, 4 = I already knew a lot about RET, 5 = The selection method was flawed, 6 = Education level inadequate, 7 = Others (Please specify) _________________, 9 = Don’t know PROCEED TO SECTION ON OTHER TRAINING (M13) If training was received, please evaluate the training received. M09. Description of the Training at GTC M0901 M0902 M0903 M0904 M0905 M0906 GTC (Code) Content of Training (Codes: Technical=1, Entrepreneurial=2, Both=3) Venue Total days Days missed in training Grade/Result of the training (Code) Please refer to GTC List for coding. M0906 Codes: 1 = Passed with commendation, 2 = Passed, 3 = Did not complete M10. Evaluation of the Training by the trainees Question Codes: 1= Strongly agree, 2 = Agree, 3 = Neutral, 4 = Disagree, 5 = Strongly disagree M101. I was trained to construct Solar Home System M102. I was not trained to install Solar Home System M103. I was trained to service Solar Home System M104. I was not trained to promote and sell Solar Home System. M105. I was trained to set up a small business on Solar Home System M106. No new knowledge and skills were gained. M107. I learned about climate change and why there is a need for Renewable Energy Technologies. M108. Trainers were not prepared and not knowledgeable on the subject matter. M109. Trainers’ presentation skills were good. M1010. Written materials provided were appropriate and easy to understand. M1011. There was not enough time devoted to each topic for learning and understanding. M1012. The training was well organized. M11. Evaluation of the Usefulness of the training by the trainees. Please respond to these questions about training and the use of your skills: Question Codes: 1 = Yes, 2 = No, 9 = Unsure M111. Were the right kinds of women selected for training? M112. Did the training benefit you? M113. Have you promoted the SHS in your community? M114. Have you been asked to maintain/repair SHSs in your community (outside of your regular job responsibilities)? M115. If YES, have you been paid to maintain/repair a SHS in your community? M12. Have you had any post-school training other than the GTC training? 1 = Yes, 2 = No If NO, proceed to EMPLOYMENT Section (N01) OTHER TRAININGS M13. What training have you had after leaving high school? Formal education is that which is conducted by an authorized training body and for which trainees are tested and receive a certificate of competence rather than of attendance. Informal education refers to all other categories of training. Training Issues First Training Second Training Third Training Type of training (Code) M1311 M1312 M1313 Subject matter (Code, please specify) M1321 M1322 M1323 Length of training (days) M1331 M1332 M1333 Codes for Type of Training: 1 = Formal, 2 = Informal, 8 = None/not applicable Codes for Subject Matter: 1 = Technical other than RET, 2 = Microfinance, 3 = Health, 4 = Others (Please specify) __________________________ Put 8 if not applicable N. EMPLOYMENT N01. Have you been employed after leaving high school? 1 = Yes, 2 = No If NO: Thank you for giving of your time to participate in this study which is intended to learn and improve on women’s training in renewable energy technologies. IF YES, PLEASE COMPLETE N2. N02. History of employment: please enter in sequence from present to past [ Enter Occupation Code from Employment Status Code of Section A.] Occupation (Code from Section A) Type of Organization (Code) Number of months worked (months) Average number of days worked per month (days) Average number of hours worked per day (hours) Frequency of payment (Code) Payment (including in- kind payment (Tk.)) Distance from work place to home (km) Mode of Transportation from home vis￾à-vis work place (Code) N0211 N0212 N0213 N0214 N0215 N0216 N0217 N0218 N0219 N0221 N0222 N0223 N0224 N0225 N0226 N0227 N0228 N0229 N0231 N0232 N0233 N0234 N0235 N0236 N0237 N0238 N0239 N0241 N0242 N0243 N0244 N0245 N0246 N0247 N0248 N0249 N0251 N0252 N0253 N0254 N0255 N0256 N0257 N0258 N0259 Codes for Type of Organization: 1= Government, 2 = Private, 3 = NGO, 4 = Self Employment, 5 = Others (Please specify) ____________________________ Codes for Compensation Frequency: 1 = Daily, 2 = Weekly, 3 = Monthly, 4 = Yearly, 5 = Lump sum Codes for Transportation: 1 = On foot, 2 = Rickshaw/Van, 3 = Nosimon, 4 = Motor Cycle, 5 = Motor Car, 6 = Bus, 7 = Truck, 8 = Boat, 9 = Others N03. Why did you decide to work for GS rather than elsewhere? (Maximum two answers possible) (Note: please ask this question to the women who are working in RET sector only) Codes: 1 = Higher income, 2 = Training qualified me for the job, 3 = Training motivated me to work in RET, 4 = Needed any job which was available at that time, 5 = This sector provides better opportunity for women, 6 = Others (Please specify) ______________________ N04. Did you consider starting a mini GTC at your home to own a SHS business? 1 = Yes, 2 = No If NO, proceed to N07 N05. Have you faced barriers while starting your own SHS business? 1 = Yes, 2 = No, Not applicable = 8 N06. Please provide answers to following table: (Maximum three possible) Type of Barriers (Code) Ways to overcome the barriers (Code) N0611 N0612 N0621 N0622 N0631 N0632 Codes for Types of Barriers: 1 = Prejudice against women, 2 = Lack of start-up finance, 3 = No support from GS/GTC with equipment and tools, 4 = Market not developed, 5 = Lack of skill, 6 = Others (Please specify) _________________________ Codes for Ways to Overcome Barriers: 1 = Unpaid assistance from parents, 2 = Unpaid help from relatives, 3 = Equipment provided by GS/GTC, 4 = Loan from bank/NGO, 5 = Loan from relatives, 6 = Loan from a person (not family), 7 = Others (Please specify) _________________________ N07. Do you run an integrated Polli-Phone business based on SHS? 1 = Yes, 2 = No N08. If YES, put tick () mark: N081. Charging mobile phone N082. Leasing lights N083. Leasing power to run BW TV EMPLOYMENT: AT GRAMEEN SHAKTI GTC N09. Are you currently employed at Grameen Shakti? 1 = Yes 2 = No If YES, PROCEED TO QUESTION N13 N10. If NO, did you ever apply to work for a GTC/GS? 1 = Yes 2 = No If NO, PROCEED TO QUESTION N12 N11. Why do you think you were not hired? (Maximum two answers possible) Codes: 1 = Only best trainees hired, 2 = Lacked motivation to work for a GTC, 3 = Too many other trainees available, 9 = Don’t know, 4 = Others (Please specify) _____________________________ N12. If NO, why have you never applied to work for GS/GTC? (Maximum two answers possible) Codes: 1 = Got better paying job, 2 = Family is my priority, 3 = Family problems developed, 4 = Did not know that GTC was hiring, 5 = Too many other trained workers, 6 = Adverse social attitudes towards women technicians, 7 = Self-employed in RET sector, 8 = Self-employed (other), 9 = Others (Please specify) ________________________ Thank you for giving of your time to participate in this study which is intended to learn and improve on women’s training in renewable energy technologies. N13. Do you currently work at a GTC? Yes =1 2 = No If NO, PROCEED TO SECTION ON EMPLOYMENT: GRAMEEN SHAKTI (BRANCH) at N19 N14. What is the name of the GTC? _______________________ N15. What specific work do you do? (Maximum two answers possible) Codes: 1 = Assemble SHS, 2 = Cleaner, 3 = Computer operator, 4 = Inspector, 5 = Supervisor, 6 = Others (Please specify) _______________ N16. How did you first come to hear about the GTC? Codes: 1 = From GS/GTC itself, 2 = From micro credit borrowers of Grameen Bank, 3 = From family members, relatives or friends, 4 = From advertisements/flyers, 5 = Others (Please specify) __________________ N17. What were you doing before you started working here? Codes: 1 = Unemployed, 2 = Household chores, 3 = Student, 4 = Was in another job, 5 = Self-employed, 6 = Others (Please specify) ____________________________________ N18. What is the time gap between your graduation from the training program and when you began working at a GTC? ___________ days (if respondent provides months, multiply by 30). Put 8888 if not applicable PROCEED TO SECTION ON WORK ENVIRONMENT (P) EMPLOYMENT: GRAMEEN SHAKTI (BRANCH) N19. What is the name of the GS branch? ______________________________________________________________________ N20. What specific work do you do? (Maximum two answers possible) Codes: 1 = Assemble SHS, 2 = Cleaner, 3 = Computer operator, 4 = Inspector, 5 = Supervisor, 6 = Others (Please specify) _________________ N21. How did you first come to hear about your job? Codes: 1 = From GS/GTC, 2 = From micro credit borrowers of Grameen Bank, 3= From family members, relatives or friends, 4 = From advertisements/flyers, 5 = Others (Please specify) ____________________________ N22. What were you doing before you started working here? Codes: 1 = Unemployed, 2 = Household chores, 3 = Student, 4 = Was in another job, 5 = Self-employed, 6 = Others (Please specify) ____________________________________ N23. Have you ever worked for a GTC? 1 = Yes 2 = No If NO, PROCEED TO SECTION P: WORK ENVIRONMENT (P1) N24. If YES, for how long? Months N25. Why do you no longer work for a GTC? (Maximum three answers possible) Codes: 1 = Got better salaried job, 2 = Got fired, 3 = Family problems, 4 = Did not like the job, 5 = The training was not adequate, 6 = Adverse social attitude towards women technicians, 7 = Others (Please specify) _____________________________ P. WORK ENVIRONMENT: ATTITIUDES AND PERCEPTIONS OF WORK AT GRAMEEN SHAKTI P01. Do you think some types of work at GS are better done by women and men? Supply chain Codes: 1= Only women, 2= Mostly women, 3= Both men and women, 4= Mostly men, 5= Only men P011. Assembly of SHS components P012. Marketing of SHS P013. Installation of SHS P014. Training users of SHS P015. Service and repairs, etc, of SHS P02. What have been the attitudes towards yourself at work from your colleagues? Attitude of Colleagues Codes: 1 = Very Positive, 2 = Positive, 3 = Neither positive nor negative, 4 = Negative, 5 = Very Negative, 8 = Not Applicable, 9 = Don’t know P021. Male Regional Managers P022. Female Regional Managers P023. Male Engineers P024. Female Engineers P025. Male Counterparts P026. Female Counterparts P027. Male Customers P028. Female Customers P03. Are women and men treated differently at your work? 1 = Yes 2 = No P04. If YES, what obstacles relating to being a woman have been encountered by you? Codes: 1 = Lower salary, 2 = Harassment, 3 = Drudgery work, 4 = Lack of understanding of family commitments, 5 = Others (Please specify) _________________ P05. Do you feel women technicians tend to want to leave this work? 1 = Yes 2 = No P06. If YES, why do you think the women technicians leave? (Maximum two answers possible) Codes: 1 = Low compensation, 2 = Family problem, 3 = Adverse work environment, 4 = Married to another location, 5 = Gave birth to child, 6 = Better job elsewhere, 7 = Others (Please specify) ___________________________ P07. Are there any specific tasks at work that women are discouraged to do? 1 = Yes 2 = No P08. If YES, please choose two of the following: Codes: 1 = Heavy manual work, 2 = Supervision, 3 = Clerical / computer work, 4 = Higher paid work, 5 = Others (Please specify) ______________ P09. Express your opinion about the following statements Indicator Codes: 1 = Strongly agree, 2 = Agree, 3 = Neutral, 4 = Disagree, 5 = Strongly disagree P091. Integration of women into RET is a priority for Grameen Shakti. P092. More women managers would lead to women advancing further at GS. P093. Installation of the SHS is too heavy work for women to undertake. P094. I have now reached the limit of my progress at work. P095. To progress in my career I’ll need to find other employment. P096. There is a good future for women engineers at GS. P097. I have a good future working in renewable energy technologies. P098. The turnover of women technicians is a problem at work. Thank you for giving of your time to participate in this study which is intended to learn and improve on women’s training in renewable energy technologies. Name of Interviewer and code__________________________________________ Bangladesh Institute of Development Studies E-17, Agargaon, Sher-e-Bangla Nagar, Dhaka-1207 Integration of Women into Grameen Shakti’s Clean Energy Program in Bangladesh Questionnaire for GTC Engineers and Sub-Assistant Engineers Information and request for consent: The purpose of this survey is to assess the progress made and obstacles encountered in training and empowering women in Renewable Energy Technologies. The study will serve as a learning instrument to provide lessons in future interventions in empowering women in this sector. Please understand that you are not being forced to take part in this study and the choice whether to participate or not is yours alone. However, we would really appreciate it if you do share your thoughts with us. If you choose not take part in answering these questions, you will not be affected in any way. If you agree to participate, you may stop me at any time and tell me that you don’t want to go on with the interview. If you do this there will also be no penalties and you will NOT be prejudiced in ANY way. Please note that the information obtained in this survey will be treated as strictly confidential and individual responses or names will not be included in any reports or publications. Data will be used only for the research study to help direct policy improvements and learn lessons for the future. Yes No Do you have any questions? 1 2 If YES, have these been satisfactorily answered 1 2 If YES, will you participate in this study? 1 2 If consent is given, the interviewer then states: Thank you for agreeing to participate, we will now begin. SURVEY INFORMATION Respondent No: Interview date: Grameen Shakti’s Division__________________ District: _________________________________ Upazila: ______________________________ Union/Pourashava: _________________________________ Village/Ward: _____________________________ Mohalla/Para: __________________________ Name of the Respondent: _______________________________________ Designation__________________________ Respondent Category Code: Respondent’s Mobile Phone No: Day Month Year Information of the Respondent A07. Educational degree obtained: Codes: 11 = SSC/HSC, 12 = Diploma Engineering, 13 = BA/BSc/B Com/BSS, 14 = BSc Engineering, 15 = Masters G. LIFE EXPERIENCE (For the respondent who is or has been married) Indicator Response G01.Age at first marriage (year) G02.Number of children born (Put zero if no child is born live or stillbirth) H. PERSONAL FINANCIAL ASSETS OF THE RESPONDENT Do you have any of the following? (1 = Yes, 2 = No) Indicator Response H01. Savings (Savings Deposits/Fixed Deposits) in banks H02. Savings in microcredit organization H03. Savings in deposit pension scheme H04. Savings in bonds/insurance scheme/wage earners’ scheme/post office H05. Savings in informal organizations/cooperatives H06. Shares/stocks I. RESPONDENT’S ATTITUDE TOWARDS WOMEN’S EMPOWERMENT How does your family decide on the following? Indicators After Employment at the current job Codes: 5= By the respondent herself, 4 = Husband/father, 3 = Respondent jointly with husband/father, 2 = Respondent jointly with others, 1 = Others, 8 = Not Applicable Shopping in the market place I011 Visiting friends and relatives in the village I021 Going outside the village I031 Education of children I041 Own healthcare I051 Marriage of sons/daughters/other dependents I061 Purchase of personal items such as clothes, jewelry, etc. I071 Purchase of fixed property such as land, etc. I081 Voting in the elections I091 Family Planning I101 Participation in civic/women’s organization I111 J. RESPONDENT’S AWARENESS ABOUT WOMEN’S EMPOWERMENT Please respond to the following statements: Indicators After Employment at the current job Awareness: Codes: 1 = Strongly agree, 2 = Agree, 3 = Neither agree nor disagree, 4 = Disagree, 5 = Strongly Disagree Women and men should have equal opportunities in society. J011 A woman’s income is important for her children’s development. J021 A woman’s income does not increase respect from family. J031 A woman’s income increases respect from community. J041 I am not hopeful that the future will be better for women like me. J051 I have control over the key choices in my life. J061 L. KNOWLEDGE AND ATTITUDES ABOUT CLIMATE CHANGE Introduction to CC section (Read aloud): Climate change, also known as global warming, refers to changing global weather patterns, the phenomenon that the world’s average temperature has been increasing over the past decades, may be increasing more in the future, and that the world’s climate may change as a result. We’d like to ask you a few questions about this topic. L01. Have you heard of climate change before today? 1 = Yes, 2 = No L02. In your local area in the past 5-year, have the following become more frequent, less frequent, or have they not changed compared to the past? Codes: 1 = More frequent, 2 = Less frequent, 3 = No change compared to the past, 9 = Don’t know L021. Floods L022. Droughts L023. Number of hot days L024. Severe storms L03. In your local area, does the monsoon seem more predictable, less predictable, or has it not changed compared to the past? Codes: 1 = More predictable, 2 = Less predictable, 3 = No change from the past, 9 = Don’t know L04. If a 1 year-long severe drought happened in your local area, how big of an impact would it have on each of the following? 1 = Large, 2 = Small, 3 = As usual, 9 = Don’t know L041. Food supply of your household L042. Drinking water supply of your household L043. Income of your household L044. Health of the members of your household L045. Your house L046. Your community L05. If a severe drought happened in your local area, how long do you think it would take for your household to recover? (days), 9999 = Don’t know L06. If a severe flood happened in your local area, how big of an impact would it have on each of the following? Codes: 1 = Large, 2 = Small, 3 = As usual, 9 = Don’t know L061. Food supply of your household L062. Drinking water supply of your household L063. Income of your household L064. Health of the members of your household L065. Your house L066. Your community L07. If a severe flood happened in your local area, how long do you think it would take for your household to recover? (days), 9999 = Don’t know L08. How likely do you think it is that extreme weather will cause a natural disaster in your community in the next year? Codes: 1 = Very likely, 2 = Somewhat likely, 3 = Somewhat unlikely, 4 = Very unlikely, 9 = Don’t know L09. In the next five years, do you think you will need to do the following. 1 = Yes, 2 = No, 9 = Don’t know L091. Move temporarily because of severe environmental problems L092. Move permanently because of severe environmental problems L093. Rebuild your house L094. Make expensive repairs of the house L10. Do you think you and your family are ready to deal with a natural disaster if one should happen in the area where you live? 1 = Yes, 2 = No, 9 = Don’t know M. TRAINING AT GTC M10. Evaluation of the Training by the Engineers Question Codes: 1 = Strongly agree, 2 = Agree, 3 = Neutral, 4 = Disagree, 5 = Strongly Disagree, 8 = Not Applicable M101. Trainees were trained to construct Solar Home System M102. Trainees were not trained to install Solar Home System M103. Trainees were trained to service Solar Home System M104. Trainees were not trained to promote and sell Solar Home System. M105. Trainees were trained to set up a small Solar Home System business. M106. No new knowledge and skills were gained by the trainees. M106. Trainees learned about climate change and why there is a need for Renewable Energy Technologies. M108. Trainers were not prepared and not knowledgeable on the subject matter. M109. Trainers’ presentation skills were good. M1010. Written materials provided were appropriate and easy to understand. M1011. There was not enough time devoted to each topic for learning and understanding. M1012. The training was well organized. M11. Evaluation of the Usefulness of the training by the Engineers Please respond to these questions about training and the use of trainees’ skills: Question Codes: 1 = Yes, 2 = No, 8 = Not Applicable, 9 = Unsure M111. Were the right kinds of women selected for training? M112. Did the training benefit the trainees personally? M113. To your knowledge have the trainees been used to promote SHS in their communities? M114. To your knowledge have the trainees been asked to maintain/repair Solar House Systems in their communities (outside of their regular job responsibilities)? M115. If YES, to your knowledge have the trainees been paid to maintain/repair Solar Home Systems in their communities? N. EMPLOYMENT (Section to be tested during the pilot for relevance to Engineers) N02. History of employment: please enter in sequence from present to past [Enter Occupation Code from Employment Status Code of Section A of the Questionnaire for Trainees and Employees.] Occupation (Code from Section A) Type of Organization (Code) Number of months worked (months) Average number of days worked per month (days) Average number of hours worked per day (hours) Frequency of payment (Code) Payment (including in- kind payment (Tk.)) Distance from work place to home (km) Mode of Transportation from home vis￾à-vis work place (Code) N0211 N0212 N0213 N0214 N0215 N0216 N0217 N0218 N0219 N0221 N0222 N0223 N0224 N0225 N0226 N0227 N0228 N0229 N0231 N0232 N0233 N0234 N0235 N0236 N0237 N0238 N0239 N0241 N0242 N0243 N0244 N0245 N0246 N0247 N0248 N0249 N0251 N0252 N0253 N0254 N0255 N0256 N0257 N0258 N0259 Codes for Type of Organization: 1= Government, 2 = Private, 3 = NGO, 4 = Others (Please specify) ____________________________ Codes for Compensation Frequency: 1 = Daily, 2 = Weekly, 3 = Monthly, 4 = Yearly, 5 = Lump sum Codes for Transportation: 1 = On foot, 2 = Rickshaw, 3 = Nosimon, 4 = Motor Cycle, 5 = Van, 6 = Motor Car, 7 = Bus, 8 = Truck, 9 = Boat, 10 = Others N03. Why did you decide to work for GS rather than elsewhere? (Maximum two answers possible) Codes: 1 = Higher income, 2 = Training qualified me for the job, 3 = Training motivated me to work in RET, 4 = Needed any job which was available at that time, 5 = This sector provides better opportunity for women, 6 = Others (Please specify) ______________________ P. WORK ENVIRONMENT: ATTITIUDES AND PERCEPTIONS OF WORK AT GRAMEEN SHAKTI P01. Who does the kind of work listed below at Grameen Shakti? Supply chain 1 = Only women, 2 = Mostly women, 3 = Men and women, 4 = Mostly men, 5 = Only men P011. Assembly of SHS components P012. Marketing of SHS P013. Installation of SHS P014. Training users of SHS P015. Service and repairs, etc, of SHS P2. What have been the attitudes towards trainees at work from your colleagues? Attitude of Colleagues Code: 1 = Very Positive, 2 = Positive, 3 = Neither positive nor negative, 4 = Negative, 5 = Very Negative, 6 = Don’t know P021. Male Regional Managers P022. Female Regional Managers P023. Male Engineers P024. Female Engineers P025. Male Counterparts P026. Female Counterparts P027. Male Customers P028. Female Customers P03. Are women and men treated differently at your work? 1 = Yes, 2 = No P04. If YES, what obstacles relating to being a woman have been encountered by you? Codes: 1 = Lower salary, 2 = Harassment, 3 = Drudgery work, 4 = Lack of understanding of family commitments, 5 = Others (Please specify)_______________ P05. Do you feel women technicians tend to want to leave this work? 1 = Yes 2 = No P06. If YES, why do you think the women technicians leave? (Maximum two answers possible) Codes: 1 = Low compensation, 2 = Family problem, 3 = Adverse work environment, 4 = Married to another location, 5 = Gave birth to child, 6 = Better job elsewhere, 7 = Others (Please specify)_______________ P07. Are there any specific tasks at work that women are discouraged to do? 1 = Yes 2 = No P08. If YES, please choose two of the following: Codes: 1 = Heavy manual work, 2 = Supervision, 3 = Clerical / computer work, 4 = Higher paid work, 5 = Others (Please specify)_______________ P09. Do you agree with the following statements? Indicator Codes: 1 = Strongly agree, 2 = Agree, 3 = Neutral, 4 = Disagree, 5 = Strongly disagree P091. Integration of women into RET is a priority for Grameen Shakti. P092. More women managers would lead to women advancing further at GS. P093. Installation of the Solar Home System is too heavy work for women to undertake. P094. Women technicians have now reached the limit of their progress at work. P095. To progress in their career women technicians need to find other employment. P096. There is a good future for women engineers at GS. P097. I have a good future working in renewable energy technology. P098. The turnover of women technicians is a problem at work. Q. ENGINEER’S PERSPECTIVE ON EMPLOYMENT OF TRAINEES AND LOCAL WOMEN Q01. Did your branch hire trained women technicians? 1 = Yes, 2 = No Q02. If YES, when did your branch first hire women technicians trained on the GTC course? Q03. Did your branch hire local women technicians? 1 = Yes, 2 = No If NO, PROCEED TO Q09 Q04. If YES, when did your branch first hire local women technicians? Q05. How does GS decide which women to hire as local technicians? Please select two options Codes: 1 = Trained elsewhere, 2 = Young women, 3 = Unmarried women, 4 = Most educated women, 5 = Older reliable women, 6 = Others (Please specify) ______________________________________________ Q06. What work have untrained women employees undertaken? Up to three responses may be recorded Codes: 1 = Assembly of SHS, 2 = Installation of SHS, 3 = Service of SHS, 4 = Repairs of SHS, 5 = Work on other GS products, 6 = Others (Please specify) _______________________________________________ Q07. If both trained women technicians and local women technicians were recruited at your branch, what gap did the local/untrained women fill? Codes: 1 = They do the similar work as the trained women technician, 2 = They do complementary/supplementary work, 3 = They do independent work Q08. In what way were they different from the trainees? Please select two options. Codes: 1 = Age, 2 = Educational background, 3 = Marital status, 4 = Sincerity at work, 5 = Others (Please specify) ___________________________ Q09. If the training program were to be repeated, what changes would you recommend? Please select two recommendations Codes: 1= Careful selection of trainees, 2 = Longer training, 3 = More business training, 4 = Better methods of teaching, 5 = Follow￾up training in micro-enterprises, 6 = Follow-up support after training Q10. Do you feel it is essential for assembly pieceworkers to be formally trained? 1= Yes, 2 = No, 9 = Don’t know Please explain your position. __________________________________________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________ Q11. Please provide your comparative assessment of women technicians on a scale of 1-5. Criterion Women technicians who received 15 day training by GTC Women technicians who did not receive 15 day training by GTC Knowledge about RET Q1111 Q1121 Time keeping Q1112 Q1122 Quality of work Q1113 Q1123 Team work Q1114 Q1124 Codes: 1 = Very poor, 2 = Poor, 3 = Fair, 4 = Very good, 5 = Excellent, 8 = Not applicable Q12. In a wider context how did the USAID-funded training lead to women’s entrepreneurship? Please Explain __________________________________________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________ Q13. Do you feel that the training and women’s participation was essential to GS in scaling up and decentralizing production of SHS? Codes: 1 = Yes, 2 = No, 9 = Do not know Q14. Do you feel that the investment in training led to success for your branch and for GS? 1 = Yes, 2 = No Please explain your position. __________________________________________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________ Q15. How do you feel that the training intervention would have been more successful in integrating women into the Clean Energy supply chain? Please explain. __________________________________________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________ Thank you for giving of your time to participate in this study which is intended to learn and improve on women’s training in renewable energy technologies. Name of Interviewer and code__________________________________________ Bangladesh Institute of Development Studies E-17, Agargaon, Sher-e-Bangla Nagar, Dhaka-1207 Integration of Women into Grameen Shakti’s Clean Energy Program in Bangladesh Questionnaire for Regional Managers Information and request for consent: The purpose of this survey is to assess the progress made and obstacles encountered in training and empowering women in Renewable Energy Technologies. The study will serve as a learning instrument to provide lessons in future interventions in empowering women in this sector. Please understand that you are not being forced to take part in this study and the choice whether to participate or not is yours alone. However, we would really appreciate it if you do share your thoughts with us. If you choose not take part in answering these questions, you will not be affected in any way. If you agree to participate, you may stop me at any time and tell me that you don’t want to go on with the interview. If you do this there will also be no penalties and you will NOT be prejudiced in ANY way. Please note that the information obtained in this survey will be treated as strictly confidential and individual responses or names will not be included in any reports or publications. Data will be used only for the research study to help direct policy improvements and learn lessons for the future. Yes No Do you have any questions? 1 2 If YES, have these been satisfactorily answered 1 2 If YES, will you participate in this study? 1 2 If consent is given, the interviewer then states: Thank you for agreeing to participate, we will now begin. SURVEY INFORMATION Respondent No: Interview date: Grameen Shakti’s Division__________________ District: _________________________________ Upazila: ______________________________ Union/Pourashava: _________________________________ Village/Ward: _____________________________ Mohalla/Para: __________________________ Name of the Respondent: _______________________________________ Designation ______________________________________ Respondent Category Code: Respondent’s Mobile Phone No: Day Month Year Information of the Respondent A07. Educational degree obtained: Codes: 11 = SSC/HSC, 12 = Diploma Engineering, 13 = BA/BSc/B Com/BSS, 14 = BSc Engineering, 15 = Masters J. RESPONDENT’S AWARENESS ABOUT WOMEN’S EMPOWERMENT Please respond to the following statements: Indicators After Employment at the current job Awareness: Codes: 1 = Strongly agree, 2 = Agree, 3 = Neither agree nor disagree, 4 = Disagree, 5 = Strongly Disagree Women and men should have equal opportunities in society. J011 A woman’s income is important for her children’s development. J021 A woman’s income does not increase respect from family. J031 A woman’s income increases respect from community. J041 I am not hopeful that the future will be better for women of my status. J051 Women of my status have control over the key choices in their lives. J061 L. KNOWLEDGE AND ATTITUDES ABOUT CLIMATE CHANGE Introduction to CC section (Read aloud): Climate change, also known as global warming, refers to changing global weather patterns, the phenomenon that the world’s average temperature has been increasing over the past decades, may be increasing more in the future, and that the world’s climate may change as a result. We’d like to ask you a few questions about this topic. L01. Have you heard of climate change before today? 1 = Yes, 2 = No L02. In your local area in the past 5-year, have the following become more frequent, less frequent, or have they not changed compared to the past? Codes: 1 = More frequent, 2 = Less frequent, 3 = No change compared to the past, 9 = Don’t know L021. Floods L022. Droughts L023. Number of hot days L024. Severe storms L03. In your local area, does the monsoon seem more predictable, less predictable, or has it not changed compared to the past? Codes: 1 = More predictable, 2 = Less predictable, 3 = No change from the past, 9 = Don’t know L04. If a 1 year-long severe drought happened in your local area, how big of an impact would it have on each of the following? 1 = Large, 2 = Small, 3 = As usual, 9 = Don’t know L041. Food supply of your household L042. Drinking water supply of your household L043. Income of your household L044. Health of the members of your household L045. Your house L046. Your community L05. If a severe drought happened in your local area, how long do you think it would take for your household to recover? (days), 9999 = Don’t know L06. If a severe flood happened in your local area, how big of an impact would it have on each of the following? Codes: 1 = Large, 2 = Small, 3 = As usual, 9 = Don’t know L061. Food supply of your household L062. Drinking water supply of your household L063. Income of your household L064. Health of the members of your household L065. Your house L066. Your community L07. If a severe flood happened in your local area, how long do you think it would take for your household to recover? (days), 9999 = Don’t know L08. How likely do you think it is that extreme weather will cause a natural disaster in your community in the next year? Codes: 1 = Very likely, 2 = Somewhat likely, 3 = Somewhat unlikely, 4 = Very unlikely, 9 = Don’t know L09. In the next five years, do you think you will need to do the following. 1 = Yes, 2 = No, 9 = Don’t know L091. Move temporarily because of severe environmental problems L092. Move permanently because of severe environmental problems L093. Rebuild your house L094. Make expensive repairs of the house L10. Do you think you and your family are ready to deal with a natural disaster if one should happen in the area where you live? 1 = Yes, 2 = No, 9 = Don’t know M. TRAINING AT GTC M10. Evaluation of the Training by the Managers Question Codes: 1 = Strongly agree, 2 = Agree, 3 = Neutral, 4 = Disagree, 5 = Strongly disagree, 8 = Not Applicable M101. Trainees were trained to construct Solar Home System. M102.Trainees were not trained to install Solar Home System. M103. Trainees were trained to service Solar Home System. M104. Trainees were not trained to promote and sell Solar Home System. M105. Trainees were trained to set up a small Solar Home System business. M106. No new knowledge and skills were gained the trainees. M107. Trainees learned about climate change and why there is a need for Renewable Energy Technologies. M108. Trainers were not prepared and not knowledgeable on the subject matter. M109. Trainers’ presentation skills were good. M1010. Written materials provided were appropriate and easy to understand. M1011. There was not enough time devoted to each topic for learning and understanding. M1012. The training was well organized. M11. Evaluation of the Usefulness of the training by the Managers Please respond to these questions about training and the use of trainees’ skills: Question Codes: 1 = Yes, 2 = No, 8 = Not Applicable, 9 = Unsure M111. Were the right kinds of women selected for training? M112. Did the training benefit the trainees personally? M113. To your knowledge have the trainees been used to promote the Solar Home System in their communities? M114. To your knowledge have the trainees been asked to maintain/repair Solar Home System in their communities (outside of their regular job responsibilities)? M115. To your knowledge have the trainees been paid to maintain/repair Solar Home Systems in their communities? P. WORK ENVIRONMENT: ATTITIUDES AND PERCEPTIONS OF WORK AT GRAMEEN SHAKTI P01. Who does the kind of work listed below at Grameen Shakti? Supply chain 1 = Only women, 2 = Mostly women, 3 = Men and women, 4 = Mostly men, 5 = Only men P011. Assembly of SHS components P012. Marketing of SHS P013. Installation of SHS P014. Training users of SHS P015. Service and repairs, etc, of SHS P02. What have been the attitudes towards trainees at work from your colleagues? Attitude of Colleagues Codes: 1 = Very Positive, 2 = Positive, 3 = Neither positive nor negative, 4 = Negative, 5 = Very Negative, 8 = Not Applicable, 9 = Don’t know P021. Male Divisional Managers P022. Female Divisional Managers P023. Male Engineers P024. Female Engineers P025. Male Counterparts P026. Female Counterparts P027. Male Customers P028. Female Customers P03. Are women and men treated differently at your work? 1 = Yes 2 = No P05. Do you feel women technicians tend to want to leave this work? 1 = Yes 2 = No P06. If YES, why do you think the women technicians leave? (Maximum two answers possible) Codes: 1 = Low compensation, 2 = Family problem, 3 = Adverse work environment, 4 = Married to another location, 5 = Gave birth to child, 6 = Better job elsewhere, 7 = Others (Please specify)_______________ P07. Are there any specific tasks at work that women are discouraged to do? 1 = Yes 2 = No P08. If YES, please choose two of the following: (Maximum two answers possible) Codes: 1 = Heavy manual work, 2 = Supervision, 3 = Clerical / computer work, 4 = Higher paid work, 5 = Others (Please specify)_______________ P09. Do you agree with the following statements? Indicator Codes: 1 = Strongly agree, 2 = Agree, 3 = Neutral, 4 = Disagree, 5 = Strongly disagree P091. Integration of women into RET is a priority for Grameen Shakti. P092. More women managers would lead to women advancing further at GS. P093. Installation of the Solar Home System is too heavy work for women to undertake. P094. Women technicians have now reached the limit of their progress at work. P095. To progress in their career women technicians need to find other employment. P096. There is a good future for women engineers at GS. P097. I have a good future working in renewable energy technology. P098. The turnover of women technicians is a problem at work. Q. MANAGER’S PERSPECTIVE ON EMPLOYMENT OF TRAINEES AND LOCAL WOMEN Q01. Did your branch hire trained women technicians? 1 = Yes, 2 = No Q02. If YES, when did your branch first hire trained women technicians? Q03. Did your branch hire local women technicians? 1 = Yes, 2 = No If NO, PROCEED TO Q09 Q04. If YES, when did your branch first hire local women technicians? Q05. How does GS decide which women to hire as local technicians? Please select two options Codes: 1 = Trained elsewhere, 2 = Young women, 3 = Unmarried women, 4 = Most educated women, 5 = Older reliable women, 6 = Others (Please specify) ______________________________________________ Q06. What work have untrained women employees undertaken? Up to three responses may be recorded Codes: 1 = Assembly of SHS, 2 = Installation of SHS, 3 = Service of SHS, 4 = Repairs of SHS, 5 = Work on other GS products, 6 = Others (Please specify) _______________________________________________ Q07. If both trained women technicians and local women technicians were recruited at your branch, what gap did the local/untrained women fill? Codes: 1 = They do the similar work as the trained women technician, 2 = They do complementary/supplementary work, 3 = They do independent work Q08. In what way were they different from the trainees? Please select two options. Codes: 1 = Age, 2 = Educational background, 3 = Marital status, 4 = Sincerity at work, 5 = Others (Please specify) ___________________________ Q09. If the training program were to be repeated, what changes would you recommend? Please select two recommendations Codes: 1= Careful selection of trainees, 2 = Longer training, 3 = More business training, 4 = Better methods of teaching, 5 = Follow￾up training in micro-enterprises, 6 = Follow-up support after training Q10. Do you feel it is essential for assembly pieceworkers to be formally trained? 1= Yes, 2 = No, 9 = Do not know Please explain your position. __________________________________________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________ Q11. Please provide your comparative assessment of women technicians on a scale of 1-5. Criterion Women technicians who received 15 day training by GTC Women technicians who did not receive 15 day training by GTC Knowledge about RET Q1111 Q1121 Time keeping Q1112 Q1122 Quality of work Q1113 Q1123 Team work Q1114 Q1124 Codes: 1 = Very poor, 2 = Poor, 3 = Fair, 4 = Very good, 5 = Excellent, 8 = Not applicable Q12. In a wider context how did the USAID-funded training lead to women’s entrepreneurship? Please Explain __________________________________________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________ Q13. Do you feel that the training and women’s participation was essential to GS in scaling up and decentralizing production of SHS? 1 = Yes, 2 = No, 9 = Do not know Q14. Do you feel that the investment in training led to success for your branch and for GS? 1 = Yes, 2 = No Please explain your position. __________________________________________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________ Q15. How do you feel that the training intervention would have been more successful in integrating women into the Clean Energy supply chain? Please explain. __________________________________________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________ Thank you for giving of your time to participate in this study which is intended to learn and improve on women’s training in renewable energy technologies. Name of Interviewer and code__________________________________________ APPENDIX E: RESPONSE TO STUDY FROM GRAMEEN SHAKTI Integrating Women into the Renewable Energy Value Chain in Bangladesh 93 Feedback on USAID Report on Grameen Technology Centers Feedback on US AID Report Date: 29 October, 2014 “Integrating Women into Grameen Shakti’s Renewable Energy Value Chain in Bangladesh” 1. Introduction This intensive research work has brought up some impact issues related to Grameen Technology Centre (GTC). Through the questionnaire survey conducted among 500 respondents including 86 Working Trainees, 252 Non-Working Trainees, 18 Working Non-Trainees, 99 Women Engineers and 45 Regional Managers of Grameen Shakti. Among 500 respondents, 252 Non￾Working Trainees do not work in Grameen Shakti however they had received 15-day training (Page: 5). Grameen Shakti appreciates the in-depth research work on Grameen Technology Centers. Grameen Shakti also thanks to all parties who have done this effective work that would help in future to design, prepare and evaluate social work in developing countries. Grameen Shakti is taking opportunity to make some comments on this report. 2. Feedback from Grameen Shakti 2.1 Income of GTC Technicians in comparison with Garments Worker The report says: “ On a monthly basis, the minimum wage for a garment worker is BDT 21,200 compared to the BDT 2,154 of the Grameen Shakti Worker…………………..the GTC employee earns an average of BDT 151 per day while the Garment worker earns minimum of BDT 815 per day equivalent to USD 1.94 per day for the GTC employee (Page: 22) & which is below the international norm for poverty at the personal income level which is USD 2 per day (Executive Summary page: vii). GS Feedback: It is requested for cross checking the information of minimum wage of a Garment Worker. Actually, the minimum wage for Garment Worker has been set as 5300 Taka for a regular month (not for a standard working week). Please find the following link as reference. 1)http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-11-13/bangladesh-garment-factories-to-stay￾shut-amid-worker-protests.html (This link has been also used in the USAID Report) 2) http://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/nov/14/bangladesh-garment-workers-pay-rise 2.2 Issue of training for customers (especially women), school campaign and demonstration The report says: The study did not focus the training for women customers and school campaign (Project Background: page: 02). GS feedback: It is very important to focus on training for customers as well as school campaign. Knowledge sharing and capacity building among this group of people will make a positive difference in RET dissemination in future especially in developing countries like Bangladesh. 2.3 Recruitment Process in Grameen Shakti The report says: “Each branch office hires Local employees as field assistant to install and maintain SHS, ICS and Biogas plants” (Grameen Shakti’s rural network model: page: 3). GS feedback: But in reality, the Divisional Office under the supervision of Head office recruit the field assistant. Before any recruitment process, Job Vacancies are published in most￾circulated daily newspapers as well as in job portals. Examination Committee is formed for each Division and one of the top officials from Head office chair the committee. Grameen Shakti has well structured recruitment process. Rules and regulations for recruitment process are strictly followed. All recruitment process is solely controlled by Grameen Shakti Head Office. 2.4 Issue of Integration in Grameen Shakti Value Chain The report says: “After assembly, each segment of the value chain- from Marketing to service of RETs- is dominated (entirely or almost entirely) by men Who are GS employees” (Trainees in the GS value chain: page: 13) From the report it was significantly found that “Content of Training material” has included mainly the topic of “Construct SHS” (Table 9: Content of the Training received by women trainees; page: 19). The response was very high (around 100%). However, the response was relatively low when they were asked about the content of training regarding Promoting and Sale of SHS. GS feedback: Yes, it’s true that most of the Field Assistants are men. But in context to Bangladesh, low number of women is engaged in field based job. Grameen has no discrimination about the recruitment regardless man and woman. Management of Grameen Shakti does not discourage anyone (regardless man or women) to do any type of works. But experience over the long run shows that women worker do not show their interest in field based job considering social perspective. The total work of Grameen Shakti is field based work. A field assistant is assigned to visit customer house on regular basis. They travel several miles every day for their duties. They face the problem regarding transport in rural and remote place, bad weather, socio- political problem, etc. They use different types of vehicles what the find in the particular locality. They carry heavy battery, solar panel and other equipments with them. Sometimes, they return from remote field during mid-night. Many female workers join in the Grameen Shakti and start their job in branch level. But, due to the nature of physical hard-working job in rural areas, they reduce their interest and drop the job. Furthermore, many women get marry after their jobs and stay at their husbands’ house. Sometimes, their families do not allow them in field based job. Apart from these issues, some female workers do not feel better during their pregnancy period when they are engaged in field level work. But, as a leading organization in renewable energy sector in Bangladesh, the management of Grameen Shakti does its best in breaking down of these difficulties as well as barriers. 2.5 Issue of Gender-Equity As an organization on the basis of “Not-for Profit” and working only for rural people, Grameen Shakti does not believe in gender discrimination. Grameen Shakti focuses on the beneficiary of rural people especially for women. It has also been described in the report that all the products of Grameen Shakti are dedicated for women. So, Grameen Shakti does not compromise in fulfillment of mission and vision. 3. Concluding Remark The lessons learnt from the project are significantly important for progress any development project in future. All the stakeholders within this project require evaluating in-depth and incorporating the lessons in the upcoming projects. When we all parties focus on the findings of this research, we believe that any project to be implemented in future tenor will get promising and benchmark shape.