NGOCC and REA Sign An MoU To Empower Women

By Staff Reporter

A Memorandum of Understanding between The Non-governmental Gender Organisations Coordinating Council (NGOCC) and The Rural Electrification Authority (REA) has been signed aimed at increasing electricity uptake in rural communities among women for a period of 3 years.

Speaking during the ceremony held at the REA Head Office today, REA Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Pastor Geoffrey Musonda said the MoU signifies a new beginning for both institutions to forge a partnership together.

“This signing ceremony is the beginning of a formal partnership between REA and NGOCC in which the two parties will work together in promoting activities that will ensure increase in both access rate and productivity rate in various rural communities in Zambia.”

Pastor Musonda further urged women groups in rural areas to take advantage of the opportunity to engage in productive uses of electricity for economic gains where electricity will be connected.

“NGOCC is one of the civil society organisations that REA identified as a potential partner that could collaborate with the Authority in increasing electricity uptake in rural areas.”

And NGOCC Executive Director Engwase B. Mwale was excited that the two institutions had reached a collaboration to empower rural areas through electricity.

“This is an exciting moment for us as NGOCC to be a part of this important milestone. We thank REA for the confidence shown in working with us. We take this as an endorsement of our ability to promote gender mainstreaming through rural electrification projects”.

“The partnership is envisaged to actualise the sustainable development goals theme of “leaving no one behind” through according our rural communities electricity infrastructure using appropriate technologies.”

Further, the Ms Mwale encouraged the women to take advantage of this partnership to make use of this initiative.

“We want to take this opportunity to encourage the women in rural areas, to take advantage of the partnership between NGOCC and REA and find innovative ways to make a living out of the use of energy such as electricity.”

Other members of the NGOCC team were NGOCC Board Publicity Secretary Beatrice Mulevu, Programmes Manager Chilufya Chokwe Siwale, Grants Manager Florence Lufunsa, Acting Head-Communication and Advocacy Programme Whitney Mulobela and Documentation Officer Samuel Mwanakatwe.