Background

The energy sector was identified as a priority sector in Ethiopia as laid in the National Development Plan Accordingly, the Government of Ethiopia, with the support of development partners, prioritized investments in the country’s electricity sector, to strengthen and expand transmission capacity to meet the energy needs of the country. Access to electricity has been created so far for 47% of the population with 95% in urban and 32% in rural areas (34% through the main grid and 11% using off-grid technologies).The Ethiopian Electric Power (EEP), as an Executing Agency will administer the implementation of Hurso – Harar – Jigjiga & Degehabur – Kebridehar Power Transmission Project with the African Development Bank (AfDB) and Korean Economic Development Cooperation Fund (KEDCF) under the Korea-Africa Energy Investment Framework (KAEIF) that was signed between AfDB and Korean Exim Bank as Financiers of the Project.The ultimate goals of the power transmission line projects include reinforcing and upgrading the transmission network at Harar and Jijiga to 400 kV level by expanding the 400 kV network from Hurso substation and expanding the Degehabur – Kebridehar 132 kV Power Transmission Line Project from Degehabur to Kebridehar through the new Birkot substation.The nature and impact magnitude of the proposed project, as per the Ethiopian EIA Guideline and AfDB’s Environmental and Social Assessment Procedures, is classified as Schedule 1 and Category 1, respectively. Thus, the project requires an Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA).Therefore, as integral part of the ESIA, this standalone Gender Action Plan (GAP) Report is prepared. The objective of this plan is to facilitate the full participation of women in the project construction stage, providing new opportunities for women to boost their income, without increased burden on their lives, and contributing to the enhancement of women’s role and status in the project.The report describes in detail the current socio-economic situation of the women in the project influence area, their livelihood patterns, gender issues, the conditions of the various social services on this moment, and the development activities