Providing a Protective Environment and Women Empowerment Through Clean Energy

The project officially commenced with a stakeholder launch held on 17 April 2026 in Twic County. The event brought together local authorities, traditional leaders, women representatives, youth groups, teachers, forestry officials, returnee representatives, IDP leaders, civil society actors and community members to discuss the project objectives, implementation approach, beneficiary responsibilities and sustainability arrangements.

Fifty stakeholders participated in the launch, including twenty-nine women and twenty-one men. The launch built consensus around the project’s vision of linking protection, environmental restoration and women’s economic empowerment, and community leaders expressed strong support for the initiative.

Five women’s production groups were established across Aweng and Turalei Payams, bringing together one hundred women and girls who received practical training in fuel-efficient stove production. Three groups were formed in Turalei Payam while two groups operated in Aweng Payam.

Participants were trained on sourcing and preparing raw materials, stove moulding techniques, drying and curing processes, quality assurance standards, maintenance requirements and safe household utilization.

The intervention reached 200 vulnerable households identified through a community-driven verification process that prioritized female-headed households, internally displaced persons, returnees, older persons and persons with disabilities. By the reporting period, 186 fuel-efficient stoves had been fully produced and quality checked, while additional units remained under curing and completion.

The environmental restoration component focused on strengthening climate resilience and environmental stewardship through schools and surrounding communities. Assessments were conducted across all ten targeted schools, followed by collaboration with teachers, School Management Committees, parents, students and community volunteers to identify suitable restoration sites.

Environmental Clubs were established or strengthened in each school to support awareness raising, tree planting, environmental education and long-term maintenance of planted sites.

One hundred teachers, pupils and students received training on environmental conservation, climate change adaptation, biodiversity protection, seedling management and sustainable natural resource management.

The project procured a diverse mix of tree species, including mango, guava, mahogany, neem and lemon seedlings. By the reporting period, more than 1,400 seedlings had been secured and distributed across project locations.

Community volunteers, teachers, students and local leaders collaborated in preparing planting sites through land clearing, excavation of planting holes and construction of protective fencing. A total of 1,450 planting holes were prepared while more than 1,200 protective fence sections were constructed to safeguard newly planted trees from livestock damage.

Tree planting activities resulted in 1,000 seedlings being planted across schools, host communities and IDP settlements, with schools receiving the largest share — creating greener learning environments and contributing to long-term environmental recovery.