HUN-REN Centre for Social Sciences, as part of a consortium, has secured funding for the Women for Solidarity in Energy (WISE) project under the CERV-2023-CITIZENS-CIV call. Led by EnAct, France, a 24-month project, totaling 365,225 EUR, includes partners such as HUN-REN CSS, Hungary, the University of Groningen, the Netherlands, 75inQ, the Netherlands, Orion Grid, Bulgaria, Wind of Renewal, Greece, INZEB, Greece, Green Cooperative, Croatia, and RETE ASSIST, Italy. Ana Stojilovska from the Institute of Political Science will lead the project on behalf of HUN-REN CSS whose role involves co-leading WP1 devoted to National Meetings for WISE Collectives alongside 75inQ and implementing all research and dissemination activities in Hungary. The project, launching in fall 2024, will cover Bulgaria, Croatia, France, Greece, Hungary, Italy, and the Netherlands.

WISE will raise awareness of energy justice, boosting knowledge among low-income, single women encompassing elderly women and single mothers, while empowering them to participate in developing policies to eradicate current energy injustices. WISE will develop and disseminate content relevant to just energy policy, energy-related fundamental rights, and wise energy use. As such content currently exists primarily in English, WISE will translate it into additional languages and make it available through open-source principles, exponentially amplifying its reach and impact. WISE will directly benefit around 140 single women through peer-to-peer learning, training, and the opportunity to engage in democratic processes for energy policy. WISE anticipates raising awareness of energy rights among 700-1000 EU citizens through public events. Critically, WISE will deliver approximately 20 outputs to help other groups implement similar projects and policy recommendations of relevance at local and national levels.