A journey to empowering women in Africa's energy sector: World Bank Blog By Fowzia Hassan, Meskerem Mulatu Legesse, Marie-Paule Ngaleu and Osman Bin Masood
Kigali, Rwanda (PANA) - This year, we witnessed the birth of a movement in Kigali, Rwanda: the Women in Energy Network Africa (WEN-Africa).aiming to increase the number of women professionals in technical and managerial positions in power utilities and power sector companies across Africa.
The launch of WEN-Africa is a call to action for a future where women lead and engage on innovative solutions in Africa's energy sector. The network is supporting women who are ready to break barriers and lead change. It is a platform that also promotes male engagement, so they can be strong allies and committed and dedicated to empowering more women in the technical fields and managerial positions.
The World Bank
So far, WEN-Africa has secured partnership commitments from eight energy sector institutes in Africa, signed by ministers, chief executive officers, and managing directors, most of whom are male. The commitment of these senior management and leadership members is a good example of how male gender equality champions are engaging and taking action to address issues of gender equality and women empowerment in the sector.
Some of the committed activities signed by the partners to be achieved by the end of 2025 are:
An internship programme for females in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) fields.
A mentorship programme targeting female leaders and technical staff in the energy sector.
Support for the establishment of a workplace childcare facility and lactation rooms.
Revision and adoption of institutional gender inclusive policies including human resource policy and gender equality.
The activities are under four pillars of WEN-Africa that are: 1) hiring more women; 2) increasing women's professional development and retention; 3) strengthening STEM education for girls and 4) policy and institutional changes. These commitments will change the status quo and norms in the energy sector.
One statistic that stands out to us, is the underrepresentation of women in STEM fields and leadership roles within the African energy sector.
With only 31.6% of female graduates in STEM fields in Sub-Saharan Africa and a mere 13% participating in energy sector institutes, we have a long way to go. Fortunately, WEN-Africa is here to help bridge that gap.
At the February WEN-Africa launch, there was a melting pot of ideas and aspirations. It was inspiring to see government representatives, industry leaders, private sector companies, women’s professional associations, development partners, changemakers, academia, and women working in the energy sector come together to deliberate and plan the path for women’s empowerment in the region.
Our takeaways from the discussion were:
The importance of collaborative action plans. Participants emphasised the need to support women in STEM fields through internship and certification programmes, and the strong call to action for energy sector institutes in Africa to attract, hire, and retain female professionals. This collective effort will drive real change.
The importance of partnership building. Witnessing pledges of collaboration and support from various organisations and individuals filled participants with hope. It was a reminder that there is strength in our numbers as we continue to work towards a shared vision of a better future for women in the energy sector, supported by a strong network.
The tangible progress already made, positions us to meet WEN-Africa goals. Collaborative action plans and strong partnerships are laying the groundwork for concrete changes that will empower women and foster a more inclusive and sustainable energy sector.
WEN-Africa is a beacon of hope, serving as an inspiration not only for women in the energy sector but for women in other sectors. The journey has just begun, and with the eight partners and the 100+ gender equality commitments they aspire to achieve by the end of 2025, we are very hopeful of the positive changes we will make together.
How can we further empower women in the energy sector? If you are a governmental institution academic institutes, and professional associations as well as the private sector in the African energy landscape, you can become an institutional partner by signing a minimum of two commitments under the four pillars of WEN-Africa for the fiscal years 2024 and 2025.
By doing so, you can actively contribute to closing the gender gap in employment within the African energy sector. Additionally, you will help Africa to achieve SDG 7, which promotes sustainable, affordable, reliable, and universal energy access.
Please use this link to express your interest in joining WEN-Africa as an institutional partner. Also, get updates and keep track of activities and progress on the WEN-Africa webpage.
The eight partners: Kenya Electricity Generating Company; Ethiopian Electric Power; Tanzania Electric Supply Company Limited; Zanzibar Electricity Corporation; Eswatini Electricity Company; Energy Development Corporation Limited, Rwanda; Kenya Electricity Transmission Company, and Kenya Power and Lighting Company
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