GEAP seeks more inclusion of women in clean energy sector

 GEAP seeks more inclusion of women in clean energy sector

Lagos, March 2, 2024 

The Global Energy Alliance for People and Planet (GEAPP) seeks to provide opportunities for more women inclusion in the clean energy sector.

Mr Mohammed Wakil, the country lead for GEAPP made this assertion during the launch of a report titled "Empowering Women in Clean Energy: Advancing and Retaining an Equitable Workforce."

The report which focuses on empowering women in clean energy careers across sub-saharan Africa was launched at Nordic Hotel, Victoria Island, Lagos State.

According to Wakil, the renewable energy sector is growing exponentially in Africa and provides many job opportunities for women and men in the industry.

"However, women lag men in leadership and technical jobs in the renewable energy sector.

"Women hold just 22 percent of jobs in energy production and distribution, according to the International Energy Agency, even though they make up 48 percent of the global workforce.

"The number is even lower among senior managers: just 14 percent," he said.

Wakil said that the strategic launch of the report, a week to International Women's Day, underlines the significance of the topic.

"Our quest for empowerment in clean energy, emphasises the need for collective action to address gender inequity within the sector.

"Empowering Women in Clean Energy" takes the next step by focusing on the specific workplace barriers hindering women's advancement and retention within the sector.

"The urgency of tackling gender inequity in the clean energy sector cannot be overstated, and we aim to shed light on the intricate dynamics at play," he said.

Walik said that the commitment to a just, equitable, and inclusive energy transition was underscored by a focus on positive impacts on women, youth, and marginalised communities.

He added that the provision of renewable energy must foster gender equity for the transition to yield full economic gains.

"We recognise the disproportionate impact of climate change on women and the unique threats it poses to their livelihoods, health, and safety.

"GEAPP is actively involved in initiatives that empower women through sustainable and profitable renewable energy businesses.

Notable examples include the $2.5 million Solar Harnessed Entrepreneurs (SHE) pilot project implemented by CARE Sierra Leone, supported by GEAPP," he said.

The GEAP representative said that the project targeted over 6,000 women in Sierra Leone, providing them with low-interest loans for solar-powered appliances.

"These women receive training in financial literacy and business management, with a focus on enhancing market access to help their businesses grow.

"The project not only empowers women as entrepreneurs but significantly improves their livelihoods, as evidenced by a reported average 25% increase in their incomes," he said.

Walik said that another noteworthy collaboration was between GEAPP and Shortlist Futures in launching "Women for Green Jobs" (W4GJ), a programme aimed at supporting over 750 women transitioning into clean energy careers.

Shortlist Futures is a talent advisory firm that provides recruitment services and technology for both leadership hiring and large-scale programs across African startups, social ventures, and mission- driven organizations.

It was founded in 2016, we has helped place over five thousand people into jobs in the global south, mostly in Sub-Saharan Africa.

The GEAP representative said that the collaboration would help more women access and succeed in clean energy careers across Africa.

"In collaboration with "Value for Women" and other partners, the programme seeks to promote gender equity in clean energy workspaces and success on the job.

"The programme spans six countries in Sub-Saharan Africa: Nigeria, Uganda, Sierra Leone, Ethiopia, Kenya, and Malawi.

"This initiative aligns with GEAPP's commitment to supporting women-led businesses, as exemplified by SOLAD implementing the Iponri Market Standalone Solar for Productive Use (SSPU)," he said.

Walik said that Shortlist and GEAPP would continue to provide initiatives that would announce new findings and help in the advancement and retention of women in the African clean energy sector.

The Director of Shortlist Futures, Ciara Remerscheid said that women remained severely under-represented across levels of management in clean energy companies.

Remerscheid said that the aim of W4GJ is to help more women access and succeed in clean energy careers in Africa, specifically targeting job placements, career support and employer-level interventions.

“Women experience the greatest repercussions of climate change, which amplifies existing gender inequalities yet, they remain severely under-represented across levels of management in clean energy companies.

"Previous research shows that women hold only a quarter of leadership and manager roles at renewable energy companies in sub-Saharan Africa.

“As investments in climate and clean energy grow in Africa, we need to pay serious attention to female labour force participation in green jobs,” the director said.

Makena Ireri, Director of Demand Jobs and Livelihoods at GEAPP said that a powerful transformation was underway in the African clean energy sector, as companies were making explicit efforts to hire and retain women at every level.

Mrs Opeyemi Awoyeye who works with Sun King Nigeria as the Customer Engagement Executive said that she was one of the beneficiaries of the collaboration between GEAP and Shortlist Futures.