The African energy sector remains predominantly male-dominated, a trend that the newly launched Women in Energy Africa (WEN-Africa) forum seeks to address. The forum, dedicated to fostering gender equality and women’s empowerment in the energy sector, was officially launched on February 21 at the Kigali Marriott Hotel and attended by 126 participants from various Eastern and Southern African countries. Patricie Uwase, the Minister of State in the Ministry of Infrastructure, said that the launch of this initiative marked a step towards bridging the gender gap in the region’s energy industry. ALSO READ: EPD committed to catalyzing positive change and promoting gender inclusivity in Rwanda’s energy sector Uwase emphasised the critical role of such forums in reshaping the energy sector’s landscape and highlighted the potential for increased productivity when women are actively involved in policy discussions and decision-making processes. “Such initiatives like WEN-Africa have the power to prompt policymakers and investors to reconsider the representation of women within the sector,” she noted. Uwase acknowledged the existing challenges faced by women in the energy sector, including limited enrolment in energy-related courses and underrepresentation in key positions. However, she remained positive about the impact of initiatives like WEN-Africa in overcoming these obstacles. Furthermore, noted that Rwanda, for instance, has already taken steps to promote gender equality in the energy sector through initiatives such as the “Women in Rwanda Energy” forum, by integrating women into major energy projects and providing opportunities for advancement. ALSO READ: Move to entice more young women engineers to join the energy sector Lonkhokhela Dlamini, the Eswatini Minister for Natural Resources and Energy, hailed WEN-Africa as a crucial initiative for women across the continent. He emphasised the importance of creating ways for women to not only work in the industry but also become stakeholders and leaders. ALSO READ: How one woman is leveraging renewable energy to lift other women Fowzia Hassan, the team leader for WEN-Africa and Senior Energy Operation Officer at the World Bank, outlined the forum’s mission to promote gender equality and women’s empowerment in the energy sector—with a focus on hiring more women, enhancing professional development opportunities, strengthening STEM education for girls, and advocating for policy change, as well as closing the gender gap. Hassan emphasised, “Through advocacy, networking, policy dialogue, and research, WEN-Africa aims to create an active women’s network at both national and regional levels, strengthening women’s participation in the energy value chain.” While WEN-Africa is currently initiated in 10 countries, Hassan disclosed plans to expand its reach gradually to include the entire African continent. According to the International Renewable Energy Agency, the global energy sector has the potential to create 139 million jobs, with over 74 million in energy efficiency, electric vehicles, power systems or flexibility, and hydrogen.
