The renewable energy sector, a growing and innovative industry, is improving career opportunities for women and youth. Reliable and clean power also empowers female entrepreneurs to start businesses, further promoting diversity within communities.
On International Women’s Day, we want to take a moment to celebrate some of these successes, focusing on East Africa and what these amazing women have achieved.
The energy transition is more than a technological shift; it's a chance to enhance social and economic inclusivity. This year’s theme, Accelerate Action, stresses the importance of taking swift and decisive steps to achieve gender equality. Energy access and a just transition offer a significant opportunity to rapidly and equitably integrate more women into the workforce.
Though work needs to be done to seize this opportunity. Over the years there has been a gradual increase in representation. According to a recent GOGLA study, Women now hold 27% of full-time jobs in off-grid solar. Though the pace is constrained by women continuing to face deep-seated barriers.
The industry is rich with stories of women who have faced down these barriers to ensure affordable, reliable and sustainable energy is accessible in their communities. This year we would like to spotlight these women in East Africa who graciously gave their time to help us better understand how women can be supported in the sector.
Lewam Teklu: Moving Ethiopia’s Renewable Energy towards Inclusivity
In Ethiopia, we meet Lewam Teklu, founder of SHEnergy Consulting, where she is creating a more effective on-ramp for women entering careers in sustainable development and innovation.
"All we need is the training... They need to practice it, there are pilot projects... So there is a potential and we can also create a platform."
– Lewam Teklu
The association is focused on advocacy, networking, and technical and soft-skills training for women in the renewable energy sector.
Catrine Shroff: Gender Inclusivity and environmental innovation
In Kenya, Catrine Shroff runs Mwangaza Light, focused on providing sustainable energy with clean cooking in off-grid communities, while advocating for gender equity in the sector. Catrine is not only lighting up homes and modernizing cooking techniques but also forging a more equitable and sustainable future.
“Women bring invaluable insights into these gender-specific challenges and softer issues within the sector. Overall, recognizing and addressing gender dynamics is crucial for promoting sustainable and inclusive solutions in the cooking sector”.
– Catrine Shroff
Her story is a powerful example of how distributed renewable energy can be a catalyst for community development and a center of opportunity for women in marginalized regions of the world.
Juliana Lanyero: Tackling food waste and gender bias
In Uganda, Juliana Lanyero’s cloudGreen uses renewable energy to power her business. It brings e-mobility and locally-orientated digital infrastructure to increase market access for local farmers.
"I got into a space that is essentially very male-dominated. My background is not in engineering at all... But I had to push myself to learn because the world needs solutions and not excuses."
– Juliana Lanyero
Her work with CloudGreen leverages DRE to combat food waste and promote sustainable agriculture.
Alem Gebru: Crusading for Gender Inclusivity
Back in Ethiopia, Alem Gebru runs a successful DRE company, Modify Electromechanical, where she has an engineering mentorship program for young women. She knows the struggles of succeeding in a male-dominated field but remains committed to helping other women break down gender barriers.
Her message of encouragement is clear: “do not fear failure, it is an essential part of the learning process that comes with new challenges and is essential for growth and innovation.”
By sharing her experiences and insights, Alem charts a path forward for greater female participation and empowerment in Ethiopia's DRE sector.
Each of these women’s stories is different, yet deeply connected. They speak of resilience, innovation, and the unwavering belief that energy access is not just about power—it’s about people.
Today reminds the world of the importance of gender equality and inclusivity, today serves as a reminder of the big strides made by women, and today is a reminder of what is yet to be achieved.