By Leonardo Mogollón

Women’s participation in the renewable energy

workforce in Sub-Saharan Africa.

The renewable energy sector has the potential to not only combat climate change,
but also to provide economic opportunities and improve the lives of people around
the world. In sub-Saharan Africa, the renewable energy sector is especially
important as it can help to address energy poverty and support sustainable
development. However, in order to fully realise the potential of the renewable
energy sector, it is crucial to ensure that all members of society are able to
participate and benefit. This includes women, who have historically been
underrepresented in the workforce, including in the renewable energy sector.
In this report, will look at the current state of women's participation in the
renewable energy workforce in sub-Saharan Africa, based on the data and
perspectives of the report "Women's Participation in the Renewable Energy
Workforce in Sub-Saharan Africa" published by energy2equals Africa in 2022.

Women's participation in the renewable energy workforce

According to the energy2equals Africa report, women's participation in the

renewable energy workforce in sub-Saharan Africa is currently low. The report
found that, on average, women make up just 20% of the renewable energy
workforce in the region. This is a significantly lower proportion than the global
average, which stands at around 30%.

There are several factors that contribute to the low representation of women in the
renewable energy sector in sub-Saharan Africa. One of these is the traditional
gender roles that exist in many societies in the region, which can limit women's
access to education and employment opportunities in fields such as science,
technology, engineering, and math (STEM). This can make it difficult for women to
enter the renewable energy sector, as it is often a highly technical field.

Another factor is the lack of targeted policies and initiatives to support the
participation of women in the renewable energy sector. The energy2equals Africa
report found that very few countries in the region have specific policies or
initiatives in place to support the participation of women in the renewable energy
workforce. As a result, women may face additional barriers to entering and
advancing in the sector.

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The impact of low representation

The low representation of women in the renewable energy sector in sub-Saharan

Africa has significant consequences. One of the main impacts is the missed
opportunity for economic empowerment. The renewable energy sector has the
potential to create a large number of new jobs and to drive economic growth in the
region. However, if women are not able to fully participate in this growth, they will
miss out on the economic opportunities that it presents.

In addition, the lack of diversity in the renewable energy workforce can also have
negative impacts on the sector itself. Research has shown that diverse teams are
more innovative and more effective at solving complex problems. Therefore, if the
renewable energy sector in sub-Saharan Africa is not diverse, it may be less
innovative and less effective at addressing the energy challenges facing the region.

In conclusion, the low representation of women in the renewable energy

workforce in sub-Saharan Africa is a significant issue that needs to be addressed.
While there are several factors that contribute to this low representation, including
traditional gender roles and a lack of targeted policies and initiatives, it is
important to recognize the missed opportunities and negative impacts that result
from this underrepresentation. To fully realise the potential of the renewable
energy sector in the region, it is essential to ensure that all members of society are
able to participate and benefit.

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References:

Energy2equals Africa. (2022). Women’s Participation in the Renewable Energy

Workforce in Sub-Saharan Africa.
https://www.energia.org/assets/2022/07/FINALREPORT2-E2EReport_UPDATEDONLIN
E.pdf