On the day of the International Women’s Day, RES4Africa launches the report on women in the energy transition proposing actions to increase women participation, leadership and ownership in the energy sector. 

Women lack access to energy particularly for clean cooking and heating. Only 35% of females are graduates in STEM globally and 31% works in the the renewable energy sector while 22% in the oil and gas industry. They are more present in the administrative and middle-range positions and paid less than men. The lack of social, structural and financial support embeds women to launch their enterprises and secure funding and to be considered part of decision-making. 

The challenges of the energy sector are more pressing since the sector is going through a process of transformation. The global energy transition will require innovative solutions and business models to be adopted and greater participation from a diverse talent pool. It is not just a climate mitigation change, it's a social and economic transformation where men and women are at the heart of this shift. 

RES4Africa Foundation strongly believes that a Just energy transition cannot happen with women. Women should have equal opportunity to benefit from, participate in and lead the energy transition and should have equal access to and control over sustainable energy products and services. To date, gender inequality persists in the energy sector and going forward, the energy transition cannot happen without half of the world population. 

To achieve a just transition, we need to work together and harder so that women have equal opportunities to participate, lead and benefit from sustainable and inclusive energy transition. We need multi-stakeholder approaches that bring together diverse groups of actors and co-design initiatives to promote women’s participation as end users, consumers, workforce, entrepreneurs and leaders in the energy sector.  Together, we can voice the need for a gender-responsive energy transition and forge a future that is equal, sustainable and just.

Download the full Report

A Just Transition or Just a Transition: Making the Case for Women in Energy Infographics