On Thursday, 12 February 2026, RES4Africa Foundation takes part in Powering Change: Women’s Participation in the Energy Transition in East Africa, the final online event of the Student Energy Career Training (SECT): Women in Energy Africa program, held on Zoom from 16:30 to 17:45 CET.

The event marks the conclusion of a seven-month training journey and the official launch of the report Women’s Participation in the Just Energy Transition in East Africa, developed by the program’s trainees.

The training program
Student Energy Career Training (SECT): Women in Energy Africa is a capacity-building program led by Student Energy in partnership and with the contribution of Enel Foundation, and with the support of RES4Africa.
Running from July 2025 to February 2026, the program supported four young African women through a structured pathway combining technical training, applied research and mentorship.

Enel Foundation played a central role in the program’s mentorship activities, guiding the trainees in developing analytical skills, research methodologies and policy-oriented insights, with the support of RES4Africa. As part of their work, the trainees conducted in-depth interviews with seven accomplished women professionals working across the African energy sector. These interviews form an integral part of the final report, grounding the analysis in real-world experience and leadership perspectives.

The report: Women’s Participation in the Just Energy Transition in East Africa
The report explores women’s participation in the energy transition across Kenya, Tanzania and Ethiopia, examining the extent to which women are engaged not only as beneficiaries, but as workers, leaders, entrepreneurs and policymakers.

Combining desk research with semi-structured interviews, the study highlights both progress and persistent barriers across policy frameworks, education systems and labor markets. Its key findings underline that:

• East Africa has made meaningful progress in integrating gender considerations into energy policies, creating a strong foundation for impact at scale. To fully realize this potential, women must act as co-creators and drivers of gender-responsive energy strategies.
• Women play a critical role as co-designers of energy solutions, particularly in decentralized and off-grid systems, where their proximity to local communities’ needs accelerates adoption and trust.
• Women represent a growing pool of technical talent and leadership potential in the energy workforce, essential to addressing skills gaps through sustained investment in STEM education, TVET and hands-on training.
• Increased female participation in operational and leadership roles leads to stronger sector outcomes, making retention, career progression and leadership development essential components of a just transition.

The report concludes that East Africa’s energy transition cannot succeed without the full participation of women: the transition needs women as much as women need energy, to deliver inclusive, sustainable and long-term development outcomes.

The event
Powering Change: Women’s Participation in the Energy Transition in East Africa brings together institutional voices, program partners and emerging leaders to reflect on the report’s findings and their implications for policy and practice.

The agenda includes keynote contributions from:

• Helen Watts, Executive Director of Student Energy and member of Enel Foundation’s Scientific Committee
• Giulia Genuardi, Managing Director of Enel Foundation
• Roberto Vigotti, Secretary General of RES4Africa

The report will be presented by the youth team participants, followed by a keynote intervention from Jeanette Gitobu, former Director of the Women in Wind Global Leadership Program at the Global Wind Energy Council and Vice-Chair Board Director at Student Energy, who will share her professional experience and perspective on women’s leadership in the energy sector.

Download the full report