country: Africa

  • Foyré Rewbé 3 kicks off to advance women’s roles in Senegal’s clean energy transition and climate justice

    Foyré Rewbé 3 kicks off to advance women’s roles in Senegal’s clean energy transition and climate justice

    In the ENERGIA Phase 7 program “Women Driving the Energy Transition and Climate Justice” we work with five partners in six countries, supporting women energy entrepreneurs and productive uses of energy. In the coming years, we aim to reach 2,500 new women entrepreneurs and 2 million consumers in last-mile communities. One of our longstanding partners…

  • Building the Business Case for Women’s Inclusive Financing in Last-Mile Renewable Energy Markets

    Building the Business Case for Women’s Inclusive Financing in Last-Mile Renewable Energy Markets

    One of the key constraints in improving energy access in the renewable energy sector is the availability and affordability of financing. For women-owned or -led micro, small, or medium enterprises (WMSMEs) that are either selling or distributing renewable energy products themselves, or interested in purchasing renewable energy products to expand or grow their businesses, there…

  • Men: To the kitchen!

    Men: To the kitchen!

    Going digital to influence the next generation in gender and energy   To bridge the gender gaps throughout the energy supply chain and in decision-making, ENERGIA, EnDev, Modern Energy Cooking Services (MECS), Hivos and the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida), launched the Gender and Energy Innovation Facility (GEIF) in July 2020. The Facility supports…

  • Challenging gender norms through innovation in clean energy

    Challenging gender norms through innovation in clean energy

    A review of the pilot projects funded by the “Gender and Energy Innovation Facility” in Tanzania   To bridge the gender gaps throughout the energy supply chain and in decision-making, ENERGIA, EnDev, Modern Energy Cooking Services (MECS), Hivos and the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (SIDA), launched the Gender and Energy Innovation Facility (GEIF) in…

  • Breaking the energy chains: From exploitation to nurturing of trees

    Breaking the energy chains: From exploitation to nurturing of trees

    To bridge the gender gaps throughout the energy supply chain and in decision-making groups, ENERGIA, EnDev, Modern Energy Cooking Services (MECS), Hivos and the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida), launched the “Gender and Energy Innovation Facility” (GEIF) in July 2020. The Facility supports pilot projects in Kenya, Tanzania and Nepal that develop, test and…

  • Kenya’s first locally produced solar system that empowers women

    Kenya’s first locally produced solar system that empowers women

    To bridge the gender gaps throughout the energy supply chain and in decision-making groups, ENERGIA, EnDev, Modern Energy Cooking Services (MECS), Hivos and the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida), launched the “Gender and Energy Innovation Facility” (GEIF) in July 2020. The Facility supports pilot projects in Kenya, Tanzania and Nepal that develop, test and…

  • Investing in a cleaner and greener future led by inspirational women

    Investing in a cleaner and greener future led by inspirational women

    How the “Gender and Energy Innovation Facility” supported innovation in the Kenyan energy sector with a focus on women empowerment   To bridge the gender gaps throughout the energy supply chain and in decision-making groups, ENERGIA, EnDev, Modern Energy Cooking Services (MECS), Hivos and the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida), launched the Gender and…

  • Aïssata Ba plans to overcome issues with farm labour by mechanising her irrigation system

    Aïssata Ba plans to overcome issues with farm labour by mechanising her irrigation system

    When the unexpected departure of labourers during a critical stage of her vegetable crop production jeopardised her livelihood, Aïssata Ba decided she needed to reduce her dependence on seasonal agricultural workers. She knew that the most effective way of achieving greater self-reliance would be to mechanise the irrigation of her farmland by investing in a…

  • Empowering communities through clean energy access

    Empowering communities through clean energy access

    In Kenya, few rural households have access to electricity. Most rely on dangerous kerosene lamps, wood and charcoal. Caroline Akinyi is one of the Women Entrepreneurs under the Women in Energy Enterprises in Kenya (WEEK II) project working within Rongo town in Migori County. The mother of two started off her clean energy business in…

  • From Survival to Revival: Soldering on after the pandemic

    From Survival to Revival: Soldering on after the pandemic

    Dorcas Mutashi, 26 years old is an entrepreneur selling solar products, improved cookstoves and pellets. Her business is located at Kewa village, Lugari sub-county, Kakamega County. Before joining the clean energy business, Dorcas used to work as a casual labourer with Kenya Highways Authority (KENHA) as a cleaner. Due to substandard payment, Dorcas quit her…

  • Three women talk about their new lives as Solar Sister Entrepreneurs.

    Three women talk about their new lives as Solar Sister Entrepreneurs.

    Anthonia Agwunobi, a mother of 5, is a primary school teacher in Anambra State in southeastern Nigeria. Before becoming a Solar Sister Entrepreneur, Anthonia relied exclusively on her meager earnings as a teacher to support her family. Built on the trust and popularity as a well-respected teacher, Anthonia developed her business quickly in the early…

  • Awa’s business expansion held back by Covid-19

    Awa’s business expansion held back by Covid-19

    Awa Sène was overjoyed when she took delivery of her second solar freezer in April 2021, a decision she had reached after discussing expansion plans with Energy 4 Impact Business Mentor, Dominique Thiaw. She immediately set out to widen her customer base to the surrounding villages. After a difficult period in which her business had…