By Antara Majumdar
Mercy Corps, ENERGIA’s partner in Senegal, has been supporting the Ministry of Petroleum and Energy to create inclusive policies that will increase women’s access to renewable energy. Women in Senegal face multiple challenges, which limit their possibilities to contribute to their own, their family’s and their community’s development. Among these challenges are limited access to land and resources, including energy. Equitable access to resources creates more opportunities for women to create and share economic development.
Women’s collectives and their role in shaping energy policy in Senegal
One of the key players advocating for women’s rights in Senegal’s energy policies is the National Network of Rural Women of Senegal (RNFR/S), a women’s collective that has emerged out of Mercy Corps’ work with women entrepreneurs and now unifies more than 20,000 members. Since its foundation, it has taken part in various national advocacy campaigns, including those that support women’s land access. Additionally, it is a member of the network Dynamique pour une Transition Agroécologique au Sénégal, which supports and informs the government’s agro-ecological transition strategy. Because of its activities, the RNFR/S is accepted as legitimate and representative representation of rural women by several ministries, particularly the Ministry of Agriculture, as an interlocutor and representative of rural women in the Senegal River Valley.
Another important collective is the Réseau des Femmes Agricultrices du Nords (REFAN). Established by female farmers and processors in the Senegal River Valley, REFAN currently unites approximately 16,000 members from producers’ unions and Groupements d’Intérêt Economique[1] across the region. REFAN’s aim is to empower women and combat poverty through sustainable agriculture adapted to climate change, as well as building their resilience.
Empowering women in Senegal through an ENERGIA – Mercy Corps collaboration
In a world where energy access is crucial for economic growth and sustainability, an ENERGIA – Mercy Corps collaboration stands out as a beacon of hope for women in Senegal. Launched in October 2022, this initiative aims to empower women through ENERGIA’s Women’s Economic Empowerment (WEE) program, focusing on energy access and climate justice.
The project is the third phase of a partnership that began in 2015, known as “Foyré Rewbé” (Women and energy in the local Peuhl language). This phase aims to build on previous successes by scaling up economic, technical, and financial models for solar technologies, thereby improving women’s businesses and increasing their resilience against climate change. The ultimate goal is to ensure that women have equal opportunities to lead and benefit from energy access, which is essential for development. The program supports women’s businesses through technical training, financial literacy, developing action plans, technology access, and financial profitability assessments. It also provides mentoring and ongoing advice to women’s businesses.
Strengthening women’s agency and leadership is another important pillar of the project. To maximize impact, the project works with the agricultural networks RNFR/S and REFAN to raise awareness on gender and energy issues, and advocate for solutions.
Mercy Corps systematically strengthens the capacities of the women’s collectives to take up their causes. Through awareness-raising sessions, public speaking training and workshops to develop advocacy messages, the women better understand the impact of energy access for their businesses and become better prepared to perform publicly. When taking part in forums and events, the project’s mentors help the participants structure and deliver their message. Mercy Corps also organizes and facilitates dialogue between women and decision-makers from the National Assembly and ministries.
The aim of working with the women’s networks is to get them to advocate for women’s access to energy.
– Maïmouna Makoar Diouf
Senior Advocacy, Gender and Communication, Mercy Corps
Some of the successes so far
The importance of women’s collectives cannot be overstated. In the context of the Just Energy Transition Partnership, launched in 2023 to help Senegal achieve universal energy access, the role that women leaders and their networks can play is immense. Because of their access to regional and national discussion and decision-making entities and platforms, these networks are uniquely positioned to ensure that gender equality and social inclusion remain center stage within energy policy working groups.
The women’s networks are involved in several advocacy initiatives to promote rural women’s access to energy and productive resources. Mercy Corps facilitated the participation of one of REFAN’s leaders in the panel on transitions during the 2024 Climate Week, which prepared civil society organisations to take part in COP29. Similarly, at the launch of the 2050 policy framework, the President of REFAN took part in the panel on food sovereignty, where she emphasised the need to increase investment in agriculture, particularly in renewable energy, for the benefit of small-scale producers, especially women.
Moving forward, Mercy Corps plans to further strengthen the strategic partnership with women’s associations to raise awareness of gender and energy issues. It also plans to facilitate and support six local women leaders to participate in national policy discussions, particularly those led by the Ministry of Energy, as well as in national and international forums.
The ENERGIA project is not just about energy access; it’s about transforming lives and empowering women to take charge of their futures. By fostering economic resilience and promoting gender equality, this initiative is paving the way for a brighter, more sustainable future in Senegal. The commitment to women’s empowerment remains unwavering, proving that when women thrive, communities flourish. Women’s voices are and will remain critical in shaping a more inclusive and equitable energy future for Senegal.
[1] GIEs (Groupements d’Intérêt Economique) are economic interest groups in Senegal that are often part of village-level unions. GIEs are involved in agriculture.
