Line workers Blessing and Opeyemi in Nigeria

Photo Credit: NPSP

Advancing the full participation of women and girls in the political, economic, and social realms of their countries is a key goal of U.S. foreign policy[i]. The White House’s Women’s Global Development and Prosperity Initiative (W-GDP), the first whole-of-government effort to advance global women’s economic empowerment, promotes this goal. Power Africa is proud to be awarded funding from the W-GDP to launch Women in Rwandan Energy, one of many Power Africa activities aimed at promoting women’s economic empowerment through Africa’s energy sector.

Advancing Women in the Energy Sector

Power Africa creates opportunities for women to participate as vital actors in the energy sector.  It is Power Africa’s expectation that women be represented as policy makers within national and regional governments, as executives of private sector companies, as managers within power sector utilities, as employees of generation plants and transmission and distribution systems, and as entrepreneurs within nascent energy enterprises. Power Africa promotes women’s professional advancement in the energy sector through USAID activities including but not limited to:

Women in Rwandan Energy 

Power Africa, with funding from the W-GDP, launched Women in Rwandan Energy (WIRE) in mid-2019. This network of stakeholders from across Rwanda’s energy sector includes partners  from ministries, the utility, the regulator, several universities, private companies, and development partners, all committed to increasing women’s participation in Rwanda’s energy sector. WIRE provides career awareness and technical skills training, as well as apprenticeship and mentorship opportunities that prepare women for energy sector careers and support them in their advancement. 

Young Women in African Power Leadership Training

Power Africa and the Young African Leaders Initiative (YALI) collaborate to build the leadership skills of young women active in Africa’s energy sector. The trainings, held across Africa at YALI’s Regional Leadership Centers, couple YALI’s expertise in developing leadership skills of young Africans with Power Africa’s expertise in the energy sector.

Gender Equality in Off-Grid Energy 

Power Africa supports private sector off-grid energy companies to implement gender inclusive practices in their operations, creating opportunities for women and strengthening the companies’ business outcomes. See this Case Study from Ghana to learn more about this approach.

Women in African Power

The Women in African Power network elevates the presence and increases the participation of women in Africa’s energy sector. This program supports women’s professional advancement through networking events and skills development training.

Engendering Utilities

Engendering Utilities is a global USAID program that builds the capacity of electric utilities to integrate gender equity best practices into their operating procedures. With support from Power Africa, this program includes the participation of African utilities, which bolsters the participation of women in Africa’s energy workforce.

Participants in the Young Women in African Power Leadership Training

US Embassy in South Africa