Power Punch Ways to Enable Gender Inclusion in the Energy Sector by Aisi Atiti March 10, 2023 Published by Aisi Atiti The energy sector has traditionally been male-dominated, with women underrepresented in various fields such as engineering, technology, and leadership. According to the International Energy Agency (IEA), women make up only 16 per cent of the traditional energy sector. This underrepresentation also limits the sector’s potential for innovation and growth. Therefore, it is essential to develop ways to enable gender inclusion in the energy sector. Some ways to achieve this goal are: Equal opportunities for women This action would involve removing the barriers that prevent women from pursuing careers in the sector, such as lack of access to training and education and stereotypes. Employers need to ensure that job postings do not have gender biases and that all applicants are evaluated based on their skills and qualifications, regardless of gender. Mentorship and sponsorship programs Mentorship and sponsorship programs can help women enter the energy sector and progress in their careers. These programs connect women with experienced professionals who can offer guidance, support, and advocacy. Energy sector stakeholders can establish mentorship and sponsorship programs to help women build networks, gain skills, and access leadership opportunities. An example of such a programme is the Power Africa Nigeria Power Sector Program (PA-NPSP) Energy Sector Women’s Leadership Initiative. Safe and inclusive workplace culture Creating a safe and inclusive workplace culture is a critical way to enable gender inclusion in the energy sector. This action includes establishing policies and practices that prevent harassment, discrimination, and bias. Employers need to provide training to employees on diversity, equity, and inclusion. They must also create a safe space for women to speak up and share their ideas and experiences. Female representation in leadership roles Increasing female representation in leadership roles is critical to enable gender inclusion in the energy sector. According to the World Economic Forum, less than one in five leadership roles in the energy sector are held by women. Women in leadership positions can serve as role models and advocates for other women, which can help break down barriers and create a more inclusive culture. Employers must implement policies supporting women’s advancement, such as flexible work arrangements, leadership development programs, and succession planning. Closing the gender pay gap The gender pay gap is a significant barrier to gender inclusion in the energy sector. On average, women in the energy sector earn less than men, which can discourage women from pursuing careers in the sector or cause them to leave the sector. Employers need to address the gender pay gap by conducting regular pay equity analyses and acting to close any gaps. Encouraging girls to pursue STEM education Encouraging girls to pursue Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) education is essential to enable gender inclusion in the energy sector. STEM education provides the foundation for careers in the energy sector, and girls need to have access to these opportunities. Employers can partner with schools and community organizations to provide STEM education and mentoring programs for girls. Establish diversity, equity, and inclusion goals Establishing diversity, equity, and inclusion goals can help employers measure their progress and hold themselves accountable. Employers can set goals around increasing female representation, addressing the gender pay gap, and creating a more inclusive workplace culture. Regular reporting and transparency can help ensure that these goals are met, and that progress is being made. In conclusion, developing ways to enable gender inclusion in the energy sector is crucial for gender equality, growth, and innovation. Through the abovementioned recommendations, employers can improve female participation in the energy sector, which will create a more inclusive and diverse energy sector that benefits everyone. March 10, 2023 0 comments 0 FacebookTwitterPinterestEmail
Power Punch Energy and Gender Equality by Aisi Atiti February 16, 2023 Published by Aisi Atiti Gender equality is an important topic of discussion across different parts of the global economy. The need to include women in professional capacities across sectors like health, education, security and energy cannot be overemphasised. However, there is an essential relationship among these industries between energy and gender equality, directly and indirectly. According to the European Institute for Gender Equality, gender equality means equal rights, responsibilities and opportunities for both men and women. Hence, these rights, responsibilities and opportunities are not predetermined on whether a child is born male or female. Although gender equality was incorporated into international human rights law and adopted by the United Nations (UN) General Assembly in December 1948, the UN has stated that it goes beyond being just a human right. According to the organisation, gender equality is essential to achieve peaceful societies with full human potential and sustainable development. The fifth UN Sustainable Development Goal (SDG 5) is to achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls. For 17 years, the Global Gender Gap Report has used four main indicators to measure the gap between women and men. These indicators are economic participation and opportunity, health and survival, educational attainment and political empowerment. The 2022 gender gap report, which covered 146 countries, estimated that it will take 132 years for the global gender gap between men and women to be closed. According to the report, North America is the most advanced region in reaching gender equality, with an average score of 76.9 per cent. Europe follows closely with 76.6 per cent. Sub-Saharan Africa ranked 6th with an average score of 68.7 per cent ahead of the Middle East, North Africa and South Asia. However, with this data, what is the relationship between energy and gender equality? According to the World Bank, as of 2020, the electricity access rate for North America stood at a 100 per cent. Comparatively, the electrification rate for Europe stood at 99.9 per cent and 48.2 per cent for Africa. Hence, could there be a connection between access to energy and gender equality? If yes, how much does energy access contribute to countries achieving gender equality? The lack of access to energy affects women in more ways than men, including health, safety, education and economic empowerment. With women being majorly responsible for household activities, especially in rural areas without energy access, they must find alternative energy sources for cooking and heating. These alternative energy sources, mainly firewood, coal or kerosene, lead to greenhouse gas emissions that harm health. These emissions, over time, lead to health complications for people in the immediate environment, primarily women and children. Also, in sourcing alternative energy sources, women spend a considerable amount of their lives out of school, which accounts for low literacy and capacity development among women. The lack of energy access to provide lighting in open spaces also affects women’s safety by encouraging gender-based violence. In addition, women’s safety is threatened in rural instances where they have to go into bushes to find firewood for household chores. The established relationship between energy and gender equality begs the urgency for the global community to intensify inclusion actions. A first step would be the inclusion of more women in the policy-making positions of national energy agencies. This would ensure the localisation of energy solutions to meet the needs of women, especially in rural areas. In addition, developing more energy projects to address the electrification deficits across regions will encourage female education. This is because women, particularly young girls, will not need to spend most of their days sourcing for alternative energy sources and can attend schools with more time and energy to study. This would improve the literacy rate for women globally and increase female personal development, which is essential for economic growth and sustainability. February 16, 2023 0 comments 0 FacebookTwitterPinterestEmail
LADIES Nigeria’s Clean Cooking Future by Aisi Atiti June 8, 2022 Published by Aisi Atiti Gender inclusion is crucial for attaining an equitable energy transition. Therefore, there should be intentional efforts to include women in the global transition to clean energy, especially in Africa, where women are already underrepresented. This podcast episode – Nigeria’s Clean Cooking Future – explores an issue which disproportionately affects Nigerian women; access to clean cooking. According to the World Bank, firewood and other polluting fuels for cooking account for approximately two per cent of global emissions. These fuels also pose significant health risks as they cause respiratory illnesses and deaths among women and children. Safiya Aliyu, General Manager, SOSAI Renewable Energies Company, joins me to discuss the current challenges of clean cooking in Nigeria and possible solutions. She also talks about SOSAI’s plans to scale up clean cooking in the country. June 8, 2022 0 comments 0 FacebookTwitterPinterestEmail
