The 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), adopted in 2015 by the United Nations Agenda 2030, provide a clear roadmap for the future we want to build. There is still a long way to achieve it seven years after its adoption and almost eight years left. Despite some progress, we must strengthen cooperation, collaboration, and actions to implement the Agenda 2030 to create a more prosperous, peaceful, equitable and sustainable future for people and the planet.

SDG7 on energy access is a pivotal enabler in the achievement of many of the sustainable development goals, including poverty eradication (SDG1), food security (SDG2), health (SDG3), education (SDG4), gender equality (SDG5), sustainable cities and communities (SDG11), and climate change (SDG13). A just energy transition is crucial. It is urgent. And to be inclusive, sustainable, and just, this transition must envision women’s inclusion, and how their contribution, leadership recognition, and participation in the sector accelerate the achievement of universal sustainable energy while reducing the gender gap.

Given the critical challenges and the severe socio-economic, financial, humanitarian, and climate crisis we face, the SEforALL Forum in Kigali is extremely strategic to ‘take stock of progress, showcase success and identify solutions to achieve faster, broader gains towards sustainable energy for all’.

In the context of the SEforALL Forum, ENERGIA is co-hosting two sessions to discuss how multi-stakeholders coalitions can catalyse gender-transformative initiatives and to highlight the link between access to clean energy, women’s entrepreneurship and economic empowerment. These events are an opportunity to promote a gender lens in the energy sector and to showcase the need for multi-lateral partnerships to advance gender equality, ensure a just and inclusive energy transition and build a sustainable future.

Wednesday, May 18, 2022
Catalyzing action for a gender-transformative energy transition

Women must equally lead in achieving an energy transition, participating in and benefiting from sustainable energy.

This session, organized by United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), ENERGIA, the Global Women’s Network for the Energy Transition (GWNET) and SEforAll, aims to create a space for organizations to showcase how their efforts have impacted the lives of women. This event will also serve as a call to action for the multiple stakeholders participating in the SEforALL Forum to unveil its importance in developing gender-transformative initiatives to tackle inequality in the sustainable energy sector. It will be an opportunity to learn more about and endorse the Gender and Energy Compact, a multi-stakeholder coalition co-led by the UNIDO, ENERGIA and GWNET, which aims to accelerate a just, inclusive and climate-resilient energy transition.

Time: 12:15 – 13:00 CAT | 12:15 – 13:00 CEST
Location: Kigali Convention Centre (KCC), Room AD10
Learn more on this session.

Thursday, May 19, 2022
In Her Voice: Entrepreneurship in the Last Mile

Women entrepreneurs in last-mile communities work at the forefront of the energy challenges. Often excluded from the table, these women carry the burdens of whole communities.

ENERGIA and Solar Sister are co-hosting a session to discuss women entrepreneurs’ needs, challenges, and successes, learning about their business activities on the ground to develop a ripple effect that transforms access to clean energy at the community level.

Hosted by Silvia Sartori, Women’s Economic Empowerment Senior Project Manager, ENERGIA, and Olasimbo Sojinrin, Solar Sister Country Director, Nigeria, three women entrepreneurs from rural and last-mile areas in Africa will speak on how access to clean energy has empowered them economically and how they, in turn, contribute to energy access and the just energy transition, empowering their communities and advancing gender equality.

Time: 11:30 – 12:15 CAT | 11:30 – 12:15 CEST | 5:30 – 6:15 EDT
Location: Kigali Convention Centre (KCC), Room MH1
Learn more on this session here.