PROJECTS

Projects |

Currently running

Projects

Run by GWNET and SACREEE, with financial support from ADA

Energising Women to Advance the Energy Transition in the SADC Region

The project “Energising Women to Advance the Energy Transition in the SADC Region” is dedicated to empowering women to play an active role in the energy transition across the Southern African Development Community region.

Targeting SADC countries, this project aims to break down barriers for women and girls in the energy sector. With a focus on diversity and inclusion, this initiative offers a multi-faceted approach to empowering women at every level, from professionals already working in energy to entrepreneurs and young girls aspiring to join the energy transition.

This initiative is jointly implemented by the GWNET and the SADC Centre for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency (SACREEE), with financial support from the Austrian Development Agency (ADA), the operational unit of International Partnerships Austria.

Core Components:

The Energising Women to Advance the Energy Transition in the SADC Region mentoring programme is designed to advance the careers of women already working in the energy sector. As part of this initiative, three cohorts will run consecutively, starting with 50 participants in 2025, 75 in 2026, and 100 in 2027.

The mentorship programme spans a total of 12 months — from the application period through to graduation — and includes 9 months of direct, one-to-one engagement with an assigned mentor. In addition to these meetings, online webinars and networking sessions will be offered.

The mentoring programme is open to women with SADC nationality and 3–5 years of relevant experience in energy or development. All participants will be matched with a mentor correlating to their professional and personal goals. Mentees will also gain access to online knowledge transfer sessions and networking opportunities.

Discover the mentees and mentors who participated in our first cohort, see here.

Learn about our second edition of the mentoring programme here.
This programme is designed to support SADC women entrepreneurs scale their businesses within the energy sector. The programme aims to provide the participants with opportunities to connect with role models and experts who can guide them in navigating challenges and scaling operations. The capacity-building initiative offers intensive support to three separate cohorts of 15 participants, targeting rising women entrepreneurs with existing businesses or business plans in the sustainable energy space.

Discover the participants of the first edition here.

Apply to take part in the second edition of our Capacity-Building Programme for Women Energy Entrepreneurs here.
This component relates to the development of a scoping study for a new SADC programme aimed at empowering women energy entrepreneurs in rural areas. The primary objectives of the proposed programme are to enhance income generation for the women involved and promote the adoption of renewable energy solutions alongside circular production and consumption practices. The scoping study covers key areas such as identifying a suitable local partner organisation, selecting the target region or province, benchmarking with similar initiatives in other countries or regions, conducting a risk analysis, and more.
Launched in early 2026, African Power Girls Rising is a communications campaign to inspire and empower teenage girls and women from 14 SADC nations to pursue careers in the energy transition. This initiative aims to raise awareness about opportunities in the energy sector, offer tailored career guidance, and challenge harmful gender stereotypes that impede progress and inclusion. Our goal is to reach at least 10,000 teenage girls and young women across the SADC region.

Follow the African Power Girls Rising campaign via the below links:

Implementing Partner

The SADC Centre for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency (SACREEE) was established by the SADC Member States in 2015 to contribute towards increased access to modern energy services and improved energy security across the SADC Region through the promotion of market-based uptake of renewable energy and energy efficient technologies and energy services.

Please visit the SACREEE website for more information.

Funding Partner

Combating poverty, promoting peace and protecting the environment: These are the three major concerns of the Austrian Development Agency (ADA), the operational unit of International Partnerships Austria.

Please visit the ADA’s website to learn more.

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