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Gender inclusion in solar PV is needed to expand energy access in Africa and Asia

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Solar PV and sun
Solar PV Credit: Tom at Pixabay

At a glance

Decentralised solar PV: A gender perspective, By Laura El-Katiri and Celia García-Baños. International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), October 2024.

Some 685 million people worldwide, mostly in sub-Saharan Africa, lack access to electricity. Decentralized renewable energy (DRE), especially solar photovoltaics (PV), can offer scalable, adaptable, off-grid solutions to bridge this gap. A new report from the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), based in Abu Dhabi, in the United Arab Emirates, highlights another gap that should be kept in mind. While DRE employs 307,000 people across Ethiopia, India, Kenya, Nigeria, and Uganda, women remain a minority in the workforce, particularly in technical and leadership roles. The report says this disparity is driven by cultural norms, limited training access, and workplace biases. It argues that boosting women’s participation could enhance energy equity, drive community development and create jobs. By focusing on skills-building, supportive policies, and dismantling cultural barriers, IRENA suggests that gender inclusion in solar energy can significantly advance sustainable development goals.

Key findings

  • Energy access needs: In 2022, 685 million people, primarily in sub-Saharan Africa, lacked access to electricity, underscoring the critical role of DRE in meeting these needs.
  • Employment in DRE: Decentralized solar PV employed 307,000 people across Ethiopia, India, Kenya, Nigeria and Uganda in 2023, with global employment projected to reach 500,000 by 2030, rivaling employment numbers in the fossil fuel industry.
  • Women’s representation: Women hold 38 per cent of roles in Africa’s solar PV sector, close to the global average of 40 per cent. Participation varies significantly, from 28 per cent in Uganda to 41 per cent in Kenya.
  • Gender disparities in skills: The gender gap is wide when it comes to technical and leadership roles. Women hold 24 per cent of STEM roles, 18 per cent of management positions and only 15 per cent of senior management positions in solar PV across Africa.
  • Entrepreneurship: Decentralized solar PV enables women to establish businesses in rural areas, fostering economic and energy equity.
  • Barriers to inclusion: Women face significant barriers, including limited technical training and cultural biases, limiting their full participation in this expanding sector.

Bigger picture

The report highlights women’s underrepresentation in renewables, particularly in higher-skilled, STEM, and management roles. In distributed solar PV, women occupy 21 per cent of the workforce in India, 28 per cent in Uganda, 35 per cent in Nigeria, 37 per cent in Ethiopia, and 41 per cent in Kenya — below the global average, except Kenya. IRENA also found women in Africa hold just 24 per cent of STEM and 22 per cent of technical roles. This limits women’s income and status and hinders the solar PV sector’s growth and a fair energy transition. The report blames this imbalance on societal biases, family obligations, limited STEM access, workplace discrimination, safety concerns and inflexible work conditions. These barriers worsen skills shortages needed to develop, install and service DRE solutions, affecting global energy access efforts.

To increase women’s participation, the report urges targeted policies and strategies promoting gender inclusivity. In the focus countries, societal norms restrict women’s opportunities and shape self-perceptions, while early educational disparities further limit their STEM involvement. The report recommends that policymakers integrate gender analysis in energy programmes and that governments offer financial incentives, capital access, and capacity-building for women to formalize and grow their roles. Skill-building curricula and targeted initiatives should also improve women’s access to DRE job opportunities.

Challenges and opportunities

Key barriers to progress to increasing women’s participation in the energy sector listed in the report:

  • Cultural norms and societal expectations: Traditional expectations and societal norms often discourage women from pursuing careers in STEM and leadership roles.
  • Limited access to STEM education and training: Unequal access to quality STEM education restricts women’s entry into skilled roles within the energy sector.
  • Financial constraints: Women face significant financial obstacles, including limited access to credit and collateral, which hinder their ability to start or expand solar PV businesses.
  • Workplace biases and pay disparities: Gender biases and pay gaps in the workplace limit women’s career advancement and result in lower wages compared to their male colleagues.
  • Safety and mobility concerns: Working in remote locations can pose safety challenges that can affect women’s willingness to participate with their full potential.
  • Lack of gender-inclusive policy support: Without policies promoting gender equity, efforts to involve women in decentralized solar PV may remain fragmented.

To address these challenges, the report recommends:

  • Investment in STEM training for women: Governments and industries should increase funding for STEM programmes, internships, and scholarships specifically for women and girls.
  • Microfinance programmes for women in energy: Financial institutions, with government support, can create microfinance and loan programmes tailored to women in DRE to address financial barriers.
  • Gender-inclusive hiring and mentorship programmes: Companies can adopt gender-equitable hiring practices and provide mentorship to support women’s advancement in solar PV careers.
  • Enhanced safety and mobility measures: Industry leaders should implement safe transportation and gender-sensitive safety protocols to support women working in remote areas.
  • Gender-focused policy integration: Governments should incorporate gender perspectives into energy policies, with specific targets for female participation and funding for gender-equity initiatives.
  • Strengthen Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs): PPPs can expand training, financing, and job access, building networks that empower women in decentralised solar PV.

In their own words

To harness the vast potential women have in the decentralised energy sector, policymakers and businesses need to make gender inclusion a pillar of the sector’s further development.

Decentralised solar PV: A gender perspective, By Laura El-Katiri and Celia García-Baños.  International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), October 2024.

Final thoughts

This report highlights that employing women in off-grid energy can enhance the reach, effectiveness and sustainability of projects by fostering trust and adapting to local needs. Involving women in these projects helps to mobilize community resources, boost acceptance, and reshape societal norms, while empowering women within their communities. As access to energy grows, women gain opportunities to start businesses, engage in agro-processing, and offer services previously limited by energy constraints, uplifting family welfare and local economies. The report stresses that women are central to DRE’s potential in remote areas, accelerating deployment, community acceptance, and socio-economic growth. Achieving an inclusive energy transition requires targeted policies, improved gender data, and stakeholder collaboration. While insightful, the report could better explore effective gender-equality strategies from sectors such as digital technology and consider the challenges and colonialist implications of altering deeply entrenched cultural beliefs.


Download the full report originally published by the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) in October 2024.

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