Women Entrepreneurs as Key Drivers in the Decentralised Renewable Energy Sector

This report by the Alliance for Rural Electrification (ARE) argues that gender equality is a necessary catalyst for achieving universal energy access by 2030. It provides a business case for integrating gender-sensitive approaches into the decentralised renewable energy (DRE) sector, offering recommendations for companies, civil society organisations (CSOs), and investors, alongside 17 case studies demonstrating best practices in community empowerment, organisational diversity, and gender-lens investing.

• Gender equality is presented as a critical driver for achieving universal energy access by 2030, with the intersection of SDG-7 (affordable and clean energy) and SDG-5 (gender equality) offering untapped talent and innovative solutions.
• Women are disproportionately affected by energy poverty due to socio-cultural norms and traditional male-dominated structures, which limit their access to the financial means, skills, and decision-making power required to obtain electricity.
• There is a strong business case for women-led DRE enterprises, as women are often better positioned to understand customer needs and leverage local networks. Evidence suggests women-led companies can be as profitable as or outperform those led by men.
• Women tend to reinvest a significantly higher portion of their income into their families and communities compared to men, with some data indicating up to 90% for women versus 35% for men.
• To improve gender equality at the community level, the report recommends that DRE companies and CSOs use gender-disaggregated data and community consultations to design projects, while providing women with technical and business capacity building.
• At the organisational level, the report advises implementing Gender Action Plans, setting KPIs for recruitment and promotion, and addressing unconscious gender biases through training and mentorship to foster an inclusive corporate culture.
• Gender-lens investing is hindered by a lack of standardised gender-disaggregated data and a need for a stronger business case to convince private investors of the financial returns associated with gender diversity.
• Case studies demonstrate that digital tools can bridge the educational gap for women entrepreneurs; for example, Benoo's mobile application allows women to manage sales and logistics independently, reducing reliance on male intermediaries.
• Specific initiatives like the School of Electricians for Women (SEW) in Brazil, created by Iberdrola's subsidiary Neoenergia, provide technical training exclusively for women to increase their employment opportunities in energy distribution.

APA

Alliance for Renewable Electrification (n.d.). Women Entrepreneurs as Key Drivers in the Decentralised Renewable Energy Sector. https://www.renewelec.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/Gender-Energy-Publication.pdf

Chicago

Alliance for Renewable Electrification. Women Entrepreneurs as Key Drivers in the Decentralised Renewable Energy Sector. n.d. https://www.renewelec.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/Gender-Energy-Publication.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=Alliance for Renewable Electrification |title=Women Entrepreneurs as Key Drivers in the Decentralised Renewable Energy Sector |url=https://www.renewelec.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/Gender-Energy-Publication.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{allianceforrenewableelectrificationndwomen, author = {{Alliance for Renewable Electrification}}, title = {{Women Entrepreneurs as Key Drivers in the Decentralised Renewable Energy Sector}}, institution = {Alliance for Renewable Electrification}, url = {https://www.renewelec.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/Gender-Energy-Publication.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }