15 DECEMBER 2022

Exploring the Moroccan, Tunisian, and Cameroonian employment equity initiatives

The energy sector remains a male-dominated field across the world, and this is no different in Central and North Africa. The International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) and the International Labour Organization (ILO) released new research on employment in renewable energy in September 2022, in conjunction with the Global Clean Energy Action Forum in Pittsburgh, USA.

It was found that despite the lingering impacts of COVID-19 and the escalating energy crisis, there were 12.7 million people employed globally in renewable energy last year, an increase of 700,000 new jobs in a single year, according to a recent report. Even though it has been demonstrated that increasing women’s participation in the economy and in leadership roles has beneficial benefits, gender inequality is still seen as a roadblock to economic advancement.

The energy industry has shown that utilities suffer from a lack of gender equality, with boards with at least 30% women enjoying higher profit margins than those without. Additionally, it has been proposed that organisations in the energy sector that advance gender equality can foster

For our December webinar we invited the following stakeholders to share insights into the new entrepreneurial worlds for women entrepreneurs and employment opportunities for energy professionals:

Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs):

Our monthly webinars include OEMs for the following reasons: OEMs design and manufacture products, services, solutions and systems sought after by utilities and different large power users in the energy and power sector. We invite them to share trends in the electricity sector covering the 4Ds digitisation, decarbonisation deregulation and decentralisation. We invite them to showcase how they enable access to technology for SMMEs, especially women owned companies. This month we explored employment equity and the role of women and men as allies. Through this webinar we hoped women would have a better understanding of employment opportunities in the energy and power sector and how they can benefit from various employment equity initiatives.

Electricity Utilities

We have invited Morocco’s National Office of Electricity and Drinking Water (ONEE), Tunisian

Company of Electricity and Gas and the National Electricity Transmission Corporation (SONATREL) in Cameroon. Each utility participated in a panel discussion on their gender mainstreaming programme and employment equity initiatives. They also spoke on the role of men as allies in gender equity.

Industry Associations

Industry associations play a critical role in building credible market networks and advocating for different policy reforms in favour of socio-economic development. We invited industry associations and non-profit entities to share information on programmes they are implementing to advance gender mainstreaming.

Programme

Content Framework:

Webinar 12

Speakers

Introduction

Introduction to AWEaP

Purpose of the webinar and Introduction to the topics

AWEaP

MS. BERTHA DLAMINI
Founding President
African Women in Energy
and Power NPC

Energy and Power Sector

Central Africa

Opportunities for Women Entrepreneurs

Women for Sustainable Energy and Climate Action

MS. CAROLE TANKEU 
Managing Partner chez S2
services SARL

Gold Sponsor: OEM

Access to Technology
 
North Africa

Rockwell Automation

MS. CANNINAH DLADLA
Managing Director &
Country Sales Director Sub
Sahara Africa
Rockwell Automation

Building value-adding networks in the work environment

Access to networks

MENA (Middle East and North Africa) Regional Network in Energy for Women (RENEW-MENA)

MS. DIANA KAISSY
Senior Energy Governance
pecialist

Panel Discussion: Employment Equity in the energy and power sector

What can the industry do to enable accelerated gender equity in the energy and power sector?

MODERATOR: MS BERTHA DLAMINI,
Founding President, AWEaP

 

PANELISTS

Sponsoring OEM:
MS.CANNINAH DLADLA
Rockwell Automation
Managing Director & Country Sales Director
Sub-Sahara Africa

 

Utility – Morocco:
MR. MOHAMED EL ARNABI
National Office of Electricity and Drinking
Water Office National de l’Electricité (ONEE)

 

Utility – Tunisia:
MRS. LEILA BOUTERAA
Director of Training and Skills Development
Tunisian Company of Electricity and Gas

 

Utility – Cameroon:
MS. EYORMEH NASELI
Renewable Energy Engineer, Hygiene,
Safety and Environment Manager
National Electricity Transmission Corporation (SONATREL)

 

Industry Association:
MS. DIANA KAISSY
Senior Energy Governance Specialist
MENA (Middle East and North Africa)
Regional Network in Energy for Women
(RENEW-MENA)

Access to Finance, Technology, Skills Development, Market

Industry Expert View

MS. KENZA BOUNJOU,
Founding Partner
URITI

Entrepreneurs Testimony

Access to market, finance, networks and technology:
Entrepreneurial Testimony;
Moving beyond boundaries in the Energy Sector: Lessons and Tips

Tunisia

MS. MYRIAM SALLEMI

Founder of African Golden Solar Tunisia

Cameroon

MS. NADINE MAFEUGANG

Mechanical Engineer, SOLARHYDROWATT

Close

Closing Remarks:
SDG 7
SDG 5
SDG 8

AWEaP

MS. BERTHA DLAMINI

African Women in Energy and Power NPC

We encourage you to do the following:

  1. Visit our YouTube channel
  2. Watch previous webinars
  3. Take notes from the presentations given
  4. Note the tips shared on how you can gain entry into the energy and power sector as an entrepreneur
  5. Note programmes in place to address some of the barriers:
    1. Access to market
    2. Access to skills development
    3. Access to finance
    4. Access to technology
  6. Download presentations and listen to the recorded webinar again
  7. Follow through by: visiting websites and taking the initiative to build the network necessary to enable your participation.

Inspiration

"Once you have a solar panel on a roof, energy is free. Once we convert our entire electricity grid to green and renewable energy, the cost of living goes down."

Christine Lagarde, Head of the International Monetary Fund

“Gender diversity is not just good for women; it’s good for anyone who wants results.”

Melinda Gates, philanthropist

“A gender-equal society would be one where the word ‘gender’ does not exist: where everyone can be themselves.”

Gloria Steinem, journalist and social-political activist