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 |
Energy and Power Sector Central Africa | Opportunities for Women Entrepreneurs | Women for Sustainable Energy and Climate Action | MS. CAROLE TANKEU |
Gold Sponsor: OEM | Access to Technology | Rockwell Automation | MS. CANNINAH DLADLA |
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 |
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,
PANELISTS Sponsoring OEM:
Utility – Morocco:
Utility – Tunisia:
Utility – Cameroon:
Industry Association: | |
Access to Finance, Technology, Skills Development, Market | Industry Expert View | MS. KENZA BOUNJOU, | |
Entrepreneurs Testimony | Access to market, finance, networks and technology: | Tunisia | MS. MYRIAM SALLEMI Founder of African Golden Solar Tunisia |
Cameroon | MS. NADINE MAFEUGANG Mechanical Engineer, SOLARHYDROWATT | ||
Close | Closing Remarks: | AWEaP | MS. BERTHA DLAMINI African Women in Energy and Power NPC |
Watch our webinar and download presentations shared by speakers:
We encourage you to do the following:
- Visit our YouTube channel
- Watch previous webinars
- Take notes from the presentations given
- Note the tips shared on how you can gain entry into the energy and power sector as an entrepreneur
- Note programmes in place to address some of the barriers:
- Access to market
- Access to skills development
- Access to finance
- Access to technology
- Download presentations and listen to the recorded webinar again
- Follow through by: visiting websites and taking the initiative to build the network necessary to enable your participation.