Access to Gender in the Energy Sector: Pathways to Sustainable Development

Women are under-represented in the power sector. A gender balance stimulates innovation and change. All over the world, industrial and professional networks are now supporting women’s careers to succeed in the energy transition.

The current situation of taking into account gender by the energy sector can evolve positively or remain in the state according to the dynamics of transversality that will be adopted. The perception of gender and energy does not  emerge as an evidence, despite that many initiatives of the departments of energy and women emerge this duality.

At the international level, reflection on gender and energy can contribute a lot to the integration of the problem at the level of African countries. However, the approach adopted has not yet allowed for ownership at the country level despite the dynamism noted.

At the African level, the social actors and the African agencies set up, must lead a thorough reflection on the approaches that would be more able to give the gender a globalizing vision. Multiplying structures without integrating them into a dynamic of economic and social promotion of women, at the risk of making the process even more cumbersome, risks slowing down the achievement of the objectives.

The African vision on gender mainstreaming is still based on numerical considerations, namely the number of women in a given sector or position, This means looking at much more meaningful indicators such as taking into account expectations and needs related to energy services. Women are still dependent on their muscular strength for many activities, which excludes them from several dynamics.

African women are and will remain an important link in sustainable development which, more than a priority, is an obligation for our continent affected on all sides by very unfavourable natural conditions. Local people live the impacts of environmental degradation and the loss of biodiversity resources on a daily basis. At the same time, Africa is engaged in the fight against poverty and the process of achieving the Millennium Development Goals and an absolute priority and to succeed in taking into account

women through the satisfaction of all their energy-related needs. Substantial financial resources are needed for the effective management of the problems experienced by women and related to energy. The energy sector has its priority needs that require heavy investments. This should not exclude the inclusion of the gender component in funding requirements, which is more of a priority than others.