Women Bring Energy
In the green rolling hills of Plateau State in central Nigeria, power lines are few and far between. Nanbet, a formidable young woman, lives here, farming and raising five children on her own. She grows potatoes, maize and beans. And now, after training and support, she is a clean energy entrepreneur with her own business. For Nanbet, her energy business means two things: she can grow more to feed her children properly and she gets to have an impact on her community.
“Solar changes people’s lives really, and reduces poverty. People are surprised to see what level I am at now. And many of my customers tell me after they buy the product that it reduces costs for them.” — Nanbet
Thousands of women like Nanbet are already working hard to spread clean energy in rural and low-income communities across Africa. We know these women because we work with them.
We are three organizations – ElleSolaire, SolarAid and Solar Sister – who are committed to training and supporting African women to lead clean energy enterprises across the continent. These are the stories that are so often not told.
So today on International Women’s Day, we share with you three important facts about the resourceful African women with whom we have worked over the last decade:
1. African women are running their own clean energy businesses
Women are running clean energy businesses in their communities and we are helping them do it. We know when local women get the opportunity, training and tools, they create successful businesses that allow their families to thrive.
2. African women are using social networks to reach more people with clean energy
Women are trusted members of their communities and have access to wide networks. As managers of household energy, carers, farmers, teachers, health workers, members of church groups, and owners of small enterprises, women are deeply rooted in their communities making them great advocates and salespeople of clean energy.
3. African women have a lot to say to decision-makers about access to energy
We don’t hear enough from those most directly affected. In sub Saharan Africa, as with other regions, women face deeply rooted obstacles to achieving their economic potential. When given the tools and the opportunity, women bring clean energy further than the market.
*This article was written and published together by ElleSolaire, SolarAid and Solar Sister.