Feasibility Study on Business Opportunities for Women in a changing Energy Value Chain in West Africa

The ECOWAS Centre for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency (ECREEE) in partnership with the African Development Bank (AfDB) and the New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD-IPPF), is organizing a 4-day workshop, which will culminate with the launch of the regional project on Feasibility Study on Business Opportunities for women in a changing Energy Value change in West Africa. The workshop is being held at ECREEE’s headquarters, in Praia, Cabo Verde.

The project is funded by AfDB, through NEPAD-IPPF and it seeks to contribute to the advancement of gender equality and women’s economic empowerment, by empowering woman led business to invest in the energy sector in the region by harnessing opportunities to provide goods and services in the context of a regional transition. The goal is to move towards a more efficient energy production, distribution and consumption.

The total budget of the project is in the amount of One Million and Fifty Thousand US Dollars, and it will contribute to the overall objective of ensuring that the region meets its goal of universal access for its over 300 million inhabitants. The purpose is to develop an high quality and gender-responsive, regional energy market development investment strategy, that taps into the entrepreneurial capacity of ECOWAS women.

In his opening remarks, Mr. Bah Saho, Renewable Energy Expert of ECREEE, stressed the important role of women in the energy sector, emphasizing that steps must be taken in order to provide the necessary opportunities and create conditions for clean, safe and reliable energy in the region. Mr. Saho further stated that the workshop is a contribution to achieve the vision of a gender balanced region.