With 72 participants representing 19 countries, the 3rd International Conference of the African Renewable Energy Alliance (AREA) on Renewable Energy and Gender made headway in Nigeria. As speakers like South Africa’s Deputy Minister of Trade and Industry Elizabeth Thabethe agreed that this energy revolution should be led by women, discussions were held on how to get more women involved in renewable energy.
The UNDP’s African Adaptation Program regional expert Dr. Rose Mwebaza commented: “There are different gender needs and we have to target these. Programs must specifically target women. Just as the topic of renewable energy had to be mainstreamed during the past decades, mainstreaming gender in the energy topic is what needs to take place in every discussion now.”
The conference held training and capacity building on renewable energy as well as highlighted various financing mechanisms that could propel renewable energy in rural communities.
However, there are obstacles that remain. The AREA said in a release: “One thing that many participants pointed out is the importance of high quality products installed and maintained in a professional manner. There’s nothing more dangerous to the spread of renewables than failed or non functioning projects that serve as a negative example to undercut the credibility and ability of renewable energy technology.”
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