ECOWAS Validates Gender Equality Framework for Women in Clean Energy
November 29, 2025
Cotonou, Benin – In a landmark move that could reshape West Africa’s energy landscape, the ECOWAS Centre for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency (ECREEE), in partnership with the International Development Research Centre (IDRC), has validated a groundbreaking Gender Equality Index (GEI) specifically designed for the clean energy sector. The validation workshop, held November 27-28, 2025, represents a strategic effort to address the systemic barriers that have historically limited women’s participation in one of Africa’s fastest-growing industries.
The regional workshop convened a diverse coalition of stakeholders—including gender and energy experts from all ECOWAS member states, women’s business associations, private sector leaders, and international development partners—to refine and endorse a comprehensive framework for measuring and advancing gender equality in clean energy enterprises.
Why This Framework Matters Now
While women constitute approximately 50% of Africa’s population, they remain significantly underrepresented in the formal energy sector, particularly in leadership roles and technical positions. The clean energy transition presents both a challenge and an unprecedented opportunity: without intentional inclusion policies, emerging green economies risk replicating the gender disparities of traditional energy sectors. The GEI framework addresses this by providing concrete metrics to track progress and identify gaps.
Leadership Perspectives on Gender-Inclusive Energy Development
Mr. Guei Guillaume F. Kouhie, speaking on behalf of ECREEE’s Acting Executive Director, emphasized the transformative potential of the GEI: “This isn’t just about counting women—it’s about fundamentally reshaping how we build our energy future. The Gender Equality Index gives us something we’ve lacked: a measurable, actionable tool to ensure that the benefits of clean energy reach everyone, particularly women who often bear the heaviest burden of energy poverty.”
Mr. Flaubert Mbiekop of IDRC highlighted the research foundation underpinning the initiative: “Our data reveals that gender-diverse energy companies demonstrate 25% higher returns and greater innovation. This framework will help policymakers and investors direct resources where they can achieve both social equity and economic returns.”
The official opening ceremony featured strong governmental support, with Mr. Todeman Assan, representing Benin’s Minister of Energy, declaring: “We cannot achieve energy security without gender equality. Dedicated financing for women-led clean energy SMEs is not a sidebar issue—it’s central to our national development strategy and essential for a just transition.”
The Three Pillars of the Gender Equality Framework
Participants validated three interconnected components that form the backbone of ECOWAS’s gender mainstreaming strategy:
- The Evaluation Framework – A comprehensive methodology that assesses gender equality across multiple dimensions including leadership representation, pay equity, workplace policies, and value chain participation. Unlike generic gender tools, this framework specifically addresses the unique challenges and opportunities within clean energy SMEs.
- The Evaluation Study Report – Grounded in extensive field research, this report provides the first regional baseline data on women’s participation in clean energy businesses. The census reveals critical insights, such as the concentration of women in distribution and sales roles versus their underrepresentation in technical design and manufacturing positions.
- Regional Recommendations and Action Plan – A practical roadmap for implementing the GEI across all 15 ECOWAS member states, including policy reforms, capacity-building initiatives, and targeted financing mechanisms designed to address the specific barriers women face in accessing capital and markets.
Beyond Measurement: The Framework in Action
The validated framework moves beyond theoretical commitment to practical implementation. For example, a solar installation company in Niger might use the GEI to identify that while women comprise 40% of their workforce, they represent only 15% of technical roles and 10% of management positions. The framework then provides specific guidance on recruitment practices, mentorship programs, and leadership development to address these gaps.
Similarly, national energy ministries can use the GEI to design more effective policies—such as requiring gender impact assessments for energy projects or creating preferential procurement programs for women-led enterprises. The framework also helps development partners target investments toward initiatives that demonstrably advance gender equality.
A Regional Milestone with Global Implications
The ECOWAS Gender Equality Index represents one of the world’s first region-specific frameworks for measuring gender inclusion in the clean energy sector. Its validation comes at a critical juncture, as West Africa seeks to harness its abundant renewable resources while building more inclusive economies.
By creating standardized metrics and implementation strategies, the framework enables cross-border learning and coordinated action. A successful women-led biogas enterprise in Ghana can now be systematically studied and replicated in Senegal, while challenges identified in Nigeria can inform preventive measures in Ivory Coast.
ECREEE and its partners have committed to working closely with member states to operationalize the GEI, with initial implementation planned across multiple countries throughout 2026. The success of this initiative could establish West Africa as a global leader in gender-responsive energy planning, creating a replicable model for other regions pursuing sustainable and equitable development.
The validation of the Gender Equality Framework marks more than just another policy milestone—it represents a fundamental reimagining of who benefits from and participates in West Africa’s clean energy future, ensuring that women are not merely recipients of development outcomes but architects of the region’s energy transformation.