International Day of Clean Energy: Empowering Women and Transforming Lives in Africa

Each year on January 26th, the International Day of Clean Energy shines a spotlight on the transformative power of sustainable energy solutions. This year, the African Development Bank is celebrating how clean energy initiatives are not just addressing climate change but also empowering women and fostering economic development.

Grace Akingurwaruh, a farmer in Hoima, Uganda, is a shining example of this impact. Just a few years ago, the 40-year-old was searching for ways to supplement her income when she discovered a training program financed by the African Development Bank. This program introduced her to the business of selling coal-efficient cooking stoves—products that are not only environmentally friendly but also life-changing.

“They taught us how to make business,” Akingurwaruh recalls. “When we finished the training, I started advertising. At times, I can have customers that want to buy five or more stoves to put in their shops. So, I [give them] a discount. That’s why I have managed to sell more than my colleagues.”

This entrepreneurial spirit, coupled with knowledge gained through the Green Energy for Women and Youth Resilience project, has allowed her to thrive. Today, she oversees a team of five youth agents, earning commissions from their sales as well as her own. Her success has led to significant milestones, such as purchasing her first smartphone and a goat, which has become an additional source of income and sustenance for her family.

Scaling Impact Across Communities

Akingurwaruh’s story is just one among thousands. The Green Energy for Women and Youth Resilience project, funded by the African Development Bank’s Africa Climate Change Fund and implemented by AVSI Foundation and CIDR Pamiga, has trained over 2,300 sales agents and retailers. Seventy-five percent of participants are women and young girls, who have collectively provided clean cooking and lighting solutions to more than 55,000 households in Uganda.

Grace Akingurwaruh poses with a coal-efficient stove and other products she learned to sell via AfDB-financed Green Energy for Women and Youth Resilience project. Almost 75% of project participants were women.

The program also supports communities in Kenya, empowering micro, medium, and small enterprises (MSMEs) to transition to low-carbon development. By strengthening financial service providers’ capacity to deliver sustainable energy finance and improving access to energy products, the initiative is building a foundation for long-term economic and environmental benefits.

Clean Energy as a Lifeline

The importance of clean energy cannot be overstated. In Africa, 600,000 people—primarily women and children—die annually from illnesses caused by exposure to smoke from traditional cooking methods. Recognizing this, the African Development Bank has pledged $2 billion over the next decade to support clean cooking solutions.

This investment aligns with the Bank’s broader mission to increase access to electricity for millions of Africans. Initiatives like the Mission 300 Africa Energy Summit, set for January 27–28, 2025, in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, aim to rally public and private sector leaders toward electrifying 300 million African homes and businesses by 2030.

Private Sector Partnerships: A Path to Progress

Maria Ossola, project coordinator with AVSI Foundation, emphasized the pivotal role of private sector partnerships in achieving clean energy goals. “Through the Green Energy for Women and Youth Resilience project, we gained invaluable knowledge about the critical importance of private sector partnerships in achieving universal access to clean energy. We invite like-minded companies and financial institutions to join us in advancing this mission,” Ossola said.

This collaboration underscores the necessity of uniting governments, organizations, and businesses to address the dual challenges of energy poverty and climate change.

A Brighter, Cleaner Future

As the world commemorates the International Day of Clean Energy, stories like Grace Akingurwaruh’s remind us that clean energy is more than an environmental solution—it’s a catalyst for empowerment, economic opportunity, and a brighter future. By championing initiatives like the Green Energy for Women and Youth Resilience project, the African Development Bank is helping to turn that vision into reality.

On this day, let’s commit to a shared goal: sustainable energy for all, powered by innovation, collaboration, and the resilience of communities across Africa.

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