去中心化太阳能光伏：性别视角（英）2024

Decentralized Solar PV: A Gender Perspective

Highlights

• Electricity Access: The number of people without access to electricity increased by 10 million in 2022, reaching 685 million, with the majority residing in sub-Saharan Africa.
• Decentralized Renewable Energy (DRE): DRE, particularly decentralized solar photovoltaic (PV), is crucial for providing clean, reliable, and affordable energy (SDG 7) to remote and hard-to-electrify communities.
• Job Creation: Off-grid solar PV applications create numerous jobs. In Ethiopia, India, Kenya, Nigeria, and Uganda, they employed 307,000 people in 2023. Globally, women make up approximately 40% of the solar PV sector workforce, with regional variations. In Africa, women hold 38% of all employment positions in the sector.

Introduction

• Role Diversity: The decentralized solar PV sector requires a wide range of roles, including factory assembly, office jobs, highly skilled engineering, and site planning. This diversity offers opportunities for women across various skill sets.
• STEM and Technical Roles: Across Africa, 24% of STEM roles and 22% of other technical jobs are held by women. Women also account for 27% of administrative and non-technical roles. In the Asia-Pacific region, women's presence is more prominent in high-skilled jobs.

Key Data and Statistics

• Employment by Region:
  • Africa:
    • Overall Employment: 38%
    • India: 21%
    • Uganda: 28%
    • Nigeria: 35%
    • Ethiopia: 37%
    • Kenya: 41%
  • Asia-Pacific: Higher share of women in high-skilled jobs.
• Skills and Roles:
  • STEM: 24% of roles
  • Technical Jobs: 22% of roles
  • Administrative and Non-Technical Roles: 27% of roles

Barriers to Women’s Employment

• Societal Constraints: Societal and cultural biases, perceptions of gender roles, and self-perception issues.
• Skilling and Education: Barriers related to education and professional development.
• Workplace Biases: Biases from employers and customers.
• Pay Gaps: Wage disparities between men and women.
• Safety and Mobility: Safety concerns and limited mobility.
• Lack of Flexibility: Insufficient workplace flexibility.
• Entrepreneurial Barriers: Specific challenges for women entrepreneurs, including access to finance, ownership, and assets.

Recommendations

• Market Data and Knowledge: Improve data collection and analysis on women's inclusion in the sector.
• Mainstream Gender: Integrate gender considerations into all energy policies and programs.
• Skill Building: Provide targeted training and development opportunities for women in essential competencies.
• Social Expectations: Address social expectations and the skills shortage.
• Enabling Environment: Create a supportive and inclusive work environment.
• Entrepreneurship: Lower barriers to women's entrepreneurship, focusing on access to finance, ownership, and assets.

Case Studies

• Alem Gebru Gebremeskel: Founder of Modify Electromechanical, Ethiopia.
• Catrine Shroff: Founder of Mwangaza Light, Kenya.
• Juliana Lanyero: Founder of cloud-Green, Uganda.

Conclusion

• Transformation: Decentralized solar PV systems are transforming the entrepreneurial landscape, offering diverse opportunities for women across various roles and skill levels.

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This summary provides a comprehensive overview of the key findings, statistics, and recommendations regarding women's involvement in the decentralized solar PV sector.