Gender and Youth
The energy transition is an opportunity to empower women and youth and build a more equal society.
32%
Percentage of renewable energy workforce globally that are women
1.8 bn
Youth who face limited access to educational opportunities, finance, and decent jobs within the energy sector
486
Women supported through our mentorship and technical training programmes (as of April 2024)
196
Youth supported through our mentorship and technical training programmes (as of April 2024)
Currently, women and youth both have unequal opportunities to influence and benefit from decisions related to energy, climate and development. This is especially true for young women.
The role of women and youth as agents of change and the need for more inclusive governance and decision-making at all levels would help to improve both climate mitigation and adaptation policies, and strengthen efforts to end energy poverty.
Despite making up 39% of global labour force, women only account for 22% of the traditional energy sector. Meanwhile, according to the IEA’s Net Zero by 2050 scenario, 14 million green jobs will need to be created by 2030, with another 16 million workers shifting to new roles involving clean energy.
Ensuring that women and youth have access to and are equipped for these opportunities will help reduce inequalities.
Our Gender and Youth programme focuses on key areas for advancing the inclusion of women and youth in the energy transition.
Our Activities
Gender and Youth Mainstreaming
Leveraging advocacy platforms, establishing industry KPIs on gender, youth and energy, raising awareness at high-profile events, and implementing targeted programmes to support women's empowerment and youth inclusion.
Professional Development
Providing training and mentorship to women and youth to advance their careers in the energy sector and prepare them for leadership roles.
Advocacy
Build global momentum for women’s participation and access in the energy sector through women and youth representation at key industry events, coalition-building within the sector, and communications campaigns.
Data and Evidence
Build evidence base and collate data on gender, youth and the energy sector to develop knowledge products and tools to raise awareness, facilitate information exchange, and strengthen gender-focused interventions.
Knowledge Products & Resources
The Gender and Youth team develops, publishes, and distributes knowledge products and resources to ensure gender and youth considerations are mainstreamed across energy policies, programmes, and projects.
We conduct assessments and generate evidence on the gender and youth impacts of energy access, energy efficiency, and clean cooking to inform more inclusive energy planning and decision-making.
By addressing both empowerment and integration, our Gender and Youth team aims to drive a just and equitable energy transition that benefits women and youth.
Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment Principles
Our commitment to gender equality and women’s empowerment means that we integrate gender considerations into our core and external programmes to ensure that women, men, girls, and boys benefit equitably from the energy transition
Careers in Sustainable Energy: International Development
Explore diverse career opportunities in the fast-growing sustainable energy sector with our Careers in Sustainable Energy: International Development guidebook. Tailored for students, young professionals, and early to mid-career individuals, this resource highlights essential skills, educational pathways, and personal testimonials from SEforALL members. Whether you're looking to start or advance your career, this guide provides invaluable insights to help you navigate the global sustainable energy workforce landscape.
This Is Cool Challenge
The This Is Cool Challenge aims to recognize and support innovative youth-led solutions that have high potential to accelerate sustainable cooling for all.
Gender and Energy Compact
The Gender and Energy Compact is a global, multi-stakeholder coalition led by ENERGIA, GWNET, UNIDO and SEforALL, who have joined forces to catalyze action towards gender equality and women's empowerment.
