Sub-Saharan Africa has the lowest energy access rate on Earth. Nearly 600 million people lack access to electricity and over 700 million rely on polluting fuels. Solar Sister is an organization that gives women an opportunity to become entrepreneurs while supporting the clean energy revolution. The movement launched its first pilot programme in 2010 and currently has over 8000 entrepreneurs, 87% percent of whom are women, who have been able to reach more than 3 million people living in rural communities with durable, affordable solar-powered products and clean stoves. One of the main goals of the project is to better understand the interconnection between gender and energy while highlighting the role of women at the forefront of the clean energy transition. Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and the prolonged impact of the Covid-19 pandemic have exacerbated the energy crisis in the region and worsened socio-economic inequalities. Therefore, Solar Sister represents an opportunity to empower people across different regions while supporting local and national economies’ transition to clean, resilient and sustainable energy systems. Video credit: Emeka Gibson and Timothy Obiezu
