RCREEE and IRENA to promote Gender Inclusion in Sustainable Energy Fields

June 2021: RCREEE is joining forces with the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) to support data gathering and analysis on female participation in renewable energy focusing on Solar PV.

Under the cooperation MOU signed in 2015, RCREEE will support disseminating IRENA’s “Solar PV energy” gender survey in the MENA region seeking more insights from the region regarding women’s participation in the solar PV energy sector challenges and potential solutions to improve gender diversity.

“RCREEE is happy to support the dissemination of the survey in an attempt to avail gender-disaggregated data in Sustainable energy fields, and solar energy in particular, and in the MENA region. We believe that mainstreaming gender in sustainable energy field, will accelerate countries progress in renewable energy and energy fields availing and securing sustainable energy systems for future generations” says RCREEE Acting Executive Director, Dr. Maged K. Mahmoud.

Despite the availability of general information on female enrollment in STEM faculties, gender employment and unemployment rates in the Arab region, we are still lacking accurate and updated data on gender employment status specially in renewable energy fields.

IRENA’s new survey will contribute to addressing the data and knowledge gap on gender in the solar PV energy, to assist policy making ensuring that the energy transition is inclusive and benefits from a wider pool of talent.

“Through a diversified workforce, our region can steadily move towards achieving its ambitious goal for renewable energy capacity to reach 190 GW by 2030. This cooperation won’t only help us with accurate information but it will support RCREEE’s effort in tailoring gender inclusion programs targeting young female leaders and female professionals in the region.” Says RCREEE’s Women in Energy (Winnergy) Initiative Manager, Ms. Noha Gamal.

The findings will strengthen and deepen the knowledge of issues relating to women’s employment, improve the understanding of workplace opportunities, challenges and policy solutions in renewable energy, and highlight qualitative aspects of the global solar PV energy workforce.  The survey responses will be processed and aggregated with the information provided by other respondents for the development of an IRENA publication: Solar PV Energy: A Gender Perspective.

“Advancing equality and diversity in the energy sector is a compelling proposition rather than a zero-sum game. Establishing gender as a pillar of energy strategies at the national and global levels will produce a swifter and more inclusive transition to renewable energy while accelerating the attainment of multiple Sustainable Development Goals.” Said IRENA’s Director of KPFC, and Gender Focal Point, Ms. Rabia Ferroukhi

We invite all individuals and organizations working in the solar energy sector to participate and fill in the survey before 15th October 2021.

The survey is accessed through this link: https://survey.eu.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_cAdcLeUKX8bkA2p