The Clean Energy Solutions Center supported the development of a new report titled Situation Analysis of Energy and Gender Issues: Issues in ECOWAS Member States. The report was developed in partnership with the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Centre for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency (ECREEE). According to the report, women in the region continue to be outside the decision making sphere and their human rights are often compromised when addressing energy access issues. The study also reveals that although women will be disproportionately more affected by climate change, they possess relatively limited influence on key decisions related to climate change mitigation and adaptation.

Impact of Assistance

The report lays the groundwork for the development of the ECOWAS Policy for Gender Mainstreaming in Energy Access, providing insights on how ECOWAS member states can adopt gender-responsive development strategies to achieve the objectives of the Sustainable Energy for All (SE4ALL) initiative and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The launch of the report comes at a time when the UNFCCC is advocating for gender equality as a necessary step to more effectively combat climate change.