[Blog] Powering women's economic futures: energy and opportunity in Africa's inclusive industrialization transformation

By Towela Ngulube and Sosson Tadadjeu

In Africa, women play a crucial role as entrepreneurs, farmers, traders, and community leaders, contributing significantly to the local economy. However, their dynamism often confines them to low-productivity sectors and creates barriers to their access to the economic opportunities generated by industrial transformation. On International Women's Day 2026, it is essential to promote gender equality beyond legal recognition by ensuring women's full participation in key sectors of the African economy.

Two core elements of this transformation are reliable energy systems and inclusive industrial development. These pillars are essential for creating productive jobs, encouraging entrepreneurship, and opening new economic opportunities for women. Inclusive industrialization is particularly critical for women's economic empowerment, as women remain underrepresented in sectors that drive economic transformation, particularly manufacturing, where they account for less than a third of the workforce.

In sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), approximately 83% of women are self-employed, one of the highest rates in the world. It is therefore important to ensure that these women have access to industrial value chains and technology sectors to improve their economic stability and productivity. However, access to energy remains a major challenge, with approximately 565 million people in SSA lacking electricity, which limits businesses' ability to engage in modern economic activities.

A reliable energy supply is essential for businesses to operate, agricultural products to be processed, and digital technologies to be used. Frequent power shortages can hinder production, damage equipment, and slow the growth of small businesses, where women are often the majority. Therefore, improving access to reliable and affordable energy is critical for women's economic empowerment.

Strengthening energy systems and inclusive industrialization are interconnected. A stable electricity supply promotes growth in the manufacturing, agricultural, and digital services sectors, generating productive jobs and enabling women to develop their businesses. When energy systems improve, businesses can invest, adopt new technologies, and increase their productivity, creating an environment conducive to expanding economic opportunities.

The theme of International Women's Day 2026, ‘Rights. Justice. Action.’, highlights the need to move from commitments to concrete transformations. While legal protections and social recognition are essential, it is also imperative to transform the structural conditions that limit opportunities for women. By expanding access to energy and promoting inclusive industrialization, we can create an economic environment conducive to women's empowerment, thereby contributing to stronger and more inclusive economic development in Africa. Women's empowerment is therefore not only a matter of justice, but also a lever for a sustainable economic future.