World Bank-ESMAP Launches Survey on Gender Gaps in Hydropower Sector - As Part of New Study to Support Women’s Employment in the Sector

The World Bank’s Energy Sector Management Assistance Program (ESMAP), in partnership with the International Hydropower Association (IHA) and the Global Women's Network for the Energy Transition (GWNET), is launching a survey targeted at practitioners in the hydropower industry, enquiring about the presence of women in all echelons of the sector.

The survey, available here, is part of a study which will identify and encourage best practice and practical approaches on gender equality in the hydropower sector. All practitioners, in the hydropower sector, both women and men, are encouraged to respond.

Women remain underrepresented in the hydropower sector - as they are in the energy sector in general - yet how underrepresented is difficult to determine as sex-disaggregated data and gender statistics on employment in the sector are scarce. Hydropower generates almost two thirds of renewable energy electricity, and it employs over two million people globally. It has therefore the potential to make a significant contribution to improving diversity and gender equality across the energy workforce.  With an increased global focus on maximizing the potential of hydropower comes the opportunity and the need to address barriers and gaps for women in relation to recruitment, retention, and promotion. Access to quality jobs and assets are key levers of change for women, communities, businesses, and economies. In developing countries, particularly, they are also fundamental drivers of economic growth, poverty reduction, and shared prosperity.

The study, which will be led by IHA, focuses on developing countries. It will seek to determine the share of women in different functions in hydropower companies, and to identify the main barriers to entry and advancement of women, as well as effective strategies to address those barriers. As part of the study, the online survey targets various stakeholders within the hydropower sector, including private companies, public utilities, governmental and non-governmental organizations. It aims to collect quantitative and qualitative data on women’s participation in this sector.

ABOUT ESMAP

The Energy Sector Management Assistance Program (ESMAP) is a partnership between the World Bank and 19 partners to help low and middle-income countries reduce poverty and boost growth through sustainable energy solutions. ESMAP’s analytical and advisory services are fully integrated within the World Bank’s country financing Since its inception in 1983, ESMAP has supported more than 800 energy sector activities that promote poverty reduction, economic growth, and low carbon development in over 100 countries. and policy dialogue in the energy sector. Through the World Bank Group (WBG), ESMAP works to accelerate the energy transition required to achieve Sustainable Development Goal 7 (SDG7) to ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable, and modern energy for all. It helps to shape WBG strategies and programs to achieve the WBG Climate Change Action Plan targets.

The ESMAP Hydropower Development Facility supports client countries with the development of sustainable, flexible hydropower projects that will enable the energy transition. The program includes knowledge generation and project and country grants to support four core areas to sustainably advance rehabilitation and greenfield hydropower development: environmental and social impact assessments; feasibility studies; project implementation; and capacity building and project management.

The ESMAP Gender and Energy Program aims to close gender gaps in the energy sector. ESMAP has built considerable momentum for closing gender gaps through its global Gender and Energy Program and its six Regional programs. These programs have helped strengthen women's roles as consumers, employees, and entrepreneurs in the energy sector. Aligned with the WBG Gender Strategy (FY16-23), ESMAP works with countries to design innovative interventions and generate crucial cutting-edge knowledge of actions needed to close gender gaps in the sector and improve development outcomes.

ABOUT IHA

International Hydropower Association (IHA) is a non-profit membership organization committed to sustainable hydropower. Its mission is to advance sustainable hydropower by building and sharing knowledge on its role in renewable energy systems, responsible freshwater management, and climate change solutions. IHA achieves this through monitoring the hydropower sector, building an open, innovative, and trusted platform for knowledge, and advancing strategies that strengthen performance.

Stay in touch with IHA at: hydropower.org, linkedin.com/company/international-hydropower-association, twitter.com/iha_org

ABOUT GWNET

Global Women’s Network for the Energy Transition (GWNET) aims to advance the global energy transition by empowering women in energy through interdisciplinary networking, advocacy, training, and mentoring. GWNET seeks to address the current gender imbalances in the energy sector and to promote gender-sensitive action around the energy transition in all parts of the world.

For more information about GWNET visit https://www.globalwomennet.org/