March 8, 2025 – Today, the Africa Minigrids Program (AMP) celebrates International Women’s Day and joins the call to unlock equal rights, power, and opportunities for all, ensuring no one is left behind.
Under the theme “For ALL Women and Girls: Rights. Equality. Empowerment.”, we recognize the importance of the right conditions and enabling factors—such as electricity—to prepare and empower women to benefit from sustainable development and change.
In this spirit, we are spotlighting AMP Eswatini. Through a co-financing agreement with the Eswatini Energy Regulatory Authority (ESERA), AMP has brought electricity access to Mvundla, transforming lives with clean, reliable energy. The small rural community is located near Sigcineni in the Manzini Region of Eswatini, approximately 75 kilometers from the capital city, Mbabane. This milestone marks a new era of progress—empowering women with access to clean cooking, modern electricity, and economic opportunities.
We also celebrate the women driving this initiative forward by sharing green skills, promoting inclusion, and strengthening education and communication for a more sustainable future.
Unequal access to energy limits women and girls’ opportunities for education and employment across Africa. They face barriers such as reliance on unsafe cooking fuels, limited job opportunities in the energy sector, and under-representation in governance. Prioritizing gender equality in energy and off-grid solutions is key to addressing these issues.
The AMP promotes gender equality through clean energy initiatives, with Ethiopia, Eswatini, Madagascar, and Malawi participating in the Powering Equality initiative launched in 2023. This initiative supports gender equality in large-scale energy programs across Africa.
In Eswatini, UNDP has partnered with the local government to offer entrepreneurship training to over 50 women. In Malawi, the Gender and Energy office identified women-led businesses to expand energy access. Ethiopia is integrating gender equality into energy policies to boost women’s influence in governance. Madagascar focuses on improving energy access for women’s groups and fostering gender equality in public-private dialogues.
These efforts will continue and serve as models for further gender-focused actions in other AMP countries. AMP’s Community of Practice also shares challenges and best practices, helping integrate gender equality into the energy sector.
Lighting a Community: Mvundla
“As a community, we are excited about the power from the Mvundla minigrids which has changed our lives in ever respect.” – Sithembile Khumalo, Women Community Leader, Mvundla, Eswatini
AMP Eswatini has sparked new opportunities in the last-mile community of Mvundla, where access to electricity is transforming lives. With power now available, the community is experiencing social and economic benefits, driving progress and modernization.
Sithembile Khumalo, a community leader, celebrates this milestone and actively mobilizes women to harness the potential of the minigrid, empowering them to create a brighter, more sustainable future.
Women in Energy in the Spotlight
These women are part of a growing network of leaders within the AMP, driving progress toward a just energy transition. Through their efforts, they are overcoming significant challenges to accelerate the adoption of green energy in diverse ways.
“I am proud to support the shift to sustainable energy while empowering women and tackling climate change.” – Zanele Thabede-Vilakati, Inclusive Growth, UNDP Eswatini
“My work includes assisting the communities identify gaps within the area that could translate into feasible and viable business opportunities.” – Noncedo Langwenya, Product Support Specialist, Small Enterprises Development Company (SEDCO)
“I believe that minigrids can help close the energy gap and improve energy access and lives from the 12% of rural communities in Eswatini, who are off-grid.” – Dr. Constance Van Zydam, Board Chairperson – Renewable Energy Association of Eswatini (REAESWA)
“The training course which transfers green skills to students, primarily targeting youth and women, advances the country’s green climate agenda through training, ensuring that everyone plays their part towards a just energy transition.” – Dr. Nosiphiwo Zwane, Minigrids Training Instructor, University of Eswatini
“This approach ensures an inclusive and gender sensitive approach as we press on with the rollout of minigrids to our remote communities and a just energy transition.“ – Nomphumelelo Ntshalintshali, Project Gender Consultant, Eswatini Energy Regulatory Authority (ESERA)
“Through symbiotic relations and coordinated approaches, we can accelerate green climate change collectively, and bring about a much needed just energy transition.” – Teclar Maphosa, Communications and Stakeholder Manager, Eswatini Energy Regulatory Authority (ESERA)
