Enhancing Skills and Capacities for Women and Youth Clean Energy Enterprises: Lessons from Kenya

Women and youth in Kenya face significant challenges in participating and thriving clean energy enterprises due to skills gaps, limited access to support systems, and gender disparities. Despite the sector's potential to drive sustainable development and economic empowerment, technical training and business development services often fail to address the unique needs of these groups. With Kenya positioning itself as a clean energy leader in Africa, understanding the capacity and support needs for women and youth entrepreneurs is essential to achieving inclusive green growth. Further, despite women's varying energy needs, energy access interventions have traditionally assumed equal benefits for men and women. Businesses owned by women receive significantly less general business support services compared to those owned by men, highlighting the need for more targeted and inclusive support that considers gender differences (IFC, 2021). Empowering women and youth in clean energy is crucial not only for advancing social equity but also for fostering economic resilience and environmental sustainability.