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The World Bank has urged Zambia to expand investment opportunities for women in the energy sector, saying the country’s push to diversify electricity generation could create new businesses, jobs and economic opportunities for women.
World Bank Country Manager, Martine Valcin, said Zambia’s plans to increase electricity generation capacity to 10,000 megawatts by 2031 and bring more than 1,400 megawatts of non-hydropower generation online in 2027 presented opportunities for women across the clean energy value chain.
Speaking during the second session of the Women and Economic Resilience Webinar Series, titled “Women Energizing Africa: Opportunities and Roles for Women in the Just Energy Transition”, she said women could participate in solar product distribution, equipment servicing, supply chains and energy infrastructure development.
Valcin said recent power shortages had exposed the risks of relying heavily on hydropower, making energy diversification essential for strengthening energy security and economic resilience.
Women Leaders for Climate Action Nachilala Nkombo, Founder and Co-Chair said Zambia needed to move beyond policy commitments and create practical opportunities for women to become investors, project developers and decision-makers.
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She said the organisation aimed to support at least 100 climate-smart, medium-sized women-led businesses by 2030, with a significant proportion operating in the energy sector.
Nkombo also urged the government and private sector to establish measurable targets for women’s participation in strategic industries.
Ana Hajduka, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Africa GreenCo Group, said women needed to move beyond seeking participation in the energy sector to demonstrating their economic contribution across its value chain.
She said opportunities existed across the industry but women needed to be proactive, build professional networks and support one another to access them.
Speaking at the same event, Permanent Secretary Joe Kalusa, who read a speech on behalf of Minister of Green Economy and Environment Gilbert Siame, said the just energy transition should be environmentally sustainable, economically productive and socially inclusive.
He said women should not merely benefit from the transition but should be active participants as investors, innovators and decision-makers.
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