EmPOWERing Women and Girls

Speeches Shim

“When women do better, countries do better, communities do better, and families do better.”

– Mark Green, USAID Administrator

Universal access to reliable energy is key to improving the health and well-being of people around the world. It strengthens livelihoods and bolsters local economies. Energy is especially critical to improving health, safety, productivity, education, and income-generation opportunities for women and girls, who are disproportionately impacted by lack of access.

 

Energy is not a gender neutral issue.

The unique experiences and challenges faced by women and men must be taken into consideration when scaling access to energy.

Development outcomes are strengthened when the unique knowledge and capacities of women are included.

When women have equal access to energy, significant productivity gains are unlocked, strengthening social and economic outcomes. Energy policies, regulations, financing, and institutions all provide opportunities to unlock this untapped productivity by improving gender equality and women’s empowerment.

USAID is working to increase access to energy for all people, and strengthen opportunities for women to formally participate in the energy sector at all levels.

All USAID energy programs integrate and consider gender issues not only to increase impacts for women and girls, but to increase effectiveness of interventions.

Programs

For more information on specific USAID programs that have a direct focus on the link between energy, gender equality and women’s empowerment, please see the list below.

Stories