SADC women energy entrepreneurs get six-month business boost

Wednesday 27th November 2025

by inAfrika Newsroom

Women energy entrepreneurs from across Southern Africa are enrolling in a new six-month capacity-building programme to grow their clean-power businesses. The Southern African Development Community Centre for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency (SACREEE) is running the course for women who own or lead energy enterprises. Organisers say demand remains strong as green mini-grids, solar home systems and efficient appliances spread through the region.

The programme focuses on business skills rather than technical training. Participants sharpen their financial planning, marketing and negotiation abilities while engaging with mentors from the energy industry. Moreover, women energy entrepreneurs learn how to pitch to investors and navigate regulations in different SADC markets. Many run small shops that sell solar lanterns, improved stoves or productive-use equipment such as solar fridges and water pumps.

SACREEE says the initiative aims to unlock growth capital and improve survival rates for women-led firms. Too many businesses still stall at micro scale because owners cannot access loans, collateral or trusted networks. In addition, cultural norms sometimes discourage women from travelling for trade fairs or late-evening sales. Programme mentors therefore share strategies to manage risk, build local partners and keep firms compliant with safety and quality standards.

Next steps for women energy entrepreneurs in SADC

After the current cohort graduates, SACREEE plans alumni networks and follow-up coaching. It is also exploring links with commercial banks and impact investors that want greener portfolios but lack pipelines of vetted projects. If these partnerships take shape, more women energy entrepreneurs could scale operations from single districts to cross-border distribution. That, in turn, would push more efficient, low-carbon technologies into homes and businesses across the SADC region.

Why it matters for Africa

Helping women run stronger firms multiplies the impact of each solar panel or clean stove sold. When women energy entrepreneurs expand, they create jobs for sales agents and installers, spread climate-smart technologies and deepen local supply chains. Customers then gain reliable products and after-sales service, not one-off donations that fail after a year. The SADC model also offers a roadmap for other regions that want to pair gender inclusion with genuine market growth in green energy.