The East African Centre of Excellence for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency (EACREEE) and the ECOWAS Centre for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency (ECREEE) have taken significant steps to mainstream gender and social inclusion in their energy transition agendas. Their newly launched strategies mark a milestone in regional efforts to ensure that women, youth, and marginalized groups are not only beneficiaries but also leaders in shaping sustainable energy futures.
EACREEE’s Gender, Youth and Social Inclusion Strategy 2025–2030 developed and launched with support from UNIDO and the Austrian Development Agency (ADA), provides a comprehensive roadmap for integrating inclusive practices across all levels of its operations. The strategy is aligned with the EAC Vision 2050, the African Union Agenda 2063, and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 5 (gender equality) and SDG 7 (access to energy for all).
The key features of the strategy include:
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Capacity building: Training, mentorship, and scholarship programmes targeting women, youth, and persons with disabilities.
The strategy also addresses gender disparities in clean cooking, electricity access, electric mobility, and productive use of renewable energy, with a strong emphasis on entrepreneurship and energy access in displacement settings. It recognizes the role of women and youth in shaping the future of green hydrogen and sustainable energy entrepreneurship.![]()
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While EACREEE’s strategy marks a new milestone in East Africa, the ECOWAS region has long been a pioneer in gender mainstreaming within the energy sector. Building on its 2017 Gender Mainstreaming in Energy Access Policy, ECREEE has further advanced its commitment through the Strategy and Action Plan for Gender Integration and Social Inclusion (2023–2027), which is embedded in its Strategic Plan 2023–2027. It aims to contribute to universal access to modern energy for all, with a strong focus on gender equality and social inclusion.
The strategy is structured around three strategic orientations:
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Improving gender mainstreaming in programmes and projects: Development of gender-integrated projects, visibility campaigns, and operationalization of the ECOWAS Directive on Gender Assessment in Energy Projects.
A robust action plan outlines 25 priority actions, including the development of toolkits, data strategies, and awareness campaigns. The strategy also includes a detailed monitoring and evaluation framework to track progress and ensure accountability.
The East African Centre of Excellence for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency (EACREEE) and the ECOWAS Centre for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency (ECREEE) are members of the Global Network of Regional Sustainable Energy Centres (GN-SEC), a UNIDO-coordinated platform that fosters South-South cooperation and regional integration in sustainable energy. GN-SEC supports its member centres through initiatives such as coordination of a Gender and Youth Focal Point Network (GYFPN), providing training and knowledge, which facilitates joint learning, exchange, advocacy, programming, and resource mobilization. The GN-SEC regions share common challenges and opportunities integrating gender and youth into sustainable energy planning and implementation, making these strategies not only regionally relevant but globally significant.Both strategies reflect the shared commitment of GN-SEC members to inclusive energy transitions. Furthermore, they also demonstrate how regional centres can lead by example, embedding gender equality and social inclusion into energy policy, planning, and implementation. These efforts not only advance human rights and social justice but also unlock economic potential and innovation across the energy sector.
As EACREEE and ECREEE move forward with implementation, their strategies offer valuable models for other regions seeking to build resilient, equitable, and sustainable energy systems. 
A Shared Vision Across GN-SEC
