Supporting last-mile women energy entrepreneurs: What works and what does not

As a learning document, this publication answers to central questions, such as why working with women’s energy enterprises is pivotal to sustainable development and its possible outcomes. Based on ENERGIA and partners’ experience, it draws lessons learned from each aspect of the programme, from recruitment of women entrepreneurs to their training and mentoring. It further presents the strategies for sales, marketing and promotion, supply chain development, management and distribution. It also looks into the major bottleneck for women-run enterprises: access to finance.

Purpose of this document is providing organizations working on women’s enterprise development, partners, governments, or practitioners interested in supporting women’s enterprises in the renewable energy sector, with practical information learned at the intersection of women’s empowerment and energy access.