Evidence for informing optimization and scaling of youth and women led clean energy enterprises and business models in Kenya, Malawi, Uganda & South Africa

This project seeks to generate evidence to inform piloting and scaling of clean energy best practices (enterprises and business models) that have empowerment and transformational potential for women and youth. Working with investors, implementers and funders of low-carbon energy initiatives, it will enhance our understanding of the systemic factors that enhance or constrain women and youth’s access to business opportunities in clean energy innovation and entrepreneurship, and how the most promising best practices can be scaled up for impact.

The project comprises three components: transdisciplinary research, optimisation of business innovation incubation hubs, and transdisciplinary knowledge exchange and learning. The incubation hubs will pilot, optimise and scale best practices that enhance the innovation capabilities of women and youth to become entrepreneurial as they cope with climate change impacts. The evidence from the project will be used to guide policy and private and public investment decisions necessary for driving a gender-transformative, sustainable energy transition in different contexts.

This is expected to result in increased financial investments as well as participation and involvement of stakeholders in the climate innovation ecosystem, especially women and youth, as they contribute positively to the ecosystem.