AFIDEP-Led Webinar Highlights Barriers to Clean Energy in Sub-Saharan Africa: A Call for Gender Equity and Inclusion
AFIDEP-Led Webinar Highlights Barriers to Clean Energy in Sub-Saharan Africa: A Call for Gender Equity and Inclusion

In a recent webinar organized by the African Institute for Development Policy - led African Alliance for Evidence and Equity in Policymaking in Africa (AEEPA), experts shed light on the critical barriers that continue to hinder progress in clean energy across sub-Saharan Africa, with a particular focus on Kenya.
The event emphasized the urgent need to integrate gender equity and inclusion into evidence production to drive effective policy change.
Cultural and Economic Barriers to Clean Energy
Dr. Violet Murunga, Research & Policy Analyst at AFIDEP and Technical Lead of the AEEPA project, highlighted that Kenya's journey toward clean energy is fraught with challenges. These include cultural norms and the high costs associated with adopting clean energy solutions. "In many regions of Kenya, energy practices, especially for cooking, are deeply rooted in gendered divisions, making the adoption of modern, cleaner technologies difficult," she explained.
The discussion underscored a pressing issue: the generalized nature of current evidence production, which fails to address the specific needs of various sectors. Dr. Murunga stressed the importance of generating data that reflects the diverse realities on the ground to effectively tackle issues like energy access.
Dr. Anna B. Ninsiima, a Gender and Policy Analyst, Social Researcher, and Lecturer at Makerere University, echoed this sentiment. She pointed out that evidence production must prioritize gender equity and inclusion, or it risks being fundamentally flawed. "Understanding how gender norms influence areas like energy access is crucial for developing effective policy strategies and interventions," Dr. Ninsiima said.
Building Capacity for Informed Policymaking
The webinar also highlighted the need for enhanced capacity building among government officials, ministry staff, and career trainees—those responsible for producing evidence that informs policy. "Our goal is to ensure that the evidence they produce is grounded in a strong understanding of gender equity and inclusion," Dr. Ninsiima added.
Firmaye Bogale, a Public Health Researcher at the Ethiopian Public Health Institute (EPHI), noted that the AEEPA project aims to advance evidence-based policymaking that aligns with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), specifically focusing on gender equity at every stage.
The potential of digital tools to enhance policymaking was another key topic of discussion. However, Dr. Ninsiima cautioned that the effectiveness of these tools depends on who controls them and how inclusively they are used. "Digital tools can streamline policymaking, but their sensitivity and inclusivity are determined by those who design and use them," she remarked.
The Way Forward
Dr. Murunga concluded the webinar by advocating for integrating high-quality digital tools into policymaking. “If digital tools can be mainstreamed and designed to produce high-quality, inclusive products, they could significantly enhance the policy landscape,” she said.
The webinar, themed “Accelerating SDGs through Advancing Gender Equity and Inclusion in Evidence-Informed Policymaking Processes: Experiences and Reflections,” underscored the vital role of gender equity in both the energy transition and broader development goals. As the discussion revealed, addressing these challenges requires a concerted effort to integrate gender-sensitive, data-driven approaches in all aspects of policymaking.
The AEEPA is supported by the International Development Research Centre, The William and Flora Hewlett Foundation, and the BOSCH Foundation and brings together the African Institute for Development Policy, The African Research and Impact Network, The Makerere University School of Women and Gender Studies, and The African Institute for Health Policy & Health Systems of Ebonyi State University