Gender diversity drives innovation, opens new pathways for technology deployment, brings valuable perspectives to social and economic development and provides a richer pool of talent for key and emerging industries. In the landscape of global issues requiring strong leadership and a skilled workforce, few areas are as critical as the transition to a sustainable energy system. Yet, the renewables industry continues to be male-dominated (IRENA’s 2019 report “Renewable Energy: a Gender Perspective”)

In order to advance the role of women as agents of change in society and promote best practices within the sector, the Secretariat of the Energy Storage Partnership, hosted by ESMAP, is teaming up with the Global Women’s Network for the Energy Transition (GWNET) to launch a dedicated mentoring programme for women working in the energy storage sector.

The programme is designed to accelerate the careers of women in junior/middle management positions in the energy storage field, support their pathway to leadership positions and foster a global network of mentorship, knowledge-sharing and empowerment.

The application criteria are as follows:

• Must be a national from a developing country [1]
• Must be a woman working in the energy storage sector (public sector, private sector, academia, etc.)
• Must work in a junior/middle management position, with min. 2 and max. 6 years of work experience

Furthermore, the mentoring programme is designed around the following key programme parameters:

• Selection of 15 mentees
• 12-month programme duration
• Comprehensive knowledge-transfer components through a series of webinars
• Virtual networking and peer-to-peer exchange
• If you fulfil all the application criteria and are interested to apply as a mentee, please fill in the application form. The deadline for applications is Sunday 28th June 2020.

[1] Defined as IDA, blend and IBRD countries in the following list https://datahelpdesk.worldbank.org/knowledgebase/articles/906519

Become a mentor for the Women in Energy Storage Mentoring Programme – what’s in it for you?

GWNET is looking for senior professionals, men and women, in the energy storage sector who are eager to make a difference and have a positive impact on a younger woman’s career in the energy sector.

With the ever-changing dynamics of the business fields – digitalisation, knowledge and knowledge sharing have become more important than ever. As a mentor, you get the opportunity to give something valuable back to more junior professionals and to expand your own knowledge through your mentees’ perspective. Mentoring will contribute to personal and professional development for both you and your mentee, as well as, shaping the direction of future generations within your field of expertise.

If you are interested in volunteering as a mentor in the Women in Energy Storage Mentoring Programme (which involves approx. 1 – 1.5 hours of engagement per month plus optional participation in knowledge-transfer webinars), kindly fill in this Mentor Datasheet.

This article was originally published on GWNET website and can be accessed here.