Globally, the renewable energy sector offers diverse opportunities across the entire value chain, from engineering and operations to policy and community engagement. Yet, women remain underrepresented across technical, leadership and entrepreneurial roles within South Africa’s wind and solar industries. According to SAWEA and SAPVIA’s Gender Diversity Guideline for the Renewable Energy Industry, women make up only approximately 21% of the total workforce across wind and solar, while only 12% occupy engineering and technical positions and 14% hold executive and senior management roles. The guideline identifies dedicated leadership development and support programmes for women as key interventions to strengthen career progression and improve representation at decision-making levels. 

“As Minister Kgosientsho Ramokgopa recently stated during his budget vote address, South Africa is no longer only managing a crisis; it is building the future. Energy security is not an abstract objective, but the foundation of growth, dignity, inclusion, and national confidence. Women are integral to that inclusion,” says SAWEA Chief Communications Officer, Morongoa Ramaboa. 

Despite women comprising 50.1% of the global working-age population, they account for only 40% of total employment and just 35.4% of management positions worldwide, according to figures from the International Labour Organization. 

Recognising the need to address these challenges, the South African Wind Energy Association’s (SAWEA) Management Development Programme for Women in Renewable Energy, funded by the Energy and Water Sector Education and Training Authority (EWSETA), has evolved to place greater emphasis on Emotional Intelligence and Personal Mastery, alongside Business Ethics and Governance. 

Now in its fourth edition, the programme commenced on 18 May 2026 and is delivered in partnership with Wits Business School. Originally launched in March 2023, the initiative was established to address critical skills gaps and accelerate the advancement of women into senior leadership positions within South Africa’s renewable energy sector. PRESS RELEASE 

Between 2023 and 2025, 68 women enrolled in the programme, with several already having graduated. The 2026 cohort includes 20 women with an average age of 37 years. This diverse group holds multidisciplinary qualifications spanning Engineering, Environmental Science, Finance and Accounting, Human Resources, Communications, Social Sciences, Project Management, Supply Chain, and Business Management. Their academic achievements range from Bachelor’s and Honours degrees to Postgraduate Diplomas, MScs, MBAs, MPhils, and Chartered Accountancy designations. On average, participants bring 4.6 years of experience within the renewable energy sector. 

This reflects both the breadth of opportunities available in the industry and the continued need for intentional transformation to ensure women have equal access to these opportunities. “Whilst we strive to impact more women through this programme, the wind industry cannot do this alone. We implore the public sector to invest in the enrolment of more women so that we can meaningfully advance women empowerment and leadership development,” adds Ramaboa. “In the renewable energy context, global disparities intersect with industry-specific barriers, making it clear that transformation must be intentional and sustained. 

Addressing this imbalance is critical to unlocking the full potential of the renewable energy sector and ensuring women have equal access to leadership and opportunity, particularly as South Africa positions itself for accelerated renewable energy deployment, increased infrastructure investment, and ongoing market reform. 

“To achieve this, reforms must place women at the forefront, making SAWEA’s joint Gender Diversity Guideline for the Renewable Energy Industry with SAPVIA an essential resource for driving transformation across the sector,” concludes Ramaboa. 

SAWEA