Empowering women as leaders. 

As a women-led social enterprise, Power Sisters has affirmed high-level support for advancing gender equality on the road to ensuring universal energy access. Over 80 per cent of WIRE’s board is comprised of women leaders from the finance, technology and renewable energy sectors. Besides promoting women’s leadership internally, WIRE is a key global advocate for bridging the gender technology divide.

Empowering women as consumers

WIRE Entrepreneurs benefit first-hand as users of renewable energy and use the power of personal testimony to educate their communities on the benefits of the solar and clean cooking solutions they sell.

Empowering women through local workforce development. 

WIRE empowers women through local green jobs and workforce development across its growing operations in Ghana. Over 86 per cent of WIRE’s staff is comprised of women energy managers, trainers, business coaches and technicians. Scaling up these efforts to provide jobs and advancement opportunities for women in Renewable energy sector is vital for meeting the SDG objectives. According to the International Renewable Energy Agency’s 2015 Annual Review, renewable energy-related employment is presently low in Africa, except in a few countries, such as Kenya, Morocco and South Africa, where deployment growth is creating domestic value and jobs. 3 This need is very evident in the sustainable energy sector, and is an area in which Power Sister is playing a vital role.

Empowering women as renewable energy entrepreneurs. 

WIRE’s business model is focused on building a women-driven last mile distribution network to bring energy access to underserved communities. WIRE  trains and mentors women to build sustainable businesses selling portable solar lamps, mobile phone chargers and clean cookstoves. WIRE entrepreneurs are equipped with business in a bag kit, business and technology skills and the confidence to succeed. Women use their social networks to provide the most effective distribution channel to rural and hard-to-reach customers. Power Sister is an important aspect of WIRE’s mission. It means providing a safe space where women come together to share their challenges and successes by using technology to earn a living and meet renewable energy needs. Since the women are firmly rooted in their communities, they become a trusted source of post-point of sale customer care. This sustained service is vital for building customer’s confidence in clean energy technologies.