2nd Women Energize Women Conference

The 2nd edition of the Women Energize Women International Conference, jointly organized by the Bilateral Energy Partnership, GWNet, and BEE, took place on June 15, 2023, in Munich as part of the Intersolar trade fair.

The event brought together energy sector experts and policymakers to discuss financing the energy transition and promote women's empowerment in this field. The opening speeches by Dr. Franziska Brantner, Parliamentary State Secretary at the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate BMWK, Ellen von Zitzewitz, Director of the North Africa Division at BMWk, Sandra Retzer, Project Director at GIZ, and Dr. Simone Peter, President of the Renewable Energy Federation BEE, were followed by a lively discussion on current energy investment trends, led by renowned experts from several countries. Additionally, a hands-on workshop on financing and women entrepreneurship provided participants with an opportunity to deepen their knowledge of energy investments. The conference emphasized the importance of balanced representation of women in the energy sector for a fair and sustainable energy transition.

During the conference, the third edition of the "Energising Women to Advance the Energy Transition" mentoring program was also introduced. This program aims to support mid-career women in the field of energy transition in 12 countries across different regions. In Algeria, for the third consecutive year, seven women working in the energy sector have been benefiting from this mentoring program since March 2023. Tailored to each participant's profile, this 12-month program, in collaboration with GWNET and BMWk, offers mentoring, knowledge transfer, career development, and networking opportunities. It is part of the broader "energypartnerships" project and policy dialogues between Germany and the 12 participating countries.

In parallel to the conference, a workshop titled "Women in Energy in the MENA Region" was held on June 16, 2023, at Intersolar Munich. The workshop was opened by Ms. Ellen von Zitzewitz from BMWK and Ms. Tanja Faller from GIZ Tunisia. A roundtable discussion titled "Green Financing, EnerGIZ, and Female Talent for an Accelerated Energy Transition in the MENA Region" took place, bringing together representatives from Algeria, Tunisia, Jordan, and Morocco. High-level speakers addressed region-specific issues, and the day continued with exciting presentations and Q&A sessions.

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