Fifty women entrepreneurs in Eswatini celebrated the completion of the two-year Powering Gender Equality Project with the receipt of starter kits, including mobile solar systems and biogas Brazil-type batteries. The initiative aimed to bridge the gender gap in the energy sector, empowering women to fuel their businesses with clean energy, aligning with Eswatini’s national priorities and the UN Sustainable Development Goals on gender equality and access to clean energy.
The event, held at the Hilton Garden Inn in Mbabane, also served as a platform for participants to engage with the Ministry of Natural Resources and Energy’s technical working group on gender and energy. The project, implemented by UNDP in partnership with the Ministry and funded by Luxembourg and the Republic of Korea, saw participants from across the country’s four regions.
Joyce Nunn, a business owner from Mpolonjeni, shared her excitement about the project’s impact on her business, which includes sewing, chicken broiler farming, and detergent-making. “My participation in this project has made me realize that my business can grow significantly from a small entity to a big one,” Nunn said, expressing gratitude for the inclusion of women with disabilities.
For Khombisile Nhlengethwa, a participant from Bulimeni, the project opened new opportunities, particularly in using biogas for baking and creating organic fertilizer. “Apart from using biogas for baking, I will now be able to make organic fertiliser, which is a byproduct of biogas,” said Nhlengethwa, who operates in a remote area with no access to electricity.
The project also provided training on marketing and business management, facilitated by the University of Eswatini and Women in Trade and Development, ensuring participants were equipped with valuable skills to grow their businesses.
Ms. Candice Stromvig, a principal energy officer at MNRE, noted that the technical working group developed a strategy to strengthen women’s roles in the energy business and increase professional participation. “The participants can be champions in advocating for other women,” Stromvig said.
UNDP Resident Representative Henrik Franklin commended the collaboration and confirmed that UNDP will continue to develop new programs for women. He also referenced the Ingelo Certification Scheme and the Micro Small and Medium Enterprises Policy as ongoing initiatives to support business growth. Franklin emphasized the project’s contribution to achieving SDG 5 on gender equality and its broader impact on SDGs 1 and 13, focusing on reducing poverty and climate action.
