New 'Power Women' Initiative Boosts Ukrainian Women's Role in Energy Sector
A new initiative, 'Power Women', is set to boost women's participation in Ukraine's energy sector. Meanwhile, Ukrainian women are already sustaining the economy amidst war, and the country's new Prime Minister, Yuliia Svyrydenko, is the second woman to hold this office. The World Bank estimates that removing barriers to women's participation in the labour market could increase global GDP by over 20% within a decade.
The 'Power Women' initiative aims to empower Ukrainian women by providing them with skills and strengthening their presence in the energy sector. Alona Lebedieva, owner of Aurum Group, is behind this project. Currently, Ukrainian women are playing a crucial role in the wartime economy, contributing to logistical algorithms, launching bioenergy plants, and installing solar capacity in frontline villages.
To support women's involvement further, education must be made accessible, access to finance expanded, and women's representation addressed. Successful campaigns like Germany's 'Girls' Day' have increased the proportion of female students in STEM disciplines to 35%. The 'Women in Cleantech Challenge' has already generated over 200 climate-focused start-ups, attracting significant private investment. In Northern Europe, women occupy 34% of jobs in renewable energy, almost double the global average for the traditional energy sector.
The 'Power Women' initiative seeks to enhance collective results by having women work alongside men in Ukraine's energy sector. With women already making significant contributions to the wartime economy and the World Bank's GDP projections, supporting women's participation in the labour market could bring substantial benefits to Ukraine and the global economy.
