women entrepreneurs - The African Mirror

Mar

2024

Africa’s renewable energy sector is shattering gender norms

AFRICA'S fast-evolving renewable energy landscape is catalysing a shift in gender dynamics, with more women seizing employment opportunities than in the traditional energy sector, according to a new report. According to the report, “more women are assuming positions as business creators, energy producers, distributors, and service providers,” challenging longstanding gender norms prevalent in the energy industry. The report, “Empowering Women in Clean Energy: Advancing and Retaining an Equitable Workforce”, by The Global Energy Alliance for People and Planet draws insights from over 150 female professionals employed at different levels in the renewable energy sector. Traditionally, the energy sector has been…

Jul

2022

By The African Mirror

Women entrepreneurs in Africa face more climate risks than their male peers

ENVIRONMENT

THE world’s climate is changing. All of us will ultimately be affected by climatic shifts – but some will be hit harder than others. On the African continent, for instance, small businesses are on the front lines of climate change. Over 50% of the African labour force works in agriculture, which is both very exposed to and dependent on climatic variability and change. But even businesses in urban centres are increasingly dealing with climate-induced challenges. These include unstable water and power supplies, extreme heat and flooding. These hazards interrupt processing and manufacturing activities. They also limit the transportation of goods…

Sep

2021

By The African Mirror

This women’s startup helping women entrepreneurs got going thanks to COVID

NEWS

PATRICK NELLE, BIRD ESSOSSOLIM Gnebi, founder and owner of Solaris Togo, an agri startup that produces and trades organic pineapples, thought she had it made. Her two-year-old company was thriving, with clients placing regular orders and all Gnebi had to do was respond to emailed orders and get enough product out the door. Simple. Then COVID-19 hit. Essossolim Gnebi, founder and owner of Solaris Togo, an agricultural company that produces and trades organic pineapples. Photo: Patrick Nelle “All borders were shut and we saw our sales declining drastically,” Essossolim remembers. While she was wondering what to do, she, like millions…

Oct

2020

By The African Mirror

One woman’s fight to save Nairobi’s playgrounds and public spaces

AFRICITIES

NITA BHALLA IT'S hard to keep up with Renee Ngamau. From mentoring women entrepreneurs to campaigning against police brutality, the Kenyan lawyer, businesswomen, human rights activist - and former prime-time radio disc jockey - has taken up many social causes over the years. But Ngamau's latest crusade to protect Kenya's urban playgrounds has perhaps hit home more than most as she finds herself fighting to save her own housing estate from losing its green spaces to illegal encroachment by private developers. "I grew up here. I used to swing from the branches of that tree right over there. We used…