In a decisive move toward an inclusive and equitable energy future, the South Africa – Public Buildings and Infrastructure project (Energy Efficiency in Public Buildings and Infrastructure Programme, EEPBIP) implemented by GIZ in partnership with South Africa’s Department of Electricity and Energy (DEE) and funded by the Mitigation Action Facility has finalised a comprehensive Gender Equality and Social Inclusion (GESI) Analysis and Action Plan. This pioneering framework ensures that the benefits of energy-efficiency interventions reach all South Africans, with deliberate focus on women, youth, persons with disabilities (PWDs), and LGBTQIA+ communities.
EEPBIP aims to catalyse an energy efficiency transformation within the public-sector and wider energy efficiency market, the programme recognises that true sustainability demands equity. By embedding GESI principles across every phase of the value chain, from awareness-raising and project identification to procurement, financing, and implementation, EEPBIP is creating meaningful pathways for historically marginalised groups to participate and lead.
South Africa continues to grapple with rising emissions, energy insecurity, and deep-seated inequalities in access to opportunities. Patriarchal norms, spatial legacies of apartheid, and restricted access to finance have long excluded women, youth, PWDs, and other marginalised groups from shaping or benefiting from energy-sector initiatives. In global terms, women represent only 20% of the energy workforce, with black women accounting for a mere 4%. These gaps are not just unfair – they weaken the effectiveness and innovation potential of the entire sector.
EEPBIP is tackling these challenges head-on through technical support, capacity building, and innovative financial mechanisms. At its heart lies a robust GESI Action Plan that transforms inclusion from an add-on into a core programme pillar.
A flagship outcome of this work is the creation of the Municipal Women in Energy Efficiency Forum (MWEEF), a first-of-its-kind platform born directly from EEPBIP’s GESI training and sensitisation efforts. MWEEF is designed to amplify women’s leadership in driving down emissions and building climate-resilient communities.
Key strategies driving change
Ringfencing opportunities for inclusion
The GESI Action Plan mandates that at least 60% of EnPC tenders be awarded to women-, youth-, and PWD-owned Energy Service Companies (ESCOs). Procurement boards, supported by targeted mentorship and enterprise-development programmes, will monitor compliance and develop long-term capacity.
Expected impact: Measurable, sustained representation of marginalised groups across the entire EnPC value chain.
Empowering gender focal persons through a Community of Practice
Although many municipalities have GFPs, these units often lack influence or integration with technical departments. EEPBIP will establish a Community of Practice to connect GFPs with energy and supply-chain units for fostering collaboration and gender-responsive decision-making in project delivery.
Expected impact: Stronger institutional muscle to deliver inclusive energy-efficiency projects.
Breaking financial barriers
Working with partners such as the Industrial Development Corporation (IDC), EEPBIP has designed tailored credit facilities and partial credit guarantees that lower the risk and cost of capital for women-owned businesses and SMMEs.
Expected impact: Levelled playing field and significantly higher participation rates in public-sector projects by previously marginalised groups.
Prioritising safety and dignity
Gender-sensitive occupational health and safety standards, along with mandatory GBV-prevention clauses, are a critical intervention embedded in the action plan for all EnPC contracts.
Expected impact: A safer and more enabling environment for women, youth, PWDs, and LGBTQIA+ persons to thrive.
GESI highlights
Officially launched by Deputy Minister Samantha Jane Graham-Maré at the September 2025 Energy Efficiency & Energy Management Seminar Gala Dinner, the Municipal Women in Energy Efficiency Forum (MWEEF) began with 15 trailblazing municipal women and is rapidly expanding. The forum focuses on:
- Cultivating women’s leadership in the energy sector
- Developing technical and institutional expertise
- Facilitating peer-to-peer learning and knowledge sharing
- Advocating for gender-responsive policies
- Driving community-level energy-efficiency initiatives
Voices of leadership
Deputy Minister Samantha Jane Graham-Maré captured the importance of GESI perfectly at the launch stating that:
“Women in the energy sector bring unique perspectives, practical solutions, and the ability to multiply impact. Yet we remain underrepresented. The sector cannot afford to leave this talent untapped. If women are not included in planning for tomorrow, then the future will look like yesterday.”
Sindile Buthelezi, Energy Efficiency Manager at eThekwini Municipality and the visionary behind MWEEF, added that:
“By harnessing the potential and perspectives of women, we can create energy-efficiency programmes that not only reduce carbon footprints but also advance social equity.”
EEPBIP invites all stakeholders; municipalities, private sector partners, and civil society to join us in embedding GESI principles into their operations. Together, we can build an energy sector that is not only efficient but also equitable and inclusive. EEPBIP’s journey demonstrates unequivocally that gender equality and social inclusion are not optional extras, they are indispensable ingredients for a just and effective energy transition. By proving that inclusive systems deliver stronger climate outcomes and more resilient communities, EEPBIP offers a replicable blueprint for Mitigation Action Facility projects and energy programmes worldwide.
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