New EU project will support development of over 4 000 small renewable energy women-led businesses in the Sahel region

The DESFERS project – implemented by Plan International – is part of the EU funded EUR 18.1 million initiative 'Women and Sustainable Energy', which promotes women energy entrepreneurship in 10 countries, of which 9 are African. The project is implemented in the Sahel region (Senegal, Mali and Niger) and will support 21,000 women through the development of 4,650 small renewable energy businesses in 600 villages. The project was launched in Senegal and Mali on 12 October 2018 and 19 October 2018 respectively. A third launch is expected in Niger in the spring 2019.

Representatives of the European Union, partner country governments (Ministère de la Femme, de la Famille et de l’enfant, Ministère de l´Energie, Direction Nationale de la Formation Professionnelle, Agence Malienne pour le Développement de l’Energie Domestique et de l’Electrification Rurale), quality assurance and research bodies (Fondation Schneider Electric, EnDev, Centre d'Etudes et de Recherches sur les Energies Renouvelables, Agence des Energies Renouvelables) and other partners participated in the launch events.

The DESFERS project is implemented by Fundación Plan International, a development and humanitarian organisation that promotes children's rights and equality for girls. The project is part of a broader EU approach to promote the economic empowerment of women in the context of the EU initiative 'Women and Sustainable Energy'.