24 Jul Rand Sandton Consulting Group’s Groundbreaking Diagnostics Mark a Turning Point in Inclusive Energy Development
Rand Sandton Consulting Group, in partnership with the African Development Bank (AfDB) and the Climate Investment Funds (CIF), successfully completed a landmark series of Gender and Renewable Energy Country Diagnostics across six African countries Ghana, Liberia, Mali, Lesotho, Madagascar, and Malawi. Financed under CIF’s Scaling Up Renewable Energy Program (SREP), these diagnostics offer tailored, evidence-based strategies to promote women’s leadership, financial inclusion, and active engagement in clean energy transitions.
The initiative reflects Rand Sandton’s tradition of high-impact, policy-oriented development consultancy and solutions. By translating complex insights into actionable recommendations, we reinforce our position as a strategic advisor shaping inclusive energy systems across Africa. The work also complements AfDB’s earlier gender-energy efforts in East Africa, expanding the regional footprint of gender-responsive energy diagnostics to West and Southern Africa.
Produced in response to direct country-level requests, the diagnostics support AfDB’s 2030 Climate Change and Green Growth Strategic Framework and highlight key opportunities for integrating gender into national energy policies, investment plans, and governance structures. From designing inclusive financing mechanisms for women-led ventures to advocating targeted capacity-building programs, Rand Sandton’s contributions provide a scalable model for sustainable and equitable energy reform.
At the official launch on 30 June 2025, Rand Sandton’s Senior Gender Consultant, Dr. Priscilla Achakpa, presented the diagnostics during a high-level virtual workshop, emphasizing the transformative role of gender inclusion in energy systems. The event drew participation from governments, civil society, and the private sector, demonstrating widespread commitment to inclusive growth.
📣 AfDB leadership echoed these themes:
“Gender equality is a source of serious innovation and sustainable growth. Moving forward, we specifically aim at translating findings into concrete reforms and investment priorities as well as promote gender-responsive business models and financing strategies” — Dr. Al Hamndou, Manager, Climate Change and Green Growth Mainstreaming Division
“The real work begins now, It’s now up to us governments, civil society, the private sector, and development partners to translate evidence into action, to seize the opportunity for cross cutting learning, and to foster partnerships that break down barriers to women’s full participation in the green economies” — Ms. Nathalie Gahunga, Manager, Gender and Women Empowerment Division, urging stakeholders to turn insights into action.
During the internal dissemination on 3 July 2025, Executive Director Ms. Fewstancia Munyaradzi presented the consolidated action plan to address financing gaps, enhance institutional capacity, and embed gender-responsive strategies in energy policy and project design. These actions will be integrated into AfDB’s future programming as part of its work on its Climate 2030 strategy and other efforts in regional member countries. Reinforcing Rand Sandton’s evolving role in implementation leadership:
“The diagnostics position Rand Sandton as a thought leader at the nexus of gender equity and renewable energy, demonstrating our capacity to embed social inclusion into complex infrastructure and climate frameworks. Covering six diverse countries, we’ve strategically expanded our regional footprint across West and Southern Africa. More than just research, our engagement reflects a shift toward implementation influence producing actionable recommendations, guiding institutional uptake, and evolving from technical consultant to strategic advisor driving policy transformation,” — Ms Fewstancia Munyaradzi.
Next Steps for Stakeholders: The diagnostics are now available to governments, civil society organizations, development partners, and financial institutions seeking to embed gender equity into Africa’s clean energy future. Rand Sandton remains committed to supporting these stakeholders with ongoing technical assistance, policy advisory services, and thought leadership.
- Countries: Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, Lesotho, Ghana, and Liberia
- Sector: Energy Sector
- Subject: Gender and Renewable Energy