After a successful pilot mentorship programme in 2021, the Women in Energy Connect (WE Connect) programme is embarking on the second phase of matching mentors with mentees in the renewable-energy sector.

With a proactive increase in gender diversity in the renewable-energy sector remaining a necessity, the platform is focused on increasing the inclusion of women and underrepresented genders in South Africa’s renewable-energy sector.

The sector currently provides 9 000 jobs, with only 15% filled by women, with school leavers and young graduates underrepresented. Globally, women represent only 32% of the renewable-energy workforce.

“Maintaining long-term support for diversity in the renewable-energy sector is vital because the industry is destined for exponential growth,” says WE Connect director Kalnisha Singh, noting that if women and underrepresented genders do not help shape the industry, it will not be fit for purpose.

The yearly mentorship programme, which uses a values-based approach to ensure that relationships between mentors and mentees are meaningful and sustainable, is one element of a broader platform offered to foster inclusionary networking across the industry.

WE Connect aims to build on the success of the 2021 six-month pilot programme, which kicked off in May 2021 with 22 participants – 11 female and nonbinary mentees and 11 male and female mentors – and concluded in December 2021.

One mentee gained access to an international scholarship to complete her doctorate and, through the larger WE Connect platform, one mentor was invited to participate in a game-changing new renewable-energy project.

“From the outset, the mentorship programme has delivered the kind of results for which it was designed,” Singh says.

“It is driving not only inclusion and personal development but the possibility for overall industry innovation and thought leadership that will benefit the whole of South Africa.”

Singh points out that, being only 12 years old, the South African renewable-energy sector can still avoid the structural and systemic biases that underpin other industries.

“The power of diversity and inclusion could propel the local industry to the status of a global leader. This year’s WE Connect mentorship programme is pivotal to ensuring that the inclusion of women and underrepresented genders becomes automatic.”

The WE Connect mentorship programme creates and facilitates opportunities for mentoring, knowledge sharing, skills development, access to market and business support.

“Through the mentorship programme specifically, we aim to build lasting relationships among today’s leaders and those whom they help prepare for future decision-making,” Singh continues.

“In that way, the industry as a whole will become organically representative. Diversity will be baked in, along with the innovation and progressive leadership that diversity provides.”

The WE Connect platform is one of 12 such platforms globally and is recognised by local industry regulators the South African Wind Energy Association and the South African Photovoltaic Industry Association, as well as the Department of Mineral Resources and Energy.

Overall, WE Connect has three main objectives, namely creating access for youth to the renewable-energy sector; supporting in-career professionals; and supporting value chain development.

The mentorship programme will run for a six-month period and comprise one-on-one mentee-mentor sessions and online group mentoring touchpoint sessions facilitated by business coach Paula Quinsee.

The digitalised programme material will guide mentees and mentors through the process.