Call for Nominations for this Year's 25 Under 40 Energy Women Rising Stars
The African Women Business Energy Network (AWBEN) – a platform created to advocate for career advancement for women in the African energy sector – has launched its call for nominations for this year's 25 Under 40 Energy Women Rising Stars. Celebrating the achievements and contributions of women as they strive towards making energy poverty history in Africa, the 2025 edition of the 25 Under 40 Energy Women Rising Stars highlights a new generation of industry leaders, energy experts, trailblazers and executives. These women have not only shown remarkable success in the sector but set the tone for a future built on gender equality, change and industry growth.
An Opportunity to Celebrate
The 25 Under 40 Energy Women Rising Stars celebrates those in the industry who have shown resilience, innovation and dedication. With a similar drive to expand energy access, bolster development and unlock new fields of creativity in African energy, these women continue to display the vital role women play in both Africa's and the global energy sector. Over the years, winner have included c-level executives, government representatives, journalists and media experts, lawyers, financiers and engineers. Representing global energy companies, African institutions, technology leaders and public corporations, these women have set a strong example for others in the industry.
Nomination Criteria
AWBEN invites the industry to apply or nominate an eligible candidate. To be considered, nominees must meet the following requirements:
Age Requirement: Nominees must be under the age of 40 at the time of nomination.
Eligibility: Nominees must be actively working in or contributing towards Africa's energy sector.
Additionally, nominees must meet at least three of the following criteria:
Excellence in Field/Impact: Nominees must demonstrate significant impact in their current role through performance, leadership or strategic contributions.
Leadership: Nominees must demonstrate proven leadership and a track record of driving meaningful change, mentoring others or shaping the direction of their organization.
Innovation: Nominees must showcase the development or application of innovative technologies, business models or approaches that address challenges or create new opportunities in the African energy space.
Sustainability and Sector Growth: Nominees must demonstrate a commitment to sustainable practices and initiatives that support the long-term development and resilience of Africa's energy landscape.
Community Engagement: Nominees must contribute actively in projects or programs that deliver social impact, empower local communities or promote inclusive development through energy.
How to Nominate
To apply or nominate a candidate, please visit https://apo-opa.co/4jQoets. Nominations must be submitted alongside the following:
Detailed description of the nominee's achievements in the energy sector.
Detailed description of the selected nominee criteria.
Supporting documents, including resumes, certification and/or publications.
The deadline for nominations is June 20, 2025.
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of African Energy Chamber.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Economy ME
an hour ago
- Economy ME
Global gender gap closes to 68.8 percent yet full parity remains 123 years away, says WEF
The global gender gap has closed to 68.8 percent, marking the strongest annual advancement since the COVID-19 pandemic. However, full parity remains 123 years away at current rates, according to the World Economic Forum's Global Gender Gap Report 2025. Iceland led the rankings for the 16th year running, followed by Finland, Norway, the United Kingdom and New Zealand. 'At a time of heightened global economic uncertainty and a low growth outlook combined with technological and demographic change, advancing gender parity represents a key force for economic renewal. The evidence is clear. Economies that have made decisive progress towards parity are positioning themselves for stronger, more innovative and more resilient economic progress,' stated Saadia Zahidi, managing director, World Economic Forum. Wide leadership gap persists The 19th edition of the Global Gender Gap Report, which covers 148 economies, reveals both encouraging momentum and persistent structural barriers facing women worldwide. The progress made in this edition was driven primarily by significant strides in political empowerment and economic participation, while educational attainment and health and survival maintained near-parity levels above 95 percent. However, despite women representing 41.2 percent of the global workforce, a stark leadership gap persists, with women holding only 28.8 percent of top leadership positions. European nations dominate rankings The report also revealed that Iceland maintained its position as the world's most gender-equal economy for the 16th consecutive year, with 92.6 percent of its gender gap closed – the only economy to surpass 90 percent parity. Finland (87.9 percent ), Norway (86.3 percent), the U.K. (83.8 percent) and New Zealand (82.7 percent) round out the top five positions. All top 10 economies have closed at least 80 percent of their gender gaps, the only economies to achieve this milestone. European nations dominate the top 10 rankings with eight positions – Iceland, Finland, Norway and Sweden have maintained top 10 status since 2006. The index looks only at gender gaps in outcomes and not at the overall levels of resources and opportunities in a country. It finds a slight correlation between the current income levels of the countries covered and their gender gaps, with richer economies being slightly more gender equal. At the aggregate level, high-income economies have closed 74.3 percent of their gender gap, slightly higher than the averages observed in lower-income groups: 69.6 percent among upper-middle income, 66.0 percent among lower-middle-income and 66.4 percent among low-income economies. However, top performers among the three lower-income groups have closed a greater share of their gender gaps than over half of the economies in the high-income group. While resources matter, it is not richer countries alone that can afford to invest in gender parity and economies can integrate parity into their growth strategies at all levels of development. Historically, those who have done well at developing and integrating their full human capital tend to have more sustainable and prosperous economies as a result. Leveraging the full base of talent and diverse ideas in an economy can unlock creativity and drive innovation, growth and productivity. North America leads in gender parity Regionally, North America leads the world with a gender parity score of 75.8 percent, showing particularly strong performance in economic participation and opportunity (76.1 percent) where it leads all regions. The region has made significant progress in political empowerment since 2006, narrowing its political parity gap by 19.3 percentage points. Europe ranks second with a gender parity score of 75.1 percent, having closed 6.3 percentage points of its overall gap since 2006. The region has particularly strong performance in political empowerment (35.4 percent), where it ranks highest globally. European economies continue to lead the overall rankings, occupying eight of the top 10 positions. Latin America and the Caribbean make greatest overall progress In third place comes Latin America and the Caribbean, which stands out as the region with the fastest rate of progress with a score of 74.5 percent and having advanced 8.6 percentage points since 2006, making the greatest overall progress of all regions. This regional success demonstrates that rapid progress is achievable with focused policy interventions, offering a model for economic acceleration through gender parity. Meanwhile, Central Asia places fourth with a score of 69.8 percent. Armenia and Georgia are the region's top performers, each closing more than 70 percent of their gender gaps and leading regional progress in economic participation and educational attainment. In fifth place comes Eastern Asia and the Pacific, with a score of 69.4 percent, achieving the second-highest regional score for economic participation and opportunity at 71.6 percent. New Zealand, Australia and the Philippines are the top performers in the region, with New Zealand the only economy from the region in the global top 10. MENA more than triples political empowerment Sub-Saharan Africa ranks sixth with a score of 68 percent. The region displays wide variation across countries, yet its success stories demonstrate that progress is possible in all economic contexts. The region has made significant progress in political empowerment, with women now holding 40.2 percent of ministerial roles and 37.7 percent of parliamentary seats. Southern Asia ranks seventh with a score of 64.6 percent. Bangladesh is the region's top performer, and the only Southern Asian economy in the global top 50. Significant improvements in educational attainment since 2006 are creating a foundation for future economic gains. Finally, the Middle East and Northern Africa region ranks eighth with a score of 61.7 percent. However, the region has shown considerable improvement in political empowerment since 2006, with the regional average more than tripling and gaining 8.3 percentage points on this dimension. Saudi Arabia among most successful countries at bridging gender gap Based on the collective speed of progress of 100 economies covered continuously since 2006, it will take 123 years to reach full parity globally – an 11-year improvement from last edition's estimate, but still falling more than a century short of the Sustainable Development Goals. However, the fastest-moving economies demonstrate that rapid acceleration is possible when gender parity becomes a national priority. The economies that proved most successful at bridging their gender gaps across each income group respectively are Saudi Arabia, Mexico and Ecuador, Bangladesh and Ethiopia. The report also revealed that political empowerment has seen the most improvement overall, with the gap narrowing by 9.0 percentage points since 2006, yet at the current pace, it will still take 162 years to fully close this gap. Economic participation and opportunity has also gained 5.6 percentage points over time, with economic parity projected to take 135 years at current rates. Both technological transformation as well as geoeconomic fragmentation create new risks that could reverse the economic gains made by women in recent decades. Read| GCC economic growth to strengthen to 3.2 percent in 2025, 4.5 percent in 2026: World Bank Economic returns on educational attainment remain uneven Educational attainment is rising, but its economic return remains uneven. Women outpace men in higher education, but their presence in senior leadership stagnates as education levels rise – even the most educated women represent less than one-third of top managers. This underutilization of human capital represents both a systemic inefficiency and a missed economic opportunity. 'Women's progress in leadership continues to decline. As the global economy transforms, AI accelerates, and countries look to combat stagnating growth, this leadership gap should set alarm bells ringing. The varied experience and uniquely human skills that women bring to the leadership table are essential to unlocking the full promise of an AI-powered economy, yet are being overlooked at exactly the moment they are needed most,' said Sue Duke, global head of public policy, LinkedIn. The path to leadership is less and less linear for workers overall, but especially for women. LinkedIn data reveals that it is now over twice as common for leaders to have worked in at least two different industries, functions or companies – suggesting both greater adaptability and potential barriers to linear advancement within single sectors. Career breaks are at the heart of this dynamic, with women being 55.2 percent more likely to take them than men. Women also spend, on average, half a year more than men away from work, with caregiving responsibilities driving most of these interruptions. This shift from rigid career ladders reflects the reality of modern work patterns, where lateral moves, sector transitions and re-entry after breaks are becoming the norm rather than the exception.
Zawya
4 hours ago
- Zawya
Egypt pursues stronger agricultural investment across Africa
Egypt - Alaa Farouk, Minister of Agriculture and Land Reclamation, held a strategic meeting with a ministerial committee to explore ways of enhancing cooperation with African countries in the agricultural sector. The session included Sherif El-Gabaly, Chair of the African affairs committee in the House of Representatives; Hesham El-Hosary, Chair of the House agriculture and irrigation committee; Abdelsalam El-Gabaly, Chair of the Senate agriculture and irrigation committee; Abdelhamid Demerdash, Chairperson of the Agricultural Crops Export Council; as well as ministry leaders, experts, and investor representative Ahmed El-Sewedy. The discussions focused on mechanisms to boost Egyptian agricultural investments across African countries and strengthen bilateral cooperation in food production and agribusiness. Minister Farouk reaffirmed President Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi's directives to deepen Egypt's partnerships across the continent—particularly in agriculture—as a cornerstone of regional food security and economic integration. He stressed that these partnerships would be underpinned by joint ventures, integrated agro-industrial projects, and existing trade agreements. Farouk emphasised the importance of identifying practical methods and frameworks for collaboration, calling for greater engagement from the private sector, scientific institutions, and research bodies. He requested the committee to present alternative proposals and an implementation roadmap within two weeks, to be reviewed in coordination with scientific and international partners for subsequent feasibility and technical assessments. Highlighting Africa's potential, Farouk noted that many countries on the continent offer compelling opportunities for investment due to abundant land, water resources, and the capacity to cultivate a wide range of strategic and high-value crops. These comparative advantages, he said, make agricultural cooperation mutually beneficial. The meeting also explored the development of a replicable investment model for projects in selected African countries. Key criteria include political stability, transport infrastructure, land quality, water availability, and other agricultural enablers. An agreement was reached to prepare a clear and detailed study outlining a viable investment model, to be implemented through partnerships between government agencies, the private sector, and national banks. The model will target countries offering promising opportunities and investor-friendly environments. Farouk further noted that efforts are underway to ensure data accuracy and risk mitigation, using standardised criteria to guide decision-making. It was also agreed that business leaders and investors would be invited to take part in the model, with an open call for participation from all interested stakeholders. The minister concluded by stating that this meeting builds on ongoing coordination between the Ministry and Parliament's African Affairs Committee, aiming to scale up Egyptian investments and agricultural collaboration across the continent. Participants recommended forming a permanent committee to assess investment opportunities, composed of representatives from the African Affairs Committee, the House and Senate Agriculture Committees, the Ministry of Agriculture, and the private sector.
Zawya
15 hours ago
- Zawya
Orange Middle East and Africa and risingSUD join forces to facilitate the establishment and development of startups in the South of France
At the Viva Technology trade show in Paris, Orange Middle East and Africa (OMEA) ( represented by its CEO Jérôme Hénique, and risingSUD, represented by its President Bernard Kleynhoff, signed a strategic partnership to support the establishment and growth of African startups in the Orange Digital Center network in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region, in the South of France. This three-year partnership aims to bring together innovation ecosystems in Africa, the Middle East, and the South of France. Specifically, startups from the Orange Digital Center network will benefit from tailored support from the teams at risingSUD, the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region's economic attractiveness and development agency, to establish themselves in the South of France. They will thus join a dynamic region that is already home to 500,000 companies, including global leaders and startups that are inventing the world of tomorrow. With this partnership, OMEA strengthens its support for the internationalization of startups from Africa and the Middle East and reaffirms its commitment to developing the continent's entrepreneurial ecosystems. Deployed in 17 countries in Africa and the Middle East and eight countries in Europe, the Orange Digital Center network is a free and accessible ecosystem for all. It brings together, in one place, digital skills training for young people, support for project leaders, incubation, acceleration, and startup financing. In 2024 alone, risingSUD supported the establishment of 14 African companies in the South of France, including the startup from the Orange Digital Center in Tunisia, Guépard, which opened an office in Marseille. This partnership will allow more startups from Africa and the Middle East to benefit from risingSUD's expertise, ranging from project development to access to financing and networking with international partners. It will also facilitate access for talent and startups from the South region to the Orange Digital Centers network. Jérôme Hénique, CEO of Orange Middle East and Africa, commented: 'This partnership with risingSUD marks a key step in our ambition to promote African innovation internationally. It is a continuation of the support we offer startups through our Orange Digital Centers. By facilitating their establishment and acceleration in France, particularly in the South region, we are giving young African companies the means to accelerate their growth.' Bernard Kleynhoff, President of risingSUD and President of the Economic and Digital Development, Industry, Export, Attractiveness and Cybersecurity Commissions of the Sud Region, added: 'Thanks to its strategic position, its historical trade flows and its commitment to innovation, the South of France is a natural bridge between Europe, Africa and the Middle East. It is now the leading French region for hosting African investment projects. This partnership opens up new economic opportunities and constitutes a real springboard for the development of businesses on both sides of the Mediterranean.' Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Orange Middle East and Africa. Press contacts - OMEA: Stella Fumey Press contacts - Orange: Ibtissame Nafii Press contacts - risingSUD: Virginie Vial Isnard vvial-isnard@ Follow Orange: For more information on the internet and on your mobile: and the Orange News app or to follow us on Twitter: @orangegrouppr. About Orange Orange is one of the world's leading telecommunications operators with revenues of 40.3 billion euros in 2024 and 127,000 employees worldwide at 31 December 2024, including 71,000 employees in France. The Group has a total customer base of 291 million customers worldwide at 31 December 2024, including 253 million mobile customers and 22 million fixed broadband customers. These figures account for the deconsolidation of certain activities in Spain following the creation of MASORANGE. The Group is present in 26 countries (including non-consolidated countries). Orange is also a leading provider of global IT and telecommunication services to multinational companies under the brand Orange Business. In February 2023, the Group presented its strategic plan "Lead the Future", built on a new business model and guided by responsibility and efficiency. "Lead the Future" capitalizes on network excellence to reinforce Orange's leadership in service quality. Orange is listed on Euronext Paris (symbol ORA). Orange and any other Orange product or service names included in this material are trademarks of Orange or Orange Brand Services Limited. About Orange Middle-East and Africa (OMEA): Orange is present in 18 countries in Africa and the Middle East and has 161 million customers at 31 December 2024. With 7.7 billion euros of revenues in 2024, Orange MEA is the first growth area in the Orange group. Orange Money, its flagship mobile-based money transfer and financial services offer is available in 17 countries and has more than 100 million customers. Orange, multi-services operator, key partner of the digital transformation provides its expertise to support the development of new digital services in Africa and the Middle East. About risingSUD: risingSUD is the economic attractiveness and development agency for Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur, in the South of France. With a team of 50 people, risingSUD supports more than 400 companies each year through key moments of their growth: setting up, raising fund, exporting... The agency also supports nearly 70 strategic projects per year and attracts investors and talent from around the world to strengthen the territories and sectors of excellence in the South of France.
