Call for Applications: Women in Energy Storage Mentoring Programme of the Energy Storage Partnership (ESP)

Gender diversity drives innovation, opens new pathways for technology deployment, brings valuable perspectives to social and economic development and provides a richer pool of talent for key and emerging industries. In the landscape of global issues requiring strong leadership and a skilled workforce, few areas are as critical as the transition to a sustainable energy system. Yet, the renewables industry continues to be male-dominated  (IRENA’s 2019 report “Renewable Energy: a Gender Perspective”)

In order to advance the role of women as agents of change in society and promote best practices within the sector, the Secretariat of the Energy Storage Partnership, hosted by ESMAP, is teaming up with the Global Women’s Network for the Energy Transition (GWNET) to launch a dedicated mentoring programme for women working in the energy storage sector.

The programme is designed to accelerate the careers of women in junior/middle management positions in the energy storage field, support their pathway to leadership positions and foster a global network of mentorship, knowledge-sharing and empowerment.

The application criteria are as follows:

• Must be a national from a developing country [1]
• Must be a woman working in the energy storage sector (public sector, private sector, academia, etc.)
• Must work in a junior/middle management position, with min. 2 and max. 6 years of work experience

Furthermore, the mentoring programme is designed around the following key programme parameters:

• Selection of 15 mentees 
• 12-month programme duration
• Comprehensive knowledge-transfer components through a series of webinars
• Virtual networking and peer-to-peer exchange

If you fulfil all the application criteria and are interested to apply as a mentee, please fill in the application form. The deadline for applications is Sunday 28th June 2020.

[1] Defined as IDA, blend and IBRD countries in the following list https://datahelpdesk.worldbank.org/knowledgebase/articles/906519

Become a mentor for the Women in Energy Storage Mentoring Programme – what’s in it for you?

GWNET is looking for senior professionals, men and women, in the energy storage sector who are eager to make a difference and have a positive impact on a younger woman’s career in the energy sector.

With the ever-changing dynamics of the business fields – digitalisation, knowledge and knowledge sharing have become more important than ever. As a mentor, you get the opportunity to give something valuable back to more junior professionals and to expand your own knowledge through your mentees’ perspective. Mentoring will contribute to personal and professional development for both you and your mentee, as well as, shaping the direction of future generations within your field of expertise.

If you are interested in volunteering as a mentor in the Women in Energy Storage Mentoring Programme (which involves approx. 1 – 1.5 hours of engagement per month plus optional participation in knowledge-transfer webinars), kindly fill in this Mentor Datasheet.

About 

Energy Storage Partnership (ESP)

ESP is a global partnership convened by the World Bank Group to foster international cooperation to adapt and develop energy storage solutions for developing countries. Today, the unique requirements of developing countries’ grids are not yet fully considered in the current battery storage market – even though these countries may have the largest potential for battery deployment. Recognizing the need to catalyze a new market for batteries and other energy storage solutions in developing countries, ESP aims to promote a better understanding of energy storage solutions in developing countries by focusing on: Power systems and safety; Test beds for knowledge and capacity building; Testing protocols and validation of performance; Flexible sector coupling; Decentralized energy storage solutions and mini-grids; Procurement frameworks and enabling policies; and Recycling systems and standards. For more information, please visit the ESP factsheet and LinkedIn page

Global Women’s Network for the Energy Transition (GWNET)

GWNET empowers women in energy through interdisciplinary networking, advocacy, training, coaching and mentoring. GWNET seeks to address the current gender imbalances in the energy sector and to promote gender-sensitive action around the energy transition in all parts of the world.

Energy Sector Management Assistance Program (ESMAP)

ESMAP is a global knowledge and technical assistance partnership administered by the World Bank and funded by Australia, Austria, Canada, Denmark, the European Commission, Finland, France, Germany, Iceland, Italy, Japan, Lithuania, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, the Rockefeller Foundation, Sweden, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom, as well as the World Bank. ESMAP’s mission is to assist clients–low and middle-income countries–to increase know-how and institutional capacity to achieve environmentally sustainable energy solutions for poverty reduction and economic growth. For more information, visit our website.

The Korea Green Growth Trust Fund

The Korea Green Growth Trust Fund is a partnership between the World Bank Group and the Republic of Korea, established in 2011 to support client countries as they shift to green development path.  Both partners share a common goal to reduce poverty and promote shared economic prosperity in an environmentally responsible and socially inclusive way.   The Trust Fund finances on-the-ground programs as well as knowledge exchange activities, and to date has approved 144 programs in the urban, transport, information and communication technology, energy, environment, water, climate and agriculture sectors.  Based on strong performance, as well as increasing demand for collaborative development implementation programs, the fund has grown from US$40 million to US$100 million WBG programs through 2021.