In the heart of Democratic Republic of the Congo, a powerful movement is uprising, one rooted in lived realities from communities, homes, and places of worship.
Through the Grassroots African Women of Faith in Energy project, GreenFaith Africa is walking alongside women to amplify a bold and urgent moral call, Africa’s energy future must be just, inclusive, clean, renewable, and centered on people.
Across towns and communities in the DRC, women are stepping forward to share their lived realities, stories shaped by rising energy costs, economic strain, and the daily struggle to sustain households and small businesses. These are not abstract policy concerns. They are deeply personal experiences that define survival and dignity.
“The high cost of living here in DRC has weakened household budgets and small and medium enterprises, which are largely run by women,” one participant shared. “It is clear that women’s empowerment in the renewable energy discourse is needed now more than ever.”
This collective voice reflects a deeper truth, women are not just victims of energy injustice, and they are leaders, innovators, and essential architects of solutions. From producing eco-friendly briquettes as alternatives to charcoal, to advocating for solar and hydro energy use, to organizing within faith and community spaces, they are already building pathways toward sustainable energy futures.
Yet, their efforts continue to face systemic barriers.
A Unified Call for Change
The women involved in the project have come together to articulate clear and urgent demands:
- A gender-sensitive energy policy in the DRC that recognizes and responds to the unique challenges women face.
- Meaningful inclusion of women in the formulation of energy policies and regulations, ensuring their voices shape decisions that affect their lives.
- Support for women-led renewable initiatives, particularly those producing briquettes as sustainable household energy sources and income-generating opportunities for women rebuilding their livelihoods after conflict.
- Reform of the land act, which remains outdated and fails to protect women’s rights. In its current state, it leaves women vulnerable, especially as extractive industries exploit land without adequate safeguards.
- A united call to action inviting grassroots women of faith and allies across sectors to push for accelerated implementation of a just, women-led, affordable, and accessible energy system for all.
Faith, Justice, and the Energy Transition
What makes this movement particularly compelling is its moral foundation. These women are not only advocating for policy reform, they are grounding their demands in faith, justice, and the inherent dignity of their communities. Their call transcends economics and technology; it speaks to fairness, stewardship of creation, and the right to thrive.
In a country rich in natural resources yet burdened by energy poverty and extractive exploitation, their message is both timely and transformative. They are challenging systems that prioritize profit over people and offering a vision of energy that uplifts communities rather than displacing them.
Shaping Africa’s Energy Future from the Ground Up
As Africa navigates the path toward a clean energy transition, the voices of grassroots women in the DRC are a reminder that true transformation must be inclusive. Policies made without those most affected risk-deepening inequalities. But when women, especially those on the frontlines are empowered, the transition becomes not only just, but sustainable.
The Grassroots African Women of Faith in Energy project is more than an initiative; it is a movement of courage, resilience, and hope. It is women rising together, speaking in one voice, and insisting that the future of energy in Africa must work for everyone.
And from the communities of the DRC, that future is already being imagined and built.