RMI Launches Its Global Women in Clean Energy Fellowship in Africa and Indonesia to Help Advance a More Inclusive and Equitable Clean Energy Workforce

RMI’s Energy Transition Academy (ETA) is thrilled to announce the launch of two cohorts of its first Global Women in Clean Energy (GWiCE) Fellowship. The Africa-based cohort — comprising 50 women energy practitioners from Nigeria, Ethiopia, and Zambia — is actively working to advance clean energy projects. The Indonesia-based cohort is set to launch in November. These two cohorts, running until December 2025 and May 2026, respectively, will empower women fellows to lead the deployment of distributed energy resource projects, ensuring that women are not just participants but also leaders in shaping the future of clean energy.

New York – September 18, 2025

RMI launched the Energy Transition Academy (ETA) Global Women in Clean Energy (GWiCE) Fellowship in Nigeria, Ethiopia, and Zambia, and is preparing its launch in Indonesia, with support from Topsoe, a global leader in advanced technologies for fuel transition, and other funders. The GWiCE program builds on the ETA’s expertise in experiential learning and capacity building and previous editions of the Global Fellowship Program.

The Africa-based cohort, currently ongoing, was launched in July 2025 and will run through the end of the calendar year. The cohort includes 50 women participants from young professionals to seasoned energy practitioners, with diverse backgrounds and roles, including engineering, business development, and project management, and representing 45+ organizations across the public, private, NGO, entrepreneurial and consulting sectors.

“The ETA GWiCE Fellowship responds to the gaps identified through our comprehensive needs assessment. It is designed to strengthen women’s technical and leadership capacity, with the goal of catalyzing an inclusive energy transition. Through technical training, group mentorship, peer networking, capstone work, and in-person leadership skills training, we aim to empower fellows to lead the deployment of distributed energy resource projects, ensuring that they are not just participants but also leaders in shaping the future of clean energy.” says Valentina Guido, Senior Associate, Energy Transition Academy, RMI.

“The ETA is honored to support these remarkable women leaders from Nigeria, Ethiopia, Zambia, and Indonesia, each of them driving a cleaner, brighter future powered by clean energy. The GWiCE builds on ETA’s collaborative learning approach, connecting peers to exchange experiences, insights, and ideas, and in turn empowering and accelerating collective action.” says Jason Meyer, director, Energy Transition Academy, RMI.

The five-month fellowship program, which focuses on technical training and project management skills, offers a deep dive into project implementation and management for distributed energy projects, including minigrids, solar PV and energy storage systems, and small-scale hydropower projects. The curriculum is curated by the ETA and delivered by technical experts from RMI’s Africa Energy Program and Islands team, the Ethiopian Women in Energy Association (EWiEn), the Lagos Energy Academy, and the Global Women Network for the Energy Transition (GWNET), alongside a range of other local and international experts, such as the Kafue Gorge Regional Training Center in Zambia.

“Nigeria’s energy transition targets include achieving net-zero emissions by 2060 and increasing grid connected power to 30 GW by 2030, with at least 30 percent from renewables. Reaching this milestone and the net-zero pathway to 2060 depends not only on policy and investment but also on a skilled workforce ready to design, build, operate, and maintain distributed renewable energy at scale. Without deliberate, rapid upskilling, meeting the 2030 targets will be challenging and may jeopardize our broader climate goals. Our fellowship program is purpose built to ensure that we have the capable talent needed to accelerate deployment and deliver high quality outcomes.” says Suleiman Babamanu, Nigeria program director, RMI.

“EWiEn is proud to collaborate with RMI on the Global Women in Clean Energy Fellowship. This partnership equips Ethiopian women with skills, mentorship, and global networks, enabling them to drive inclusive and sustainable energy solutions.” says Adey Getachew, president of EWiEn.

“As an organization dedicated to empowering women in the energy transition, GWNET is honored to partner with RMI on the Global Women in Clean Energy Fellowship. We are delighted to see the positive impact of the program’s inaugural cohort in Africa and look forward to the launch of the Indonesian cohort.” says Christine Lins, executive director, GWNET.

In addition to a technical training component, GWiCE fellows learn firsthand from their peers, as well as women leaders in the space, and meet in person at the end of the five-month online curriculum for the GWiCE Leadership Accelerator, a multi-day workshop focused on leadership skills development and training, including strategic and systems thinking, personal alignment and branding, communications, and stakeholder management skills.

The Indonesia-based cohort, modeled after the same structure and set to launch in November, is designed to respond to Indonesia’s energy transition priorities and needs, identified through research and expert consultation, and to the community building needs of women working on the energy transition in the country. Recruitment for the program is set to start in September.

“Indonesia’s energy transition is not only about technology and investment, but also about people and leadership. Through the Global Women in Clean Energy Fellowship, we are committed to unlocking the potential of early-career women professionals across sectors. By strengthening their technical expertise, leadership skills, and cross-sector networks, we aim to ensure that women working on the energy transition are leading the shaping of Indonesia’s clean energy future.” says Wini Rizkiningayu, RMI Southeast Asia program director.

To learn more about the Global Women in Clean Energy Fellowship program and the Energy Transition Academy, visit the GWiCE and the ETA websites.

For a look at the ETA’s existing work, see:

• The Fast Track to Clean Energy: Building Women’s Leadership Capacity to Close the Gender Gap
• Women’s Leadership: The Multiplier Effect in the Energy Transition
• We Need More Women in Science and Leadership
• Gender-Inclusive Strategies Are Key to Advancing the Energy Transition
• A Collective Effort to Increase Energy Access in Nigeria

Note to editors:

The following RMI staff members are available for comment: Valentina Guido, GWiCE Fellowship Program Manager; Jason Meyer, ETA Director; Suleiman Babamanu, Nigeria Country Director, RMI Africa Program; and Wini Rizkiningayu, Southeast Asia Director.

For media inquiries, please contact:

Maxine Chikumbo at mchikumbo@rmi.org and Chris Potter at cpotter@rmi.org.

About RMI:

Rocky Mountain Institute (RMI) is an independent, nonpartisan nonprofit founded in 1982 that transforms global energy systems through market-driven solutions to secure a prosperous, resilient, clean energy future for all. In collaboration with businesses, policymakers, funders, communities, and other partners, RMI drives investment to scale clean energy solutions, reduce energy waste, and boost access to affordable clean energy in ways that enhance security, strengthen the economy, and improve people’s livelihoods. RMI is active in over 50 countries.

More information on RMI can be found at www.rmi.org.