WEE-Net launched to put women at the centre of Bangladesh’s energy transition
This is a platform for skills, leadership, and advocacy
Manusher Jonno Foundation (MJF) has launched WEE-Net (Women's Empowerment and Energy Network), calling for women and marginalised communities to be placed at the heart of Bangladesh's energy transition to ensure gender justice and equitable access to clean energy.
The launch was held on Monday (2 February) at the Dhaka Reporters Unity (DRU), with MJF joined by representatives from 34 network member organisations, said a press release.
At the press conference, Banasree Mitra Neogi, director of Rights and Governance Programmes at MJF, highlighted the persistent gender gap in the workforce. She said women's participation in the national labor force remains at only 19 percent, and 86 percent of those who lost jobs in the first half of FY25 were women.
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"Women's participation in renewable energy remains below 10 percent, while nearly 90 percent of households still rely on harmful biomass fuels. These fuels pose serious health risks that disproportionately affect women," Neogi said.
A platform for skills, leadership, and advocacy
WEE-Net aims to strengthen women's skills, expand employment opportunities in renewable energy, support women-led initiatives, and coordinate advocacy for gender-responsive energy policies. The network is open to civil society organizations, institutions, and individuals committed to advancing gender-just energy solutions.
Wasiur Rahman Tonmoy, MJF's lead for Youth and Social Cohesion, urged the post-election government to ensure women's active participation in all sectors of renewable energy.
Mousumi Yesmin, advocacy officer at MJF, stressed the need for targeted investments for women entrepreneurs, rural women, and marginalised groups, alongside meaningful participation in policymaking for renewable energy.
