Welcome to the WePOWER Network website!

WePOWER is a vibrant voluntary women’s professional network in Energy and Power Sector in South Asia that supports women's participation in energy projects and institutions and promotes normative change regarding women in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) education.

WePOWER 's 28 Partners implement gender activities under five strategic pillars to address gaps in women's employment in energy sector and enrollment in STEM education. The total share of women in power utilities in South Asia ranges from 3% to 25%, and the share of women engineering/technical employees is even lower – less than 1% to 21%. 

In 2019, WePOWER had 11 partners, in 2020 the Network grew to 24 partners. In 2021, we have total 28 Partners. Since the launch of WePOWER, our Partners completed over 1,200 gender activities that benefitted over 20,000 females.

For 2021 specific results, please click here. 

NEW PARTNERS

Lahore Electricity Supply Company (LESCO), Pakistan 

We are pleased to welcome LESCO as a WePOWER Partner. With 22,000 employees serving 5.5 million consumers, LESCO is the largest public distribution utility in Pakistan. Under the leadership of CEO, Mr. Muhammad Amin, LESCO has been working to improve gender diversity in their company. LESCO is also prioritizing women posting in key positions, such as Director of Finance. Ms. Azia Shaoib, the HR Director would be the WePOWER Focal point. We look forward to LESCO inspiring the other distribution utilities in Pakistan to join WePOWER! Here is the link to the official LoA Agreement.

Pakhtunkhwa Energy Development Organization (PEDO), Pakistan

We are excited to welcome PEDO as a WePOWER Partner. PEDO is a World Bank Client under the Pakistan: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Hydropower and Renewable Energy Development Project, PEDO is actively engaged with the WePOWER network. The List of Activities has been finalized and PEDO formally became a WePOWER Partner on July 1, 2021. Here is the link to the official LoA agreement.

NEW Publication: WePOWER Progress Report 2020

We are very pleased to announce the launch of the WePOWER Progress Report 2020.  This report shows the collective achievements of our 24 Partners in 2020 and the commitments of our 27 Partners in 2021. Despite COVID-19, WePOWER Partners implemented 544 activities and benefited 9,410 women and girls in 2020. For 2021-2022, our partners have already committed to holding over 1,500 events and activities for over 26,000 female beneficiaries. 

 

WePOWER STEMCOM Trainings 

This summer, WePOWER sought to close the “geek gap” in South Asia by developing a Bank-first professional development program targeted towards STEM graduates and early-career professionals in partnership with the renowned Alan Alda Center for Communicating Science, New York. WePOWER partners - Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) – India; Women in Energy, Pakistan; Women Engineers Pakistan; and the Water and Power Development Authority, Pakistan (WAPDA) – helped to collect ground data in the two countries. The participants from both countries graduated through an online ceremony.   

WePOWER E-Discussion

May 17-24, 2021 

The WePOWER Interim Secretariat hosted an e-discussion on Understanding the Effects of COVID-19 Pandemic on Women Professionals in the Energy Sector: Reflecting on Challenges, Policies, and Solutions. The objective of the discussion was to track the developments and responses to this crisis by our partners and learn about their recovery plans and mitigation efforts across the region. More than 100 participants from around 50 cities shared their insights and ideas on the topics.
Check out the e-discussion summary here.

Pakistan DISCOs Forum for WePOWER

 As part of the Pakistan Electricity Distribution Efficiency Improvement Project, SAGE II hosted a virtual WePOWER forum with Pakistani Electricity Distribution Companies (DISCOs) on June 2nd, 2021. The participants included the senior management and HR directors from the Lahore Electric Supply Company (LESCO), Peshawar Electric Supply Company (PESCO), Hyderabad Electric Supply Company (HESCO), and Islamabad Electric Supply Company (IESCO). Following keynotes by Mr. Tauseef H. Farooqi, Chairman of the National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (NEPRA), and Mr. Simon J. Stolp, Practice Manager of South Asia Energy, World Bank, the participants discussed barriers and opportunities to promoting gender equality in the Pakistani DISCO sector. WePOWER's other regional Partners - BPC, BREB, CEB, KE, WAPDA, WEP, and WIE also shared their insights and experiences. 

MoU between IEEE WIE and WePOWER

An MoU was signed between WePOWER and the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Women in Engineering (IEEE WIE). This agreement underscores IEEE WIE’s strong commitment to WePOWER. IEEE WIE is a crucial partner in reaching academic institutions, female engineering students, and professionals as our network continues to grow. 

The National Chapters of WePOWER

The National Chapters of WePOWER are key to institutionalizing the network at the national level, fostering exchange of ideas, facilitating lateral learning, opening communications, and encouraging collaborative partnerships among national, institutional and strategic partners.  We will be implementing the National Chapters in several South Asia countries in collaboration with the Asian Development Bank (ADB), following the Agreement.