The 4th Annual Women in Energy 2024 Event held by EWiEn
On December 5, 2024, the
Ethiopian Women in Energy Association (EWiEn), in collaboration with GIZ
Energizing Development (Endev), held its 4th Annual Women in Energy 2024 Event
at the Ethiopian Skylight Hotel.
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The event started with a welcoming speech from Ms. Adey Getachew, President of EWiEn, addressing a diverse audience. The ceremony was honored by the presence of H.E. Dr. Ing. Sultan Wali, State Minister for Energy Development at the Ministry of Water and Energy.Â
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While by her welcoming speech she addressed the aim of the Annual Women in Energy 2024 Event that aims to enhance the visibility of women in the energy sector, promoting their roles as professionals, business owners, policymakers. It offers a space for women to share their experiences in the energy transition, highlighted how their involvement contributes to improved organizational performance.
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During her speech, the president acknowledged the support of Ethiopian Skylight Hotel, Ethiopian Electric Power, and VERITAS Consulting for their contributions to the event’s success.Â
Mr. Stephan Lidsba,
Deputy Country Director of GIZ Ethiopia, delivered an opening speech
highlighting the strong partnership between GIZ and EWiEn over the past four
years. He emphasized the event’s purpose: to honor exceptional women who have
made significant contributions. Mr. Lidsba noted the event’s timing during the
16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence as a meaningful gesture of
support. He also pointed out that the exhibition provided a valuable
opportunity for networking and showcasing achievements.
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The first keynote speaker,
Mr. Gosaye Mengstu Energy Development Advisor to the State Minister of the Ministry
of Water and Energy congratulated EWiEn for its efforts to minimize gender gaps
and inspire young women to pursue careers in the energy sector. He stressed the
importance of recognizing women not just as beneficiaries but as change- agent.
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The second keynote
speaker, Ms. Semege Ayalew, Â Deputy CEO
of Ethiopian Electric Power, She acknowledged EWiEn’s  significant contributions to narrowing the
gender gap in the energy sector and highlighted EEP’s ongoing support for
EWiEn. She concluded her remarks by extending heartfelt congratulations to this
year’s award recipients.
Ms. Yodit Gebremaryam, a subcommittee member outlined the selection process for the 2024 Influential Women in Energy Award recipients. Ethiopian Women in Energy Association (EWiEn) launched a well-advertised call on social media, collecting 28 nominees from April 20 to June 2024. The review process involved three steps, filtering the nominees down to 10, which were then sent to an external jury. The jury selected winners based on the nominees’ years of experience and societal impact, using specific evaluation criteria.
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Ms. Enas Abdella, a member of the external jury, explained how they chose the three winners of this year’s Influential Women in Energy Award. She noted that while the nominees varied in experience and impact, each woman made significant contributions.
During the event, three remarkable women were honored for their significant contributions to the Ethiopian energy sector. The Influential Women in Energy Award 2024 was presented to Hiwote Teshome, Tirhas Mebrahtu, and Lensie Edae.
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In addition to the awards, the event featured an exhibition highlighting women entrepreneurs and their initiatives, creating a vibrant marketplace for networking and business opportunities. This exhibition aimed to provide a platform for women-led businesses and organizations to showcase their projects and initiatives.
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Congratulatory speech was given by H.E Dr. Ing. Sultan Wali, State Minister for Energy Development at the Ministry of Water and Energy, where he congratulated the Awardees. During his speech he emphasized the importance of the energy sector, noting that lack of access to electricity and use of traditional energy means significantly affect the quality of lives of mothers and children. He stated that women’s participation in the energy field is crucial for the country’s growth. He congratulated the award recipients, expressing his belief that their achievements will lead to significant future changes. He is optimistic that the gender gap will soon close, allowing women to make remarkable contributions in the sector.
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The closing remark was given by Dr. Firehiwot Girma, V/chairperson of EWiEn. She expressed heartfelt gratitude to everyone who contributed to the day’s success and recognized the importance of collaboration in empowering women and highlighted the inspiring stories of the award recipients. Dr. Firehiwot emphasized that the awards serve as a call to action for continued advocacy for gender equality and empowerment in the energy sector. She thanked the external jury members, the EWiEn management team, and all exhibitors, partners, and attendees for their participation.
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Ms. Filagot Tesfaye moderated the 4th Annual Women in Energy 2024 Event. In her role as master of ceremonies, she ensured a smooth flow of the event, provided essential information, invited guests, and led the award presentation.
