Gender Equity VS Gender Equality in Solar Renewable Heating & Cooling

On the 24th September 2025 in  Windhoek, Namibia, a total of 38 participants of which 16 where women took part in a transformative gender mainstreaming training under the SOLTRAIN+ initiative. The session explored the critical distinction between gender equality and gender equity, deepening our understanding of inclusion in the renewable energy sector.

Advancing Gender Equity in Solar: Lessons from Windhoek: Gender equity ensures fair treatment by addressing different needs, paving the way for gender equality—equal rights and opportunities for all. Gender parity tracks representation across genders but doesn’t guarantee fairness or inclusion. To illustrate this, let’s move beyond the classic “bicycle” analogy and imagine a solar-powered world.

Picture this: a man needs hot water for showering, a woman requires refrigeration for medication, a child is drying biltong for a school project, and a disabled child needs a warm pool for physiotherapy. Providing each of them with a RHC system is equality. But tailoring solutions thermosyphon for the man, a solar chiller for the woman, an air dryer for the child, and a pool heating system for the disabled child is equity.

Women have long been excluded from many professional spaces, and some male-dominated sectors still resist change. SOLTRAIN+ works to open these spaces in the RHC sector and build inclusive, responsive workstreams that meet diverse individual needs, including those with special requirements.

We have exciting opportunities to get involved in gender-inclusive activities promoting renewable heating and cooling. Reach out to your national contact point to learn more and join the movement!