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Filagot
Tesfaye
Filagot is president and founder of Ethiopian women in Energy network (EWiEn). As a professional electrical engineer and a consultant, she has diverse experience in construction, manufacturing, and energy with a wide-range to engineering professional skills, including well-developed demand-side energy expertise in the power sector. Her previous projects include design review, commissioning and handover of Industrial Parks, stadium and high rise building. Filagot is managing director of On Energy consult, a trade that integrates electrical systems with energy efficiency and renewable energy solutions. She is passionate about mentoring and coaching young girls and teaches renewable energy and energy efficiency issues for diverse groups of her community. Filagot is Mandela Washington Fellow 2019, Open Africa power 2019, member and alumni of Global Women Network for Energy transition (GWNET), first cohort graduate of Women in African power 2018. Filagot is married and a mother of two boys.
PROJECT
Ethiopian Women in Energy network (EWiEn) is a legally registered association that connects and empowers Ethiopian women working in the energy sector with the aim of making women at the heart of energy access; as change agent and beneficiary. I have started this association with like-minded co-founders to encourage greater visibility, networking opportunities, mentoring and professional connections between women in the energy sector to design women tailored energy project. We critically connect our members with the opportunities, and create synergy. Our network comprises of different professionals who has various experiences and representing different organisations including the utility, private, universities, NGOs and policy makers. The goal of EWiEn is to promote an integrated approach to enhance women and girls’ participation across the energy sector in Ethiopia. We expand the pool of women workers in the energy sector through the establishment of partnerships with schools, universities, utility, ministry, regulator, private and development partners. These partnerships will expose young women to the sector and create internship and mentoring opportunities that will provide a steady pool of qualified female job applicants.
I have spent the majority of my employment period in male dominated sector observing the sector lacks diverse voice and opinion from female professionals. Ethiopia has the lowest gender equality indicators in Sub-Saharan Africa - particularly in infrastructure sectors, such as energy. Sadly on the ground, the burden of energy poverty falls unreasonably on women and girls whose distinct roles and responsibilities in the household, market, and their communities. So, I have decided to bring women professionals in the sector together in order to design inclusive solutions that benefit all besides representation.
MOTIVATION FOR AND COMMITMENT TO CREATING A BETTER AND MORE SUSTAINABLE PLANET
Energy is most important thing in individual and corporate day to day lives. No power means children cannot learn, business collapse and no development at large. Lack of energy access is major reason of poverty. Data shows that 88% of Ethiopia’s population use biomass as a major source of energy and the country is suffering from power shortage aggravated by rapid power demand increase as it is in economic growth. Citizens who are already connected to the grid also live with unreliable power supply. To solve the issue and contribute my role, I have founded energy consulting company that integrates off-grid solar energy with other electrical systems.
