Banking on Renewables briefings: Multilateral development banks must invest in renewable energy for women and youth

The just energy transition is an opportunity to address inequalities in energy access, ownership, and decision-making, especially for women and youth in Asia, Africa and Latin America. Multilateral development banks must be investing in renewable energy for women and youth, by prioritising their needs, economic opportunities, and leadership, to bring direct benefits to them and their wider communities. 

We’re calling on multilateral development banks to:

1. Prioritise quality investments, grants-based funding and concessional finance.
2. Ensure that renewable energy investments include robust safeguards to mitigate social and environmental risks, prioritising the protection and empowerment of women, youth and marginalised communities, who are often most affected.
3. Support governments, through technical support and relevant instruments, to promote women and youth leadership in energy governance.
4. Effectively engage civil society, communities, indigenous peoples, women and youth as active stakeholders in the 100% sustainable renewable energy transition, 
5. Be accountable for the development benefits of the electricity supply for local communities, especially women, youth and marginalised groups, including through local small enterprise development and decent work. 

These briefings provide key insights and recommendations on how multilateral development banks (MDBs) can invest in renewable energy for women and youth in the communities and countries that need it most.

• Renewable energy for youth highlights the vital role of renewable energy in empowering young people, providing them with opportunities for education, employment, entrepreneurship, and a sustainable future, across Asia, Africa, and Latin America.
• Renewable energy for women highlights the crucial role of gender-responsive renewable energy investments in ensuring equitable access to energy and economic opportunities for women in those regions.

Banking on Renewables is a global civil society initiative advocating for public finance institutions to align energy investments with climate goals and just transition principles. Join us in demanding a just energy future that puts people first. Click here to find out more

These briefings were written by Khulekani Magwaza, with contributions from partners via online workshops in March 2025. They are published by Recourse, in collaboration with LIDA Network, We The World, Power Shift Africa, Youth For Sustainable Energy and Mobility (YSEM), Quest For Growth and Development Foundation, Climate Clock DRC, Youth for Sustainable Energy, BRICS Feminist Watch, Environmental Rights Action, NGO Forum on ADB, MenaFem Movement for Economic Development and Ecological Justice, Sustainable Actions for Nature, Climate Action Network (CAN) Zambia, groundWork, Carolina Eco Green Economy, and Association for Women in Energy and Extractives in Kenya.

The briefings are available in English and French.