JustGESI Officially Launched at the University of Sheffield

JustGESI team member, Dr Rihab Khalid, presenting on feminist energy systems during the launch event. (Photo Credit: Vicky Simpson)

On October 22, 2025, the JustGESI project was officially launched in person at the University of Sheffield, hosted by the Urban Institute (UI) as part of its 10-year anniversary celebration. The event served as an important platform to introduce JustGESI’s work on addressing gender equality and social inclusion in Africa’s energy transition.

Team members Dr Mulualem Gebreslassie (Sheffield Hallam University), Dr Rihab Khalid, and Dr Serena Saligari (both from Loughborough University) introduced the JustGESI initiative, which seeks to address persistent gender and social inclusion gaps in energy systems across the continent. Their presentations highlighted how these gaps hinder equitable access to clean energy and sustainable development.

Following the introduction, the team led a series of dynamic presentations and an interactive workshop. Discussions explored the complex challenges surrounding clean cooking and energy access, connecting them to broader issues such as the geopolitics of resource distribution and the unequal balance of costs and burdens. Through a holistic feminist approach, the workshop encouraged participants to rethink energy transitions as deeply social and political processes, rather than purely technical ones.

The launch underscored JustGESI’s commitment to fostering inclusive energy policies and practices that empower marginalised communities and promote justice in global energy transitions.