A strong start to AWER-LP, delivered in partnership with GET Transform and featuring expert-led sessions and collaboration with the Florence School of Regulation.
14-21 November 2025
“Sit at the table. Lean in. And if you don’t like the table… change the table.”
With these powerful words, former African Union Commissioner for Infrastructure and Energy, Dr. Amani Abou-Zeid, opened the online preparatory week of the African Women in Energy Regulation – Leadership Program (AWER-LP). She spoke candidly about the realities of the sector the gaps, the opportunities, and the importance of women continuously building their skills, confidence, and visibility. Her message was clear, relatable, and deeply resonant with the cohort, setting the tone for a week of learning, connection, and leadership growth.
Delivered in partnership with GET Transform, this preparatory week brought together over 30 emerging women professionals from regulatory institutions across the continent to strengthen their technical and leadership capacity ahead of the residential week in Accra.
Day 1: Leadership Begins with Courage
Following the keynote, Course Director and ASR Faculty, Carol Ofafa, officially welcomed the cohort and set the stage for the week. She then led a session on The Power Sector in Africa, offering a clear and grounded overview of the systems, institutions, and regional dynamics shaping Africa’s electricity landscape.
The day also featured Filagot Tesfaye, who unpacked what it means to lead in male-dominated environments, and a deeply inspiring leadership reflection from Sara Ibrahim Ahmed (Elhag), offering a personal perspective on representation, resilience, and leadership.
Day 2: Foundations of Regulation & Finding Your Voice
Participants delved into the fundamentals of regulatory institutions, monopolies, and markets with Keno Shiferaw, followed by a session on the efficient cost of service, building essential regulatory understanding early in the program. The afternoon shifted toward practical leadership skills, with Kai Orga facilitating a high-energy session on Negotiation, Influence & Assertive Communication, equipping participants with tools to articulate their ideas and lead with clarity.
Day 3: Tariff Design & a Special Sister-School Moment with FSR
The morning opened with Nutifafa Fiasorgbor, who led participants through the principles and practice of tariff design, a core technical skill for regulators. One of the highlights of the entire week came in the afternoon: a collaborative webinar with our sister school, the Florence School of Regulation (FSR), under their Lights on Women initiative. Framed around the message “Courage comes before confidence,” the webinar featured an insightful panel with Marta Luca, Suzana Munuo, and Ilaria Galimberti and was expertly facilitated by Ilaria Conti and Roberta Ruggero. Together, they shared leadership journeys shaped by visibility, mentorship, courage, and continuous growth. This partnership marked a meaningful moment of solidarity and shared purpose between ASR and FSR, strengthening the bond between the two institutions and reinforcing a shared commitment to advancing inclusive leadership in the energy sector.
Day 4: Gender, Inclusion & Real-World Regulatory Impact
Thursday spotlighted ASR Board Vice Chair, Ifeyinwa Ikeonu, who led an engaging session on Integrating Gender Mainstreaming in Energy Regulation. Her perspective highlighted the significance of embedding gender considerations into decision-making, policy design, and regulatory practice.
Participants also engaged in a session with Daniella Ngarambe on electricity access and off-grid distribution, bridging technical concepts with their real-world implications for communities.
Day 5: Reflection, Engagement & Preparation for Accra
The final day offered space for self-study, engagement on the Brightspace platform, and open office hours with Nutifafa, who addressed questions and guided participants through key concepts.
The week concluded with a logistics briefing to prepare the cohort for travel and the upcoming residential week.
Next Stop: Accra!
With strong foundations now laid technically, professionally, and personally, the cohort is ready for the next phase of the AWER-LP journey.
The residential week in Accra promises hands-on learning, peer exchange, practical casework, and rich discussions with leaders across the sector.
We look forward to welcoming these exceptional women to Ghana for an unforgettable week of learning, connection, and transformation.
