IFC EDGE Women in Green Building Competition 2023;
From left: Ann-Mari Malan, EDGE Technical Lead at GBCSA; prizewinners Lungile Mthi; Luzé Kloppers-Mouton; Giselle Pillay; and Lenore Cairncross, IFC EDGE Green Building Lead for Africa.

Empowering women in sustainability

Women are critical stakeholders for understanding and addressing the impacts of climate change. In Africa, women are often more vulnerable to shifting weather patterns owing to their roles as primary caregivers, water and food providers, and farmers. Studies have identified that a 1oC increase in long-term average temperature is associated with a 34% reduction in the incomes of female-headed households.

In South Africa, for example, almost half of all households are headed by women, meaning climate change is a serious threat to the economic sustainability of African families. Moreover, in the wake of disaster or drought, girls may be removed from school when parents are not able to pay school fees or more help is needed in the home. Research has shown that climate-induced stress can also increase gender-based violence in households.

A green opportunity

Promoting gender inclusion in our response to climate change will, therefore, help achieve more equitable and sustainable economic growth – however, women are often sidelined from the burgeoning green economy and global climate discussions. For example, only 2% of global venture funding in climate is given to women-led projects, only 10% of the COP28 [United Nations Climate Change Conference] country representatives were women, and only about a third of those working in renewable energy are women.

Considering that climate change has a disproportionate impact on women – and that women are largely underrepresented in the green economy – we should identify opportunities to include women in key sectors with decarbonisation potential. One of these is the green building sector.

The built environment is well known as a major contributor of global CO2 emissions, accounting for about 40% of energy and industry-related emissions. In Africa, where populations are growing rapidly, the World Green Building Council estimates that a staggering 80% of the buildings needed the continent by 2050 are yet to be built.

This presents a golden – or, perhaps more accurately – green opportunity to include more women in the design and construction of green houses, schools, offices, infrastructure, and retail spaces. Women can help ensure that designs are more culturally sensitive, more socially inclusive, and more responsive to the specific requirements of communities across Africa. Also, by encouraging women into this sector, Africa can promote gender equality, empower women economically, and support more sustainable and resilient societies.

EDGE in Africa

In many ways, South Africa is emerging as a leader in Africa in the effort to reduce building emissions and energy use, and integrate women into the green building sector.

EDGE is also proving to be an important channel for bringing more women into the green building sector. There are 619 EDGE experts across Africa, about a quarter of them women. In South Africa, however, more than 40% of the country’s 126 EDGE experts are female.

One reason for the high percentage of women becoming EDGE experts in South Africa is the Women in Green Building Competition, run by IFC in partnership with the Green Building Council South Africa (GBCSA). The competition recognises women for their contributions to sustainable construction and their roles as EDGE Experts – and serves to inspire more women into leadership positions in a sector that is still largely dominated by men.

This year marks the third year the competition will run. As part of the process, many female professionals from South Africa’s construction sector, including architects, engineers and quantity surveyors, will have the opportunity to increase their green building design skills. At least 20 women will receive Design for Greater Efficiency training and the 10 finalists will receive EDGE Expert training. Three of the 10 finalists will receive awards at the GBCSA Green Building Convention in Cape Town this November.

There are many opportunities for growth and personal achievement in the green building sector – and we need the vision, perspective and outlook that women bring to help tackle the formidable challenge that is climate change. We also need visionary executives to provide women with opportunities to grow and advance their professional careers.

The green building sector is only one opportunity for climate action. For Africa – and for Africa’s women – it has the potential to be a significant pathway for transformation.