The 64th Session of the Commission for Social Development (CSocD 64) convenes under the priority theme “Advancing Social Development and Social Justice through Coordinated, Equitable, and Inclusive Policies.” As the principal ECOSOC functional commission responsible for monitoring the implementation of the Copenhagen Declaration and Programme of Action of the 1995 World Summit for Social Development, CSocD plays a central role in advancing poverty eradication, full and productive employment, and social integration.
Despite progress, girls and young women from marginalized and informal communities—particularly those affected by energy poverty—continue to face systemic barriers to education, skills development, and participation in productive sectors, including renewable energy and green industries. These barriers undermine inclusive industrialization efforts and perpetuate social and economic inequalities.
The Girls in Energy Project responds to these challenges through a coordinated approach that integrates linear pathways (formal education, skills certification, and employment) with non-linear pathways (community leadership, innovation, asset ownership, and policy engagement) plus 10MW Minigrids connecting communities. The initiative is designed to scale inclusive energy participation while contributing to social development and social justice outcomes in line with the CSocD 64 priority theme.
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Objectives of the Side Event
The side event aims to:
- Demonstrate coordinated and inclusive policy approaches that link education, skills development, energy access, and employment for girls and young womenexpanding into high-impact green industries
- Present the Girls in Energy Project as a scalable and replicable model for inclusive industrialization and social development
- Facilitate policy dialogue among Member States and stakeholders on gender-responsive energy and vocational training frameworksenabling E-STEAM-based path that reduces waste, CO₂ emissions, and energy consumption.
- Strengthen multi-stakeholder partnerships in support of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, particularly SDGs 4, 5, 7, 8, 9, and 10.
- Amplify the voices of girls and young women from marginalized communities facilititaing energy centeres powered by 10MW renwable energy grids.
Women and Girls to Transform Mining Waste into Green Materials and Climate
Relevance to the CSocD 64 Priority Theme
The side event directly contributes to the CSocD 64 priority theme by:
Promoting coordinated policies across education, energy, employment, and youth development sectors.
Advancing equitable and inclusive access to skills development and productive employment for girls and young women.
Supporting inclusive industrialization through participation in renewable energy value chains and community-owned energy assets.
Advancing social justice by addressing structural exclusion and enabling economic empowerment as a foundation for dignity and social cohesion.
Key Issues for Discussion
- Structural barriers limiting girls’ participation in energy and STEM sectors
- Education-to-employment pathways for social integration and decent work
- Community-owned renewable energy as a driver of local economic development
- Policy coherence for youth, gender, and green industrialization strategies
- Localizing the SDGs through girls and women leadership in the energy transition
- Financing For Development- The Intersectionality