by Omowumi Johnbull, Solar Sister Compliance Manager
Solar Sister is proud to announce that we have officially achieved a 2X Certification, a globally recognized standard that highlights organizations advancing women’s economic empowerment and gender equity through their operations, leadership, and impact. This milestone reflects our unwavering commitment to supporting women entrepreneurs, strengthening gender-inclusive practices, and ensuring that our internal systems and culture align with these values.
A Rigorous, Independent Evaluation
To achieve this recognition, Solar Sister underwent a comprehensive evaluation conducted by Value for Women, an independent global advisory firm specializing in gender-inclusive business practices. Their in-depth assessment reviewed multiple dimensions of our organization, including:
- Mission alignment with gender and women-centered principles
- Leadership representation and opportunities for women at different levels
- Operational policies and practices supporting equity, safety, and dignity
- Program impact, especially our support for women entrepreneurs across Africa
- Organizational culture and internal mechanisms that promote inclusion and empowerment
Value for Women reviewed our policies and data and assessed both our strengths and areas for growth. Their external perspective provided valuable insights that have not only strengthened our 2X Certification recognition but will also continue to guide our organizational growth and sustainability.
What the 2X Certification Means for Solar Sister
Earning the 2X Certification is an award that recognizes our deep-rooted mission of empowering women to thrive as clean energy entrepreneurs.
This certification:
- Validates that our business model is grounded in gender equity
- Confirms our positive and measurable impact on women’s economic participation
- Demonstrates our commitment to continuous improvement in policies, operations, and culture
- Strengthens our credibility with funders, partners, and communities
- Reinforces our role as a leader in gender-lens investing and inclusive development
The certification also affirms the integrity of our internal processes. Over the past year, Solar Sister has strengthened compliance systems, updated key organizational policies, enhanced data accuracy, and embedded a more collaborative, people-centred culture across our teams. These improvements provided a strong foundation for meeting the 2X standards.
Celebrating a Collective Achievement
This accomplishment belongs to every Solar Sister team member, leader, and entrepreneur whose dedication and hard work make our mission possible. It reflects the collective effort behind building an organization that prioritizes women’s empowerment not only externally but also within our internal systems and culture.
We extend our sincere appreciation to Value for Women for their thoughtful evaluation and guidance throughout this process. Their insights will help us grow stronger, more aligned, and more intentional in our gender-impact approach.
Looking Ahead
The 2X Certification is not the end of the journey; it serves as a renewed commitment. As we move forward, Solar Sister will continue to strengthen gender-inclusive practices, expand opportunities for women entrepreneurs, and build systems that reflect our values of integrity, equity, and collaboration.
Empowering women is at the heart of our mission. This certification fuels our motivation to continue driving meaningful, sustainable change in the communities we serve.