Empowering Women in Electric Mobility
Our Hub in Kigali
WE DRIVE CHANGE combines advocacy, education, and hands-on experience to empower women in the electric mobility sector. Our approach addresses gender biases, promotes equality, and creates tangible opportunities for women through targeted projects and partnerships.
Our Goals
D.R.I.V.E
Since 2020, our Kigali Hub has been dedicated to advancing the electric mobility sector and expanding opportunities for women. We work in close collaboration with various startup companies to develop electric vehicles and enhance their business strategies. Our robust partnerships with universities drive innovation, and our ongoing initiatives significantly boost job and training opportunities, especially for women.
Kigali Hub: A Model for Empowering Women in E-Mobility
Publications
Find insights on gender equity in e-mobility.
Impact Assessment in Kigali, Rwanda
Explore the SOLUTIONSplus project, detailing the impact of e-motos and e-bikes on climate, environment, and road safety, and uncovering key challenges and insights for scaling e-mobility solutions.
Electric Mobility Transition in Kigali, Rwanda
Kigali is advancing e-mobility through national policies and private initiatives, yet faces challenges such as high costs and infrastructure needs, with a growing emphasis on integrating transport providers and urban planning for a successful transition.
Empowering Women in E-Mobility: Principles for Gender Inclusive Transport Solutions
The paper outlines key principles for creating gender-inclusive transport solutions, emphasizing effective training, retention strategies, and scalable models to empower women in the e-mobility sector.
Scaling Gender-Inclusive Electric Motorcycles in Kigali
The paper outlines strategies to mainstream gender-inclusive electric mobility in Kigali, addressing challenges in ecosystem gaps, supply chains, and regulatory support for a sustainable future.
Trainings
Integrating Electric Mobility for Last-Mile Connectivity
The SOLUTIONSplus project in Kigali focuses on electric mobility for last-mile connectivity, employing a systemic approach that integrates public transport bus services with electrified feeder services, such as electric moto-taxis and electric shared bicycles. This initiative began with the deployment of 50 shared e-bikes by Guraride and 10 e-moto taxis by Ampersand. Future support aims to increase the number of these vehicles, alongside the necessary charging infrastructure. A critical aspect of the project is its gender-inclusive dimension, which reviews conditions for women's involvement in transport provision, ensuring at least 30 women are supported in obtaining a driving license to operate e-motos. Additionally, the project is testing an e-bike sharing scheme along the most frequently used bus corridors, with charging facilitated by dispatchers or battery swapping via mobile lockers.
Enhancing Connectivity with Mobility-as-a-Service
To enhance first and last-mile connectivity, a Mobility-as-a-Service (MaaS) application is being designed in collaboration with the transport regulatory authority and IT providers. This app is intended to streamline the integration of various transport modes, making it easier for users to transition between public buses and electric mobility options. Alongside this, the SOLUTIONSplus project supports the feasibility analysis for transitioning to electric buses. By collaborating with stakeholders involved in bus electrification, the project provides technical expertise and aims to establish a precedent for public transport electrification in Kigali.
Building an Inclusive and Sustainable Urban Transport System
Furthermore, the SOLUTIONSplus project aids in creating an e-mobility technical committee within the City of Kigali, fostering coordination between public entities, private sectors, and civil society representatives. This initiative is supported by targeted capacity building and policy advice to scale up e-mobility in Kigali. Given the rapid increase in vehicle numbers and the significant contribution of the transport sector to CO2 emissions, Kigali is making substantial efforts to reorganize its public transport system and promote electric mobility. The investor-friendly environment in Rwanda further bolsters the development of electric mobility, with private investors like Ampersand and major companies such as Volkswagen setting the stage for a sustainable and inclusive urban transport future.
Opportunity Pathways
At WE DRIVE CHANGE we collaborates with local companies, government agencies, universities, and NGOs to provide training, internships, and fast-track employment pathways. We advocate for policy changes to improve women's employment conditions and create clear career pathways to ensure more women enter and thrive in the mobility sector. Additionally, we address challenges like part-time work, gender bias, and caregiving responsibilities.
Partnership with Universtities
University of Rwanda
Collaborations
Discover how WE DRIVE CHANGE is making an impact around the world. In Quito, Kochi and Kigali, we are collaborating with local start-ups to showcase best practices in electric mobility.
Our hubs offer training for women, explore job opportunities, advocate for policy change, and engage with universities, stakeholders, and local NGOs.
Founded in Kigali – Rwanda, Ampersand builds affordable electric motorcycles (e-motos) and charging systems to help Rwanda and Africa leapfrog towards a zero-carbon future. Ampersand offers local motorcycle taxis drivers a cost-convenient, more profitable and cleaner alternative to petrol motorcycles.
Guaride
GURARIDE, founded in 2017, is a Green E-mobility public bike-share (PBS) transport system company committed to the sustainability of micro-mobility in Rwanda. Its goal is the migration of transportation, using innovative technology, from fossil fuel-based vehicles to other non-pollutant means of transport.
Projects
Discover our projects in Kigali, each dedicated to advancing e-mobility and empowering women. From providing job opportunities to trainings and demonstration projects, these initiatives aim to drive sustainable development and gender equity in the electric mobility sector.
BOOST Project
Focus: Boosting E-Mobility Jobs in Africa.
Activities: The BOOST Project engages with local academic institutions, training bodies, and companies to co-develop and implement job creation initiatives in the e-mobility sector.
Goal: Unleash the job creation potential of the e-mobility sector in Africa through strategic partnerships, training, and sustainable business development.
SOLUTIONSplus Project
Focus: Start-up prototype development of Light Electric Vehicles (LEVs).
Activities: Trainings, demonstrations, and job opportunities.
Goal: Provide peer-to-peer exchange with other companies globally, foster cooperation with universities, and create a long-lasting impact on the e-mobility sector.
Advocate and Influence
Explore our comprehensive factsheets and policy briefs, designed to inform and engage stakeholders on the important role of women in the e-mobility sector. Discover statistics demonstrating how e-mobility can elevate wages, insights on empowering women through inclusive design, and recommendations for regulatory adaptations to enhance women's participation in this transformative field.
Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls.