Schneider Electric recognised by the World Economic Forum as a DEI Lighthouse for its Youth Education & Entrepreneurship programme
16 May 2025
Schneider Electric has been named as a Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) Lighthouse for its support to the Economic and Social Development of Women through Renewable Energies in the Sahel (DESFERS) programme in partnership with Plan International.
This initiative empowers women in Senegal, Mali, and Niger through green skills training, investments in technical school upgrades, and entrepreneurship support for women entering the growing renewable energy sector.
The DEI Lighthouse Program, organised by the World Economic Forum’s Centre for the New Economy and Society, annually highlights impactful DEI initiatives. It identifies proven strategies from various industries, and shares key lessons with global business and public sector leaders, to foster resilient and inclusive economies.
Schneider Electric and the Schneider Electric Foundation’s DESFERS programme was selected by a panel of global DEI experts as a Lighthouse in the Gender Parity in the Green Economy category.
“We are honoured to be named as a Lighthouse for our efforts in diversity, equity, and inclusion,” said Charise Le, Chief Human Resources Officer at Schneider Electric. “We believe that true impact comes from bringing everyone along, nurturing a culture that values all stakeholders in our ecosystem, from employees to supply chain partners, to customers, and local communities.”
In 2019, Schneider Electric and its Foundation, in partnership with Plan International and a consortium of stakeholders, launched the DESFERS program to empower women socioeconomically in rural areas, where restrictive social norms often limit economic participation. Through a collaborative approach, DESFERS builds a strong ecosystem of support by leveraging collective expertise and specialised partnerships. The initiative is part of the Youth Education & Entrepreneurship programme and the Youth Impact Through Learning initiatives’ global commitment to train one million youths, especially women, to take part in the energy transition, and support 10 thousand entrepreneurs by the end of 2025.
Schneider Electric's DESFERS program has achieved several key outcomes, including providing green skills training to 7,204 women, generating 6,099 women-led green enterprises, and improving access to renewable energy solutions and credit facilities for 21,000 women. By building the right ecosystem with training, mentorship and access to funding, the consortium of partners empowers women to lead a just energy transition.
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