MENA WISE Database to advance gender balance in energy and sustainability

Connecting Expertise and Opportunity 

The MENA WISE (Women in Smart Energy) Database is a curated, searchable platform featuring women experts from a wide range of backgrounds and countries in the MENA region. The database enables female professionals to showcase their skills, expand their networks, and access speaking opportunities at conferences, workshops, and media engagements. 

Supporting Organizers and Partners 

For event organizers, media, and institutions, the database offers a reliable resource to identify qualified female speakers and experts, ensuring diverse representation and fresh perspectives at events. The initiative supports the broader MENALINKS mission to foster innovation, collaboration, and gender balance in the region’s energy transition. 

What is the MENA WISE Database? 
The database is a curated platform connecting female experts in energy and sustainability from the MENA region with opportunities to speak at events, participate in panels, and share their knowledge.  As an expert yourself you can not only promote your own expertise, but also connect with like-minded individuals, organisations, and potential collaborators. We also warmly invite you to use the database to share your experience with others as a potential mentor or mentee. 

Who can join the database? 
𝗪𝗼𝗺𝗲𝗻 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗳𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹𝘀 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗲𝘅𝗽𝗲𝗿𝘁𝗶𝘀𝗲 𝗶𝗻 𝗽𝗼𝘄𝗲𝗿 𝘀𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘀, 𝗲𝘀𝗽𝗲𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗹𝗹𝘆 𝘀𝗺𝗮𝗿𝘁 𝗴𝗿𝗶𝗱s 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗽𝗼𝘄𝗲𝗿 𝘀𝘆𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗺 𝗳𝗹𝗲𝘅𝗶𝗯𝗶𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆, 𝘄𝗵𝗼 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗯𝗮𝘀𝗲𝗱 𝗶𝗻 𝗼𝗿 𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗼𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗠𝗘𝗡𝗔 𝗿𝗲𝗴𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗼𝘂𝗿𝗮𝗴𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗼 𝗿𝗲𝗴𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗿. While the primary focus is on supporting women experts, the database welcomes registrations from individuals of all gender identities committed to advancing diversity in energy and sustainability. 

How do I register or recommend an expert? 
Visit the MENA WISE Database on our website and follow the instructions to submit your profile or recommend a colleague. The process is straightforward and designed to highlight your expertise.  

Is there a cost to join or use the database? 
No, registration and access to the database are free for both experts and event organizers. 

How are experts selected or verified? 
All submissions are reviewed by the MENALINKS team to ensure relevance and accuracy. Profiles are curated to maintain a high standard of expertise and diversity. This includes a wide range of profiles from career starters over experts who are active in equality-focused gender organisations in partner countries to seasoned keynote speakers with MENA expertise.

Can organizers contact experts directly? 
Yes, the platform allows organizers to reach out to listed experts for speaking engagements, interviews, and collaborations. 

What types of events can the database support? 
Any event seeking qualified female voices in energy and sustainability, especially with a focus on smart grids and power system flexibility. The database is suitable for conferences, workshops, webinars, media interviews, advisory panels, and more. 

How does the database support diversity and inclusion? 
By making it easier to find and feature female experts, the database helps organizers build more balanced panels and supports the professional growth of women in the sector. 

Is MENALINKS running a Mentorship programme? 
Currently we are not running a dedicated mentorship programme. You can use the platform to highlight your availability for this kind of mutual support (either as a mentor or mentee), and reach out directly to other experts. Many of the listed partner organisations have dedicated mentorship programmes as well.

Who are the MENALINKS partner organisations?  
MENALINKS partners with existing national and regional organisations in partner countries that work towards leveraging female expertise to its fullest potential. These organisations are not necessarily focused on flexibility options only but address a wide range of topics in the energy sector.  If you are a representative of an NGO or initiative interested in being listed on the website, we encourage you to reach out to MENALINKS.

What else is MENALINKS doing to support gender equality? 
Besides our database, we run a network of female experts that are invited to participate in MENALINKS capacity building efforts and that support the MENALINKS workstreams with their expertise, e.g. as members of our Regional Expert Committe. You can read more about our activities here in our news section.  

How can I update or remove my profile? 
Registered experts can initiate updates or removal of their profiles at any time by requesting an update link to their registration address. You can also contact the MENALINKS team via email to info@menalinks.org. At all times you retain control over your own data – please refer to our privacy statement for more details. 

Who manages the database? 
The database is managed by the MENALINKS programme, led by Guidehouse Germany GmbH. . This project is supported by the International Climate Initiative (IKI) of the Federal Government of Germany. Within the Federal Government, the IKI is anchored in the Federal Ministry for the Environment, Climate Action, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety (BMUKN). Selected individual projects are also the responsibility of the Federal Foreign Office (AA).
Learn more about MENALINKS.