Grenada Electricity Services (Grenlec)

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Female engineers in hard hats review technical materials on an electronic tablet device outside a power station.
Grenlec supplies electricity to 50,000 customers on the islands of Grenada, Petite Martinique, and Carriacou. The utility is partnering with USAID to increase gender equality and improve company performance.
© Grenlec
  • Announcement

    Engendering Industries Welcomes New Partners

    USAID’s Engendering Industries program welcomes 13 new partners from 10 countries across Africa, Asia, Europe, Latin America and the Caribbean, and the Middle East. Read the announcement

Engendering Industries Partner Profile

Grenlec supplies electricity to 50,000 customers on the islands of Grenada, Petite Martinique, and Carriacou. The utility is partnering with USAID to increase gender equality and improve company performance.

When women serve as leaders and employees, businesses benefit and company performance improves. USAID’s Engendering Industries program works to increase women’s participation in male dominated sectors globally. In 2021, Engendering Industries is partnering with Grenlec—a Grenadian power utility—to design workplace initiatives that will expand job opportunities for women and enhance the utility’s performance. Established in 1960 and privatized in 1994, Grenlec is the sole provider of electricity in Grenada. The utility serves more than 50,000 customers on the islands of Grenada, Carriacou and Petite Martinique, and employs 214 people, of which 22 percent are women.

Recognizing that diverse teams build better businesses, Grenlec is partnering with USAID to increase gender equality across the company and encourage more women to acquire the knowledge and skills that would facilitate entry into the technical areas of Grenada’s energy sector.

Gender Equality in Action at Grenlec

Engendering Industries uses a globally-recognized evidence-based methodology to support women’s participation in Grenada’s energy sector. The program supports Grenlec to increase opportunities for women by introducing gender equality initiatives at each phase of the employee lifecycle—from reducing gender bias at the hiring stage, to creating strategies that will help retain female talent. Engendering Utilities is supporting Grenlec towards their goal of advancing gender equality within the organization.

A dedicated change management coach supports the utility and works directly with three staff members to become agents of change within Grenlec. A baseline assessment is conducted to identify gaps and opportunities for improving gender equality across the company. The findings are used to develop a strategic action plan that will facilitate Grenlec’s gender equality goals. This is supplemented by the program’s partnership with the Georgetown University McDonough School of Business, which delivers the Gender Equity Executive Leadership Program (GEELP) to three utility employees. The GEELP is a best-in-class 12-month executive course that empowers decision-makers to integrate gender equality initiatives into their corporate structure.

Engendering Utilities will also work to support and accelerate existing gender equality initiatives underway at Grenlec, including:

  • Strengthening its school outreach programs, which have included investing in school resources and science labs, encouraging students to study STEM, and hosting debate programs.
  • Making special provisions for students interested in studying STEM through ongoing internship programs and partnerships that provide scholarships for secondary and tertiary students.
  • Prioritizing gender initiatives for support under the Grenlec Community Partnership Initiative (GCPI).

Three GridCo technicians pose in front of an electric power station
GridCo Technicians
Ryan Kilpatrick / USAID

Launched in 2015, USAID’s Engendering Industries program supports organizations in developing countries to increase economic opportunities for women and improve gender equality in the workplace. Expanding women’s participation in male-dominated sectors leads to tangible economic empowerment outcomes for women, such as formal employment opportunities and higher income. Increased gender equality also improves an organization’s business performance, helping companies meet their bottom-line by enhancing employee satisfaction, reducing turnover, and driving productivity. Well-functioning organizations are also vital in supporting stronger and more resilient economies. Through a customized best practices framework, demand-driven coaching, and a Gender Equity Executive Leadership Program, Engendering Industries builds the capacity of leaders to implement gender equality interventions that increase the professional participation of women and improve business performance.

Last updated: February 23, 2022

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