People in West Africa will be offered training over the next nine months to become independent solar kit installers. The opportunity is the result of a partnership between the French electricity company EDF and the pan-African organisation, Energy Generation. EDF has thus awarded 34 bursaries for women's courses.
After the success of the first edition of the Women’s Entrepreneurship Training in the Solar Energy Sector, the trainers decided to launch the second series. It will begin on June 17, 2019 in Lomé, the Togolese capital, and will last three terms. For this second edition, the session will focus on the technical aspects of solar energy use. It consists in ensuring good competence in the installation, maintenance and repair of solar kits. The aim is to get learners to master the main technical issues of a solar photovoltaic installation. At the end of the activity, each participant should be able to present himself/herself on the market as an independent solar installer.
The training includes a 9-week theoretical course phase on solar entrepreneurship and a 5-month entrepreneurship support phase. These modules will be preceded by theoretical and practical courses on solar energy. Reiterating the validity of this training, Energy generation states: “Solar energy represents a real job creation opportunity for young Africans to face the challenge of access to electricity for all on the continent.”
The course amount to 350,000 FCFA, or about 534 euros. EDF has therefore awarded 34 scholarships to support the women who will take part. Registration is at: www.energy-generation.prg/academy.fr.
A successful first edition
A few months earlier, 100 young women from West African countries were trained in the use of solar energy. The training, which was then at its trial run, was completed in May 2019. The installation and maintenance of off-grid solar systems no longer holds any secrets for these women. The drilling also gave them a better understanding of how entrepreneurship works in the renewable energy sub-sector.
The training is one of the outcomes of a partnership signed between the pan-African organisation Energy Generation and the French company EDF.
Luchelle Feukeng
