Call for Applications for Technical and Vocational School training at RES4Africa Foundation (Renewable Energy Solutions for Africa) The RES4Africa Foundation (Renewable Energy Solutions for Africa) is a foundation that works to support the just energy transition in Africa. Its mission is to work to create favorable conditions for increased investment in clean energy technologies on the continent. Acting as a bridge between Europe and Africa, RES4Africa envisions a sustainable transformation of the continent’s power systems to provide access to reliable and affordable electricity, enabling job creation and socio-economic progress for all. African businesses and communities.
INTRODUCTION AND BACKGROUND: Call for Applications for Technical and Vocational Training at the RES4Africa Foundation (Renewable Energy Solutions for Africa)
Providing affordable, reliable and sustainable energy is essential to the development of
economic because it promotes and strengthens the productive capacity that promotes socio-economic development i
an environmentally correct way. However, all East African Community (EAC) partner countries face significant challenges
energy challenges. A large part of the population of the EAC region remains without access to
energy services and subsequently progress in expanding access to electricity has lagged despite the region’s steady population growth. Although some progress has been made in expanding access to modern energy
in the EAC region, access to electricity in the area is still only around 30%. Much remains to be done to achieve electricity for all by 2030, in line with the aspirations expressed in the Sustainable Development Goals (Goal 7). Microgrids (MGs) are one of the most viable options to increase generation capacity in Africa to meet the needs of cities
and the electricity needs of rural areas. Electricity from micro-grids can support new businesses in a village that generates
economic development.
In fact, the EAC region has several operational small hydropower plants based on solar, mini-hydro,
and other renewable energy technologies. Despite some clear benefits of private sector involvement
electrification efforts, several challenges must be overcome to make these projects attractive to
investors and project leaders. Challenges include security of revenue streams, long-term risks and
political certainty, legislative transparency and complexity, and practical challenges for residents
organizational structures and technical skills to operate and manage microgrids.
The RES4Africa Academy is the “environment” where all these initiatives converge and grow from 2023. This
The Academy’s offering is comprised of a dynamic set of training and capacity building initiatives that have in common:
Openness, providing the best access to content to maximize impact;
· Inclusion, having everyone on board (socially, gender and geographically) without exception;
· Promote the empowerment and participation of young people and women;
· Covers all levels of capacity building (commercial, professional, managerial, etc.);
Leverage member participation and external support with a particular focus on local partners;
· Close relationships with industry, entrepreneurship and the labor market;
· Adaptation to local requirements in terms of educational content and accreditation;
· Knowledge sharing as an opportunity for mutual exchange of experiences.
OBJECTIVES OF THE RES4AFRICA TECHNICAL AND VOCATIONAL SCHOOL: Call for applications for training in a technical and vocational school at the RES4Africa Foundation (Renewable Energy Solutions for Africa)
The Micro-Grid Academy (MGA) was launched in January 2018. The goal is to train more than 200 students per year.
the program has so far managed to reach over 1750 people from over 45 African countries, including East
Africa, Sahel and SADC, and mainly Ethiopia, Kenya, Mozambique, Zambia, South Africa and others. From
2023 MGA has been transformed into a RES4Africa Technical and Professional School while retaining its original character
aims to carry out capacity building activities related to energy access and decentralized renewable energy
solutions for young African technicians, managers and engineers to create a specialized local workforce.
This contributes to increasing and improving access to energy in rural areas and at the same time promoting
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entrepreneurship and job creation through strengthening young people’s knowledge and skills.
The training program provides the participants with extensive theoretical and practical training, i.a
technical, financial and regulatory skills and advanced tools to assess and implement
solutions in different African energy contexts. This approach allows efficient and effective integration of
renewable energy in new electricity markets, while at the same time nurturing an international network of experts.
The Technical and Business School contributes, among other things, to the following:
Build human capacity for the development and implementation of new energy technologies;
● Strengthen the capacity of key stakeholders and decision-makers to develop and effectively implement RE
programs;
● Overcome regulatory, financial, and technical barriers that are preventing the engagement of international
private-public sectors;
● Strengthen and expand national and regional networks, stimulating regional cooperation and knowledge
exchange;
● Create managerial, technical, soft and entrepreneurial skills among African professionals, including project
management and market design, Operation & Maintenance (O&M), and best practices in the policy and
regulatory domains;
● Focus on social inclusion, specifically integrating youth and women participation;
● Create networking opportunities and a community of peer experts and professionals that will encourage
the exchange of experiences also in the future.
- COURSE CONTENTS : Call for Applications for Technical and Vocational School training at RES4Africa Foundation (Renewable Energy Solutions for Africa)
The training will focus on solar mini-grids through the guide of the curriculum developed in collaboration with
Strathmore University that provides a general overview of the whole mini-grids value chain for rural electrification
and hands-on learning in laboratories about renewable energy technologies.
More specifically, this course will be implemented and delivered in collaboration with Strathmore University and
will focus on Module 4: Economics and regulatory frameworks, namely:
● Module 4.1: Procurement and construction;
● Module 4.2: DRE economics, business models and micro project financing;
● Module 4.3: Energy policy, legal and regulatory framework (country-focus on Kenya).
Relevant topics for each module include:
● Module 4.1: EPC – Procurement, PV systems installation (BOS), PV systems installation practical (BOS), EPC
Call for Applications for Technical and Vocational School training at RES4Africa Foundation (Renewable Energy Solutions for Africa)
- METHODOLOGY
The methodology foreseen for this course will be mainly based on e-learning approaches, with limited face-to-face
interaction for participants based in Kenya. More specifically:
1) Lessons will be delivered via live online lecturers, for which participants will be granted access to relevant
digital tools (Moodle e-learning platform, Zoom, Youtube channels, etc.);
2) The Moodle platform will be used to upload didactic materials, administer surveys and exams, access the
training recordings, provide certificates, etc.;
3) The e-lectures will be complemented, if possible, by one field visit at Strathmore University Energy Research
Centre in order to put in practice what the trainees learned beforehand;
4) The e-lectures will be managed by lecturers belonging to Strathmore University and RES4Africa’s
stakeholders and partners from private-public high-level entities operating in the energy sector;
5) At the end of the training, students will take a final survey and a final exam to assess the newly acquired
skills and knowledge.
- CERTIFICATE
Upon successful completion of the course, participants will receive certificates of attendance. The official
Certificate of Attendance will be granted to the trainees who will have attended at least 70% of the total amount
of training hours, and who will have successfully taken the final exam and participated in the final survey. - PARTICIPANTS’ QUALIFICATIONS AND PREPARATION
● The course is open to about 100 participants from African States. Priority will be given to nationals of
countries belonging to the East African Community;
● Profiles can include students, technicians, operators, managers, entrepreneurs and other professionals
dealing with the Renewable Energy Sector;
● Applicants must be able to speak and read in English;
● Applicants up to 30 years old and women (of any age) will be given priority. - REGISTRATION AND SELECTION PROCESS
Applicants should complete the Application form (uploading in it their CV and Motivation Letter in .pdf). A
notification e-mail should be sent to [email protected]. The deadline for applications is the 19th of April
2023 at 12:00 pm CET. Endorsement by an employer or a supervisor will be considered a plus, with the reference
letter to be uploaded into the Application form. Incomplete applications or applications received after the deadline
will not be considered.
All applications will be evaluated by RES4Africa and Strathmore University; the selected candidates will receive a
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confirmation email and will be requested to confirm their attendance. Only confirmed candidates will receive
detailed instructions with credentials to get access to the e-learning and virtual platforms.
Call for Applications for Technical and Vocational School training at RES4Africa Foundation (Renewable Energy Solutions for Africa)
