With women engineers or technicians in sub-Saharan Africa accounting for only 20% of trainees and Malawian women’s participation in the energy sector being very low despite women appearing to be the most significant energy users, it was decided to run a training course specifically targeted at women to try and combat this imbalance.
27 female participants were selected to attend the training course which consisted of 2 weeks online and 2 weeks in-person. It focussed on planning, design, installation, maintenance, and management of renewable energy systems. The course was a great success, with the evaluation identifying that the majority of participants reported being satisfied with the overall training experience, with positive feedback received from approximately 90% of total attendees.
Participants received certificates that can serve as a basic requirement for obtaining an installation permit from the Malawi Energy Regulatory Authority.
This film is part of the Community Energy Systems and Sustainable Energy Transitions in Ethiopia, Malawi and Mozambique (CESET) project led by Professor Vanesa Castán Broto. A collaborative multi-institutional research partnership funded by the Global Challenges Research Fund, CESET explores the potential of community energy systems to accelerate inclusive, just, and clean energy transitions in Ethiopia, Malawi, and Mozambique.