Featured image: Stock RES4Africa Foundation and the East African Centre of Excellence for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency (EACREEE) have signed a memorandum of understanding that will expand the Micro-Grid Academy in Kenya.
The agreement between the EACREEE and RES4Africa is meant to increase cooperation and mutual support between the two organisations in the promotion of renewable energy. It will also strengthen and expand the Micro-Grid Academy (MGA), which is a vocational capacity building programme led by RES4Africa, based in Nairobi.
Read more:
IRENA and RES4Africa explore public-private initiatives
Powering Africa’s energy transition will take collective effort
The Academy is meant to create a skilled workshop to deploy renewable energy solutions within and beyond the East Africa region.
Launched in January 2018 the Academy has trained more than 500 students so far from the East African Community partner states as well as from Zambia, Ethiopia and Europe. The goal is to eventually train up to 300 people a year, ranging from community technicians to project managers, developers, engineers and students.
The MGA is coordinated by RES4Africa and works in partnership with the utility Kenya Power Lighting Company, Fondazione AVSI, Strathmore University and the St Kizito VTI technical training centre, with support from Enel Foundation and now an endorsement from EACREEE. A hybrid mini-grid will be installed at St Kizito Vocational Training Institute to support the theoretical lessons with practical learning.
Professor Mackay Okure, interim executive director of EACREEE said they are happy to be associated with the MGA, which they believe can make a significant contribution in the implementation of knowledge management systems. “Capacity building and knowledge management are key ingredients for sustainability of renewable energy and energy efficiency development in the region,” said Okure.
Secretary general of RES4Africa, Roberto Vigotti, said they are proud of the collaboration because the MGA programme means a lot to the Foundation, which was founded by Enel Green Power. “Res4Africa works with Africa for Africa. Investing in the education of African young professionals means investing in Africa’s future. With EACREEE on our side, we can see this future brighter,” said Vigotti.