A solar photovoltaic (PV) green skills, enterprise development and sustainability research programme was launched on May 4 with the aim to upskill 900 youth, women and entrepreneurs over the next three years.

The programme is aimed at ensuring the participation of the youth, women and entrepreneurs in the green economy.

University of Pretoria (UP) skills transfer programmes development organisation Future Africa and solar PV skills development institution Nepoworx have entered into a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to implement the programme.

The programme includes a workplace component, which is critical in ensuring participants gain the requisite hands-on experience to increase their chances of securing employment in the renewable energy sector.

Future Africa and Nepoworx are targeting several partners, including commercial banks and multilateral development finance institutions, renewable energy associations and independent power producers to ensure the programme's successful implementation.

“It is important that we develop the local green skills necessary to contribute to the implementation of the ambitious renewable energy targets under the Integrated Resource Plan 2019, to support various policy frameworks such as the Paris Agreement and the Nationally Determined Contribution,” says Nepoworx CEO Nonjabulo Sokhela.

“Greater access to solar energy in Africa and initiatives such as this partnership between a public institution, Future Africa, with a private company, Nepoworx, contribute to job creation, promote socioeconomic development and advance higher energy equity through support of the energy transition,” UP Future Africa director Professor Cheikh Mbow adds.

“The MoU signed with Nepoworx is a milestone towards robust engagement with like-minded enterprises for sustainable development pathways that build on Africa's best asset, which is renewable energy,” Mbow adds.