Note: Application for the programme is now closed.
Programme Objectives
The overall purpose of this programme is to contribute to strengthening the conditions for investments in renewable energy to provide modern and sustainable energy systems, including all forms of renewable energy such as solar, wind, hydro, bio (including waste-to-energy) and geothermal energy. In turn this is expected to lead to poverty reduction through increased access to affordable, reliable renewable energy and access to electricity for women and men living in poverty.
The Capacity Development Programme on Renewable Energy aims at creating increased knowledge and capacity of selected organisations and participants about how different energy systems solutions based on renewable energy can be developed at different levels in society, from local communities without network connections to larger plants at national macro level. The participants will share knowledge and networks and work together in Country Teams to develop and implement a common Change Project that will support change processes within the participants own organisations and areas of activity.
Results chain
Impact goal: Ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy services, especially renewable, and thus increased access to electricity for people living in poverty. Achieved by strengthening the conditions for increased investment in renewable energy to provide modern renewable energy services.
Outcome goal: Strategically important organisations and other actors help to initiate, support, strengthen and develop institutions that affect national policies, regulatory frameworks, that strengthen the conditions and incentives for investments in renewable energy technologies and develop sustainable energy systems by providing energy infrastructure with consideration of the rights, needs and demand of people living in poverty.
Output goal: Participants have, after completion of the programme, increased knowledge, tools and contact areas to drive effective change processes within their respective organisations and institutions.
Target group
Invited countries are: Kenya, Mozambique, Rwanda, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe. The final number of countries participating in the programme may vary depending on the quality of the applications.
This programme is focused on creating institutional capacity by engaging Change Agents and establishing long-term relationships with key organisations within the field of renewable energy in the target countries. The Change Agents are expected to share knowledge within their respective organisations, engaging managers and colleagues in their Change Projects. Targeted organisations are ministries/departments, agencies/utilities, regulators, regional actors, CSO’s and national public and/or private financial actors. The organisations should be willing to commit themselves to participation over several years and to cooperate with other organisations in the programme.
The organisation should have a certain level of influence in the energy sector and be willing to push for an increase of renewable energy and energy efficiency in the country. Applicants need to be nominated by their organisations to be selectable. A signature from the supervisor is required in the application form and once selected a commitment contract between the supervisor, the participant and LIFE Academy will be required. Selected participants are expected to be permitted to allocate working time to take part in the programme and work on implementing their Change Project for close to 1 year. The Change Project is expected to support ongoing change processes and activities within the scope of the organisation. The programme is also aimed at an even gender and age distribution and hence encourage women and younger professionals to be nominated for participation as well, given that they meet the criteria for selection.
The Target Group Consists of:
- Mid-level or high-level managers actively working to strengthen the conditions for investments in renewable energy and sustainable energy solutions;
- Key persons who are decision makers and normative for the profession in their respective countries or are deemed to have the potential to influence or take a decision-making position;
- Participants who have good language skills in English and relevant academic degree related to the programme content or have acquired relevant knowledge in other ways;
The delimitation of the target group is based primarily on participants who have a combination of the following:
- Work for/within an actor/organisation that is strategically important for the programme’s targets;
- Personal prerequisites to participate in change processes relevant to the area;
- A role and a mandate in their organisation/institution that provides real opportunities to pursue change work;
- A position that enables them to participate actively throughout the capacity development programme;
Programme Structure
The programme runs from March 2023 to February 2024. It includes a number of different activities. One phase of the programme will be held in Zambia in May and one phase will be held in Sweden in October. In addition, two semi-digital meetings will be held where the participants within the same country meet for 3 days. In addition, there will be several assignments to carry out including webinars and films.
The work of developing and implementing a Change Project runs like a red thread through the programme. In addition to contributing to the development towards more renewable energy in the country, the project functions as a case where the participants can develop their skills in conducting needs analysis, initiating and implementing a project. To support the teams in the Change Project process there will be one regional mentor appointed for each team.
Phase 1: Opening and Preparation – Online
March – April, 2023
This first phase will be held online. The participants are welcomed to an opening meeting March 28. During the meeting the participants will introduce themselves and meet with mentors and LIFE staff. There will also be an introduction to the programme and to the platform LIFE Network where all information regarding the programme will be found.
The preparation phase also contains assignments about project planning and needs analysis that will be presented on LIFE Network.
The participants from the same country will be invited to a meeting with the appointed mentors to start up the cooperation and to reflect over the energy situation in the country.
Phase 2: Regional Phase Zambia – Training Onsite, 8 Days
May 3-11, 2023
The focus during this phase will be on forming the Country Teams and specifying the common area of Challenge to be addressed in a Change Project.
The process of developing a change project that is relevant for the participating organisations and contributes to a more sustainable energy system in the country will be the main objective of the regional phase. This work will be supplemented with lectures and study visits to build up knowledge about renewable energy and change management.
The regional phase is also expected to create conditions for sharing experiences and knowledge with each other. To increase the knowledge about different actors in the energy sector, the participants will be given the opportunity to present their organisations.
Phase 3: Project Planning and Implementation – Online and Semi-digital Meeting, 3 Days
May-September, 2023
The focus of the third phase is to finalise the project plans for the change projects and begin the implementation of the project. To support the country teams in the process there will be one regional mentor appointed for each team. The mentor will be available for meetings via Zoom biweekly.
In order to create good conditions for developing the change projects and at the same time give the participants the opportunity to develop the national networks, a semi-digital meeting will be arranged where the participants meet within the country teams. Semi-digital meeting means that the country team will meet at some location within their own country with online support from LIFE Academy and the regional mentors. The Semi-digital meeting will be held June 27-29 in a venue in, or close to, the capital of each participating country. The aim is to complete the project plans for the change projects. During the semi-digital workshop there will be seminars and discussions on the main subjects; renewable energy, financing and policies as well as crosscutting issues and project management.
The participants are expected to arrange meetings and workshops with different stakeholders. The purpose with these meetings and workshops is for the team to get different views on the challenges and possible solutions related to their Change Project as well as to create awareness and engage relevant stakeholders in the planning and implementation of the Change Project.
During this phase there will be several tasks and webinars to increase the participants’ knowledge in the focus areas.
Phase 4: The Swedish Phase – Training Onsite, 10 Days
October 2-13, 2023
The Swedish phase will be held in Sweden on October 2-13, 2023. The participants will present the status of the change projects and work on the implementation together with the mentors. The training will also consist of group work, lectures, study visits and hands on activities. Another focus is strengthening networks between the participants and their organisations with experts and relevant organisations in Sweden.
The first week will be carried out in Karlstad and the second week is held in Stockholm. During this phase the participants will be able to meet with representatives from Swedish authorities, companies, and organisations to gain new knowledge, insights and expand networks for further contacts.
The country teams will present their ongoing change projects to the other participants for input and sharing of experience. Every team will also meet with their mentors for support on implementation of the change project.
Phase 5: Project Implementation – Online
October, 2023 – January, 2024
During this phase focus will be on implementing the Change Project according to the Project Plans. Meetings and workshops with different stakeholders will be arranged by the participants to create awareness and engage relevant stakeholders in the implementation of the Change Project.
The mentor will be available for meetings via Zoom biweekly.
During this phase there will be several tasks and webinars to increase the participants’ knowledge in the focus areas.
Phase 6: Way Forward – Semi-digital Meeting, 3 Days
February 13-15, 2024
A second semi-digital meeting is held as Way forward on February 13-15, 2024, where the results of the completed projects are presented. The purpose of Way Forward is to safeguard a continuation of the project work initiated during the training programme. During this meeting, the participants will be looking ahead to reflect over how the work to develop renewable energy in the region can be taken forward after the project period is over.
By the end of the phase the participants present the results from the Change Projects and discuss further actions. Lessons learned will be highlighted.
Diploma
Participants who complete the entire programme will be awarded a diploma. In order to receive a diploma, the following criteria must be met:
a) participation in all phases of the programme,
b) actively contributing to the Change Project, including
planning, implementation and reporting,
c) accomplish assignments in due time to the deadlines.
Note: Application for the programme is now closed.