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Putting People in the Centre: Lessons from Capacity Building Project in Abuja
Decentralized renewable energy (DRE) systems, such as solar home systems and mini-grids, hold significant promise for providing reliable access to clean energy in rural communities across Nigeria. Guided by our mission, we firmly believe that sustainable social and economic development requires holistic approaches that prioritize people at the center of all initiatives. In partnership with the Clean Technology Hub and the Reiner Lemoine Institut, we successfully implemented a capacity-building programme aimed at this objective. Here is what we learned from the experience:
To achieve our goals, we structured the programme into two main components. The first was an online training module consisting of six comprehensive sessions. Each session featured a lecture delivered by an expert guest speaker, followed by extensive question-and-answer segments. The sessions addressed a variety of critical topics, including: Community-based approaches for designing DRE projects, the potential of diversity, equity, and inclusion, practical planning methodologies, and financial assessment tools tailored to DRE systems. More than 50 participants were selected to join the training sessions. Most were professionals with prior experience working in DRE-related fields.
The second component was a three-day, in-person workshop that began with a study tour to the mini-grid facility in Petti Community, Kwali LGA, Abuja. This rural community, located 76 kilometers outside of central Abuja, has been off-grid but, since 2021, has operated a solar hybrid mini-grid system that powers more than 500 households. Eight participants, selected from the online training module attendees, took part in the workshop. During the study tour, they engaged with facility managers and community members, gaining first-hand insights into the system’s operation and its impact on the community.
The second day began with a reflection session where participants analyzed their observations from the study tour. This discussion focused on key themes such as project design, financial viability, and inclusion. Participants then explored the role of DRE in mini-grid systems through group debates, fostering critical thinking. On the final day, participants presented feasibility studies for real-life cases, applying the concepts and tools learned throughout the programme. Each day of the workshop featured icebreaker activities to build mutual understanding and foster a welcoming environment, as well as reflection sessions at the end of the day to consolidate learnings and encourage dialogue.
An extensive ex-post survey was conducted to gather feedback from participants, who offered concrete suggestions to enhance future capacity-building projects. They emphasized the importance of including a more diverse group of participants with broad backgrounds and expertise. They also recommended improving accessibility by incorporating translation services to ensure inclusive participation. Additionally, participants expressed a strong desire for more hands-on experience, particularly in modeling DRE solutions with real-life applications. These are very specific suggestions related to particular details of the Program. However, the overall feedback was highly positive, reflecting the programme’s significant value and impact, as the following testimonials illustrate:
“After taking the course, I managed an electrification project in my community and the community engagement skills helped me tremendously.” – Female Product Executive
“The course provided insights into participatory project design, which I applied in my current role as a Technical Project Manager. By integrating community feedback into our solar energy projects, we’ve improved project acceptance and sustainability.” – Technical Project Manager
We extend our heartfelt gratitude to all the participants for their enthusiasm and valuable contributions, as well as to our project partners, the Clean Technology Hub and the Reiner Lemoine Institute, for their unwavering support in making this programme a success.
