Digitalising the Afghan Renewable Energy Sector
Our Goal
Develop and implement a lighthouse project that builds up capacities through innovative digital means, enabling young renewable energy professionals in Afghanistan to gain and further share technical knowledge in their local context
Project Profile
Insufficient and unreliable energy supply at high costs is the reality for many people in the world, especially in rural areas and fragile contexts. This project provided young professionals in the Afghan energy sector with the opportunity to learn about the opportunities of a renewable energy (RE) system for providing a more stable and sustainable electrification in rural areas in their country.
The project was carried out in two phases:
Phase I – Digitalising the Afghan Renewable Energy Sector
In the first phase, the project concentrated in developing an interactive website that illustrates the reality of a rural Afghan village. Besides the realistic design, the website was constructed in an interactive way with five integrated digital tools. The tools demonstrate the productive use of photovoltaic (PV) roof top systems, solar cooling, micro hydropower, mini-grids and the integration of renewable energies into the grid. The website was translated from English to Dari and Pashto and includes Augmented and Virtual Reality solutions, as well as computer animations and/or (360°) videos and podcasts. To account for unstable network connections, the platform is also available in a lower bandwidth version.
Phase II – Renewable Energy Scouts Trainer of Trainers Program (RE Scouts ToT)
This phase aimed to strengthen the capacities of 25 young Afghan professionals in renewable energy, more precisely in the 5 digital tools and topics comprised in the interactive website. In addition to the technical knowledge, the programme included learning modules on facilitation, online moderation, and communication to enable participants to apply and transfer knowledge to a broader audience. The participants delivered written assignments and quizzes after each module and presented a final assignment, which was their own design of a training course. Participants who fulfilled all requirements received a “RE Trainer Certificate.”
Location
Afghanistan
Duration
2020 – 2022
Theme
Renewable Energy
Key Focuses Provided
- Technical and methodological support for the development of an interactive digital learning platform for renewable energies in Afghanistan
- Capacity building and training of young professionals
Staff
Wesley Wojtas, Renewable Energy Expert
Rena Salzmann, Junior Programme Officer
Bertha Camacho, Knowledge Management Expert
Project achievements
5
Development of an interactive digital platform including 5 RE tools in three languages and 2 bandwidth versions.
9
Development and implementation of 9 training modules held by experts on renewable energy and communications.
18
participants trained (10% women), with 10 awarded RE Trainers
Ahmad Khalid Slimankhil,
Executive Manager of
Professionals for Change
“The ToT Scouts training assisted me in making my dream of holding professional online trainings a reality. Since graduating from ToT Scouts, I’ve been working with Professionals for Change, where I am using the knowledge to conduct online trainings and webinars on a variety of topics.
I am currently the Executive Manager of Professionals for Change, an organisation that focuses on capacity building through online trainings and workshops in multi-disciplinary professions, with a special emphasis on renewable energy and energy efficiency.
I am following the same procedure for conducting online trainings that I learned from the ToT programme. Fortunately, since completing the ToT and beginning to work with Professionals for Change, we have conducted two online trainings (Solar Roof Top System and Energy Efficiency in Buildings) and 10+ online webinars and workshops, where I put my ToT Scouts knowledge to full use.”