Digitalizing the Afghan Renewable Energy Sector
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 aims to provide Afghan stakeholders the opportunity to learn about the opportunities of a renewable energy (RE) system for providing a stable electrification in rural areas in their country.
Skat Foundation developed and implemented a lighthouse project that builds on the capacities of stakeholders in Afghanistan using innovative digital tools with the aim to enabling new knowledge and practices on Renewable Energy in their local context.
Project Period: 2020 – 2022
| Thematic Focus: |
| Technical support
Methodological Support Capacity and skills development |
Name of Staff involved and functions performed:
Bertha Camacho, Knowledge Management Expert
Wesley Wojtas, Renewable Energies Expert
Rena Salzmann, Junior Program Officer
Description of project
The objective of this project was to develop and implement a lighthouse project that builds up capacities through innovative digital means in order to enable stakeholders in Afghanistan to apply new knowledge in their local context. The project has defined two sub-goals:
Phase I – Digitalizing the Afghan Renewable Energy Sector
In this first phase, the project concentrated in developing an interactive website that illustrates the reality of a rural Afghan village. Besides the realistic Afghan design, the website was constructed in an interactive way inviting the user to playfully engage with it. Five digital tools were integrated on the Website. The tools demonstrate the productive use of photovoltaic (PV) roof top systems, solar cooling, micro hydropower, mini-grids and the integration of renewable energies (RE) into the grid. The website was translated from English into Dari and Pashto and includes Augmented and Virtual Reality solutions, as well as computer animations and/or (360°) videos and podcasts.
Phase II – The Renewable Energy Scouts Trainer of Trainers Program (RE Scouts ToT)
This phase aimed to strengthen the capacities of 25 young Afghan professionals in Renewable Energies, more precisely in the 5 digital tools from the interactive website. In addition to the technical knowledge, the program included learning modules on facilitation, online moderation, and communication to enable participants to apply and transfer their 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 received a “Certificate of Participation” or “Trainer Certificate.”
Main Activities
- Development of the interactive website including 5 RE Tools in three languages.
- Development and implementation of 9 Technical Modules held by experts on renewable energy and communications.
- Development and implementation of 3 Interactive webinar sessions about online moderation and about the principles of communication.
- Development of training materials for each module: Quizzes, Assignments, and a final presentation
- A closing ceremony where Participants and trainers come together for the final feedback round and awarding of certificates “Certification of Renewable Energy Trainer”
Testimonial from one of the participants
Ahmad Khalid Slimankhil shares how he has been applying the knowledge acquired from the RE Scouts ToT Programme in his career.
“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 organization 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 program. Fortunately, since completing ToT and beginning to work with the 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.”
Ahmad Khalid Slimankhil
Executive Manager of Professionals for Change
