Eleven select entrepreneurs from various Southern African Development Community (SADC) countries are currently participating in a capacity-building workshop in Windhoek. The workshop, which began on Monday and will conclude on Thursday, is part of the SADC Renewable Energy Entrepreneurship Support Facility organized by the International Renewable Energy Agency (Irena) and the SADC Centre for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency (Sacreee).
Facilitator Helena Shipanga highlighted that the workshop serves as a technical support and mentorship platform to enhance the capabilities of micro, small, and medium entrepreneurs in the sustainable energy sector. The participants, who specialize in areas such as solar energy, biogas, and engineering, are focusing on improving their digital marketing skills, strategic business development, and leadership abilities.
Wency Ndjitavia, another facilitator, emphasized the importance of enhancing soft skills such as communication, leadership, decision-making, and problem-solving to boost competitiveness and business practices. The entrepreneurs, hailing from countries like Lesotho, Malawi, Namibia, South Africa, Tanzania, Zambia, and Zimbabwe, are eager to learn how to pitch ideas to investors as they often face challenges in accessing finance.
The SADC Renewable Energy Entrepreneurship Support Facility, implemented in all 16 SADC member countries, aims to support renewable energy market development through capacity building for small to medium-sized entrepreneurs. This initiative builds on a memorandum of understanding signed in February 2017 between Sacreee and Irena, showcasing a commitment to fostering sustainable energy practices in the region.