Capacity Building in Energy Efficiency for Households and Forum for Energy Service Providers

The Zambia Gender and Energy Network received funds from the ENERGIA International Network which were used to implement a capacity building programme for households and energy service providers in 2010. Two workshops were conducted for households and energy service providers in Lusaka on 1-3 September and 14 October 2010, respectively. The aim of the capacity building programme is to assess the current energy and energy efficiency awareness programmes undertaken by the major players in the provision of energy services at the household level. The expected outcomes of the programme were reduced electricity consumption and an increase in the use of alternative energy sources at the household level.

The key objectives capacity building activity in Zambia were twofold:

1. To promote energy efficiency at household level by training households in energy management techniques. The expected output was reduced electricity consumption and an increase in the use of alternative energy sources,
2. To assess the current energy efficiency awareness programmes undertaken by the major players in the provision of energy services to the Zambian market. The expected output was a list of gaps that were identified in the awareness campaigns conducted by various institutions.
   

A major output of the training was formation of groups that identified activities to be undertaken in their communities as a follow-up to the training. A total of four groups were formed; two groups from Kalingalinga, one group from Garden and one from Kayosha. During the initial stage of the training, the participants were requested to develop action plans on how they would be able to disseminate the information to their neighbours and communities.

A follow up workshop took place in December 2010.  The workshop was a forum for the participants to present action plans developed during the September 2010 training workshop, progress in relation to achievements, and challenges and lessons learnt while disseminating and training their target group in energy efficiency were presented and discussed. From the 24 participants that were trained, 21 participants comprising of seventeen women and four men attended the follow up workshop.

ZGEN Capacity Building Report FINAL - Download

Capacity Building in Energy Efficiency for Households and Forum for Energy Service Providers Zambia - Download