Namibia's Solar Implementation Hindered by Lack of Experts
Although solar is viewed as a solution for future electricity, its current implementation is hampered by a lack of skilled technicians for installation and maintenance. Helping to close this skills gap, the Namibian and the German Governments decided to cooperate in the area of Technical and Vocational Education and Training. An agreement was reached on the "Promotion of Vocational Education and Training" project and then jointly implemented by the Namibia Training Authority (NTA) and the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ).
One of the project objectives is to develop and implement training programmes in the area of renewable energy. "This is a milestone in our joint efforts to promote vocational training in Namibia. A training for skills which meets the demands of the industry and the potential of this country. Where, if not in the field of renewable energy, this potential is more than evident!", the German Ambassador, HE Christian Schlaga, said at the official handover of one of six renewable energy installations that will be used to train Solar Maintenance and Installation technicians.
Randy Montoya/Sandia Labs