– programme aimed at upskilling Guyanese women for the local energy sector
Georgetown, March 05, 2025 – The Government of Guyana continues its ongoing efforts to provide Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) opportunities for Guyanese to upskill, as twenty women are set to begin a two-year apprenticeship programme focused on electrical installations and basic solar photovoltaic (PV) technology. The programme commenced on March 03, 2025.
This initiative is part of the World Bank’s Caribbean Efficient and Green-Energy Buildings Project, a regional project, which aims to transform Guyana’s energy sector through sustainable energy solutions. The objective of the Caribbean Efficient and Green-Energy Buildings Project is to save energy, increase the use of renewable energy in public buildings and facilities, and enhance the regulatory framework for investments in energy efficiency (EE) and renewable energy (RE) in participating Caribbean countries. In Guyana, the Project is expected to: (i) retrofit up to 260 public buildings and facilities with EE and RE measures; (ii) achieve 51.46 GWh of lifetime energy savings from EE measures in public buildings and facilities; (iii) enable 21.2 MW of RE capacity; (iv) reduce approximately 434,720 tons of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions; and (v) provide apprenticeship (and internship) opportunities in the fields of science, technology, energy, and mathematics for 20 women, thereby supporting the development of a low-carbon economy for the benefit of all.
The apprenticeship programme, a key component of the regional project, is financed by a grant from the Canada Clean Energy and Forest Climate Facility (CCEFCF) with the support of the World Bank’s Energy Sector Management Assistance Program (ESMAP). The programme will be implemented by the Guyana Energy Agency (GEA) in partnership with the Ministry of Labour’s Board of Industrial Training (BIT) and the Ministry of Human Services and Social Security. It will train twenty women as apprentices and equip them with the skills needed for electrical installations. Additionally, the programme will cover the design, installation, and maintenance of solar photovoltaic (PV) systems, safety protocols, and environmental best practices for electrical and renewable energy equipment, as well as support capacity building in entrepreneurial skills for apprentices.
The programme, designed by BIT, will be delivered in two parts, combining theoretical knowledge and practical skills through workshops, fieldwork, and internships. Training sessions will be held at the Guyana Agricultural and General Workers Union (GAWU) office in Kingston, Georgetown, and the programme will have a three-month semester cycle consisting of three months of training followed by a one-month break.
Upon completion, the graduates will be awarded a National Apprenticeship Vocational Certificate that will allow them to pursue careers in the energy sector and advance their technical qualifications. The overall goal is to produce competent professionals equipped with the knowledge and practical skills necessary for diverse careers in electrical installation and solar PV technology, thereby contributing to sustainable energy and economic development nationwide.
Moreover, the programme aims to close the gender gap in the energy sector by empowering and educating women to join the sector’s workforce and pursue skill development opportunities and careers in fields traditionally considered male-dominated.
Image Credit: Ministry of Labour’s Board of Industrial Training (BIT)
