The Barefoot College training center, a suitable energy access solution for rural remote area in Madagascar.
Posted on July, 02 2019
The Barefoot College training center in Madagascar, in the rural commune of Tsiafajavona, 70 km south of Antananarivo, is today welcoming its first women's promotion for an intensive five-month training. It is part of the Barefoot College national program, set up under the direction of the Ministry of Energy, to intensify the “woman solar engineer” approach throughout the country.
By 2030, a network of 744 solar mamas from remote rural villages will be trained in the Barefoot College training center in Madagascar for the manufacturing, mounting, installation, maintenance of photovoltaic solar systems. thanks to those solar mamas, 630,000 households would sustainably have access to solar electricity services.Voahirana Randriambola, President of NGO Barefoot College Madagascar standing as WWF in the Board, says: “The solar mama approach is unique because vulnerable members of a community bring access to electricity for the whole community. Moreover, thanks to this national program, solar mamas will be able to spread their know-how through delivering solar trainings to other women in the training center. It’s a great model of skill transfer and up-scaling to achieve universal access to sustainable energy in Africa with consideration of vulnerable people, for them to have access to clean, reliable and affordable electricity services !”
During the presentation of this first promotion trained in Madagascar, Hawa Ahmed Youssouf, representative of the African Union presented first hand the NEPAD award to the malagasy solar mamas from previous promotions. WWF Madagascar, through the women solar engineer, was recognized for promoting access to sustainable energy for all.
Vonjy Andriamanga, Minister of Energy, Water and Hydrocarbon states that: “Thanks to this program, electricity access is progressing even in remote areas, the living conditions of villagers are improving, and income-generating activities are developing. In short, the program is a lever for the long-awaited socio-economic development and ambition displayed by the solemn commitment of the President of the Republic of Madagascar.”
During 5 months, 4 solar instructors from previous promotions and 12 new learners are living in the center in Tsiafajavona. Not only are women given solar curriculum: manufacturing, installation and maintenance of solar photovoltaic systems; but also they are taught about financial inclusion, micro enterprise, income generating activities, reproductive health, self-awareness, law, environment, digital tool (called Enriche program).
Once the electrification of the village is completed and the solar committee functional, field partners of the national program support them with solar entrepreneurship development. The solar mamas then build solar lanterns and kits, and solar committee sale them to communities in their village and surrounding area.