STEM Traineeship

Context   

SEforALL is committed to empowering young women to participate fully in the energy transition by creating education and training opportunities that will prepare them for careers within the renewable energy sector. Projects involving local deployment of renewable energy solutions, energy planning or other forms of technical assistance provide valuable learning opportunities. 

Thus, we have established a STEM Traineeship for young women that integrates with our growing roster of projects in countries around the world. The STEM Traineeship is aimed at training young women to prepare them for careers in the sustainable energy sector. 

The programmes are tailored towards ongoing in-country workstreams, allowing practical application of skills and knowledge to the context of energy transition in the target countries. 

The STEM Traineeship empowers young women to actively participate in and benefit from the global energy transition by providing activity-based technical and soft skills training. The programme also creates direct pathways to employment, ensuring inclusive growth and unlocking untapped talent in target countries.

Activities

Our Gender and Youth programme works alongside other SEforALL programmes (e.g., Powering Healthcare, Energy Efficiency, and Cooling) to bring STEM training to young women, utilizing a targeted approach to bridging existing gaps in the sector by putting women at the forefront through training the young women to acquire fundamental skills necessary to move the energy sector forward. The goal of this initiative is not only to help the trainees academically, but to expose and encourage more women to pursue an interest in STEM-related careers. 

By October 2026, 46 STEM Trainees from Ghana, Kenya, Panama, Sierra Leone, and Tanzania have successfully completed the programme.

In Sierra Leone, STEM Trainees gained experience in solar PV systems at healthcare facilities as part of the FCDO-funded Healthcare Electrification Project. Trainees enhanced their technical skills in solar PV installation, battery sizing and management, and retrofitting, while collaborating with developers on-site to successfully install rooftop solar systems, ensuring a reliable and consistent electricity supply to healthcare facilities. 

STEM Trainees in the Ghana & Kenya cohort gained experience in conducting energy audits, overseeing waste management initiatives, and developing energy transition plans.

In Panama, STEM Trainees supported the National Energy Secretary’s Operación Solar initiative, engaging in stakeholder management, solar PV system design, and regulatory compliance.

In Tanzania, eight STEM Trainees provided support to the ‘Accelerating a Clean Cooking Transition in Schools’ project in partnership with the World Food Programme.
 

Results 

The programme's success is further exemplified by the retention of 65% of Trainees in the energy sector. Traineeship participants have gone on to secure roles at key energy companies, government agencies, and self-founded organizations. The achievement of one participant securing a position as a Project Assistant within SEforALL's Powering Healthcare Programme, showcasing the tangible employment opportunities created through this initiative. 

Trainees have gone on to pursue advanced academic degrees in fields including electrical engineering, energy technology, and carbon management, receiving prestigious awards such as the Mofcom Scholarship, German Academic Exchange Service Scholarship, and Chevening Award. Additionally, 11 Trainees have had the opportunity to broaden their knowledge and skills by attending the Joint Summer School on Modelling Tools for Sustainable Development in Trieste, Italy, underlining the programme's commitment to holistic education.

The positive outcomes have prompted the scaling of the programme across Africa and Latin America, signifying the programme's sustainability and its ability to continually empower aspiring individuals in the field of sustainable energy. The project's success in fostering practical skills, facilitating employment, and promoting international exposure highlights its efficacy in addressing gender disparities and contributing to the broader objectives of the just and equitable energy transition.