In Haut-Katanga Province in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), the lack of qualified electricians is undermining the province’s economic development. With this in mind, Schneider Electric, the leader in digital transformation of energy management and automation, and the Society of Jesus in the DRC will help 500 local young people find work between 2018 and 2020 by creating two certified training courses for electricians. Eighty percent of these trainees will come from underprivileged families.

Boosting the Haut-Katanga economy

As Africa’s fourth most populated country, with a wealth of natural resources, DRC has experienced GDP growth of between 2 to 9 percent in recent years. Economic growth has been particularly strong in Haut-Katanga, the DRC’s industrial and mining center, and the province’s capital Lubumbashi, the country’s second-largest city and major business center.

However, the DRC’s economy is being hampered by its lack of infrastructure and skills, which is undermining growth. In Haut-Katanga, the electricity sector is having to resort to foreign workers to meet its electrical equipment, installations and maintenance needs, impacting the province’s underprivileged populations.

A partnership to help underprivileged young people find work

Committed to the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) set by the United Nations, Schneider Electric is particularly invested in SDG 7, or ensuring access to sustainable energy for all, as a prerequisite for child education, quality of life and economic development. In 2009, the company launched its Access to Energy program with the objective of supporting vocational electrical training, in partnership with local organizations. Since then, the program has helped more than 148,000 people in more than 45 countries. Moreover, between 2009 and 2020, Schneider Electric will have helped train 20,000 young people in 22 African countries with about 90 partners. In 2018 alone, 5,200 young people will be trained.

In DRC, Didier Chika, Access to Energy business development manager, contacted Father Max Senker, director of Mwapusukeni Technical College in Lubumbashi. This college, which is managed by the Society of Jesus, has offered vocational training courses including steel construction and car mechanics for young people between 18 and 25 since 2017. Majority of students are from poor families.

After studying market needs, the partners defined two training programs in the energy sector: Building Electricity and Solar Energy. “A partnership agreement signed at the end of 2017 between the Jesuits, Schneider Electric DRC and the Schneider Electric Foundation describes the courses, the duration of the training, the number of beneficiaries and the target audience. It also defines the commitments of each party,” explained Didier Chika. “Given the region’s needs for qualified electricians, trainees are guaranteed job prospects.” The aim is to enable 500 young people, including 80 percent from underprivileged families, to train as electricians from September 2018 to 2020.

Two certified programs for trainee electricians

The Building Electricity program is designed to last a year (six months of classes and six months of experience in a company). This training will lead to a locally recognized vocational certificate. Meanwhile, the Solar Energy program lasts four months and will take 80 students every year, including those that have completed the Building Electricity program.

The quality of the programs is partly due to the equipment provided by Schneider Electric, through the support of the Schneider Electric Foundation. This includes learning stations (booths in which students can make connections), solar panels, batteries, charge regulators and more. Schneider Electric is also contributing to instructor training. The instructors’ training modules are dispensed by a Schneider Electric Teacher, an employee that applied for the position on a volunteer basis and was selected for his or her technical skills in the relevant equipment.

The program is designed to be replicated and adapted to the constraints of each region through ongoing development and improvement. For example, the solar module was developed by a professor from the Schneider Electric Paul-Louis Merlin School in Grenoble during a trip to Senegal with local technicians. Similarly, feedback out of Tanzania highlighted a need for industrial maintenance, leading to the design and introduction of another module. All the training courses are presented in a catalogue organized by level of qualification, such as a vocational training certificate and a master’s certificate.

About Schneider Electric

Schneider Electric is leading the Digital Transformation of Energy Management and Automation in Homes, Buildings, Data Centers, Infrastructure and Industries. With global presence in over 100 countries, Schneider is the undisputable leader in Power Management – Medium Voltage, Low Voltage and Secure Power, and in Automation Systems. We provide integrated efficiency solutions, combining energy, automation and software. In our global Ecosystem, we collaborate with the largest Partner, Integrator and Developer Community on our Open Platform to deliver real-time control and operational efficiency. We believe that great people and partners make Schneider a great company and that our commitment to Innovation, Diversity and Sustainability ensures that Life Is On everywhere, for everyone and at every moment.

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