A bright future for Mali’s solar power entrepreneurs
Sidi is able to provide for his family after taking part in a training scheme run by Plan International Mali to learn about renewable energy.
In Mali, only around half of the population have electricity in their homes, those that do are mainly located in urban areas. Rural villages which are not connected to the national grid have mostly lived without power, but now, things are starting to change and a new generation of green energy entrepreneurs are bringing light into people’s homes.
28-year-old Sidi is part of a group of 50 young people from the regions of Bamako and Kayes in Mali who have taken part in a training scheme run by from Plan International to learn about renewable energy and off-grid electricity solutions.
During the training we were taught how to mount a solar panel, as wells as technical aspects such as inclination, dimensions, installation and many other things.
Sidi
“I heard about the training when I went to the town hall to draw up a birth certificate for my brother. I inquired about the requirements, registered and was selected. Then I went to Bamako for a 2-week training course,” Sidi explains.
The Bright Future (Avenir Brillant) project is creating new economic opportunities for young people so they do not put themselves at risk of harm by migrating to other countries to find employment.
High youth migration
Mali, a country predominantly made up of young people, is currently experiencing rising rates of internal and external migration due to political instability caused by climate shocks, conflict, food insecurity and energy poverty.
Sidi is responsible for taking care of his mother and 3 younger siblings. He made a living by installing satellite dishes and working in a shop, but his income was not enough to pay for all his family’s needs. So the chance to learn new skills that could translate into paid employment was a great opportunity.
“During the training we were taught how to mount a solar panel, as wells as technical aspects such as inclination, dimensions, installation and many other things. In addition, after the training, we received follow-up visits from project officers,” Sidi tells us.
As part of Mali’s ambitious target to provide 87% of homes with access to electricity by 2030, the country aims to increase the share of renewable energy sources to 37%. To do this, solar energy is an important step to making this a reality.
Green energy a real option for rural communities
Today, Sidi is proud of his work and recognises the benefits that access to clean, green energy brings to his community. A year after his initial training, Sidi was invited to join a follow up course. “We learnt new things such as fixing solar panels onto buildings and installing solar pumps into wells to feed the water tower.”
Sidi tells us that he is now able to earn a good income thanks to the different skills he has acquired through the training. He has combined his work installing satellite dishes with the installation, maintenance and repair of solar panels.
“Economically, I’m doing very well. I used to save about 30,000 XoF (€45) per month before this training and now I can have up to 75,000 XoF (€115) each month. I receive 10,000 XoF (€15) for the installation of each solar panel, but often when it comes to working in the city where everyone knows each other it can be much less,” explains Sidi.
“I’m now thinking about getting married and starting a family. I would like to thank the project for giving me the opportunity to be part of this process.”
Bright future project
Funded by the Italian Ministry of the Interior in collaboration with Plan International and Action Aid International, the Bright Future (Avenir Brillant) project was launched in October 2020 and is being implemented in the regions of Bamako and Kayes by ENDA (Environment and Development) Mali and AME (Malian Association of the Expelled).
The project offers young people with an alternative to irregular migration through social and economic opportunities, as well as strengthening protection mechanisms for child and youth migrants, those in transit or those who have recently returned home. The technical training on electricity and renewables was delivered to 50 young people by EnGreen.
Categories: Skills and work
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