A capacity enhancement meeting held in Zambia’s Eastern Province equipped government officials and technical staff with practical skills to support Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) in the renewable energy sector, aiming to accelerate the adoption and deployment of clean energy technologies across the country. Organized by the Ministry of Labour and Social Security’s National Productivity Development Department in partnership with the International Labour Organization (ILO), the meeting took place from 26 to 28 August 2025 at Chipata’s Protea Hotel. The initiative forms part of the United Nations Joint Sustainable Development Goals (JSDG) Fund Project titled “Accelerating the Adoption and Deployment of Renewable Energy Technologies in Zambia,” running from January to December 2025 and jointly implemented by the ILO, UNDP, and UNICEF.
Participants included representatives from key government ministries, the Eastern Provincial Planning Unit, and Technical Education, Vocational and Entrepreneurship Training (TEVET) institutions. The workshop focused on improving MSME productivity, fostering innovation, and enhancing competitiveness. It also promoted collaboration among ministries and institutions to strengthen support for enterprise growth. Ms. Mulenga Mutale, a Labour Inspector from Vubwi District, highlighted that the training provided renewed insight on how to help MSMEs become more productive and competitive, emphasizing their potential as key drivers of Zambia’s green economy.
The meeting also provided technical staff and trainers with the tools to teach and implement renewable energy solutions effectively. Mr. Francis Pelekelo, Principal at Lundazi Trades Training Institute, noted that the training enabled him to guide students in understanding renewable energy technologies and their transformative potential for communities. Ms. Precious Mutema, Cooperative Entrepreneurship Officer from Petauke District, expressed empowerment through exposure to experts and collaboration with like-minded participants, seeing renewable energy as a catalyst for inclusive growth and new entrepreneurial opportunities.
Teamwork and strategic coordination emerged as central themes, with Ms. Melody Mayamba, Planner from the Eastern Provincial Planning Unit, emphasizing the shift from working in silos to developing joint strategies and shared goals. The introduction of tools to track environmental and social outcomes, such as linking carbon credits to real-life benefits like improved nutrition, was highlighted as a practical step toward sustainable MSME growth. The initiatives discussed at the workshop contribute directly to Zambia’s objectives of achieving universal access to clean energy by 2030 and reducing carbon emissions, aligning with the country’s Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) and National Green Growth Strategy 2024–2030.
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