The University of Eswatini (UNESWA) Centre for Sustainable Energy (CSER) has successfully completed the rollout of the first cohort of the Capacity Building Certificate Program on Minigrids Development. In an interview following the completion of the final module, Professor Simiso Mkhonta, coordinator of the training program, described the milestone as a crucial step toward bridging the green skills gap in the country—a gap that has been a significant obstacle to the rapid advancement of the Green Energy Agenda. He also praised the Africa Minigrids Program (AMP) for fully sponsoring the training, which promotes digital knowledge management for minigrids in Eswatini.
Commenting on prospective students’ responses, Mkhonta noted strong interest in the program, reflected in the 1,188 applications received in July—just two weeks after the call for applications was announced. He also highlighted the diverse profile of applicants to the in-person and online classes, which included representatives from government departments, development finance institutions (DFIs), non-governmental organizations (NGOs), regulatory authorities, police services, mobile companies, media houses, and more.
A significant number of self-employed and unemployed youths also participated in the program, enhancing their potential to engage with solar technologies in current or future business ventures. Participation among women was notably high, underscoring their growing role in the renewable energy sector.
The Capacity Building Certificate Program on Minigrids Development is part of AMP’s Digital Knowledge Management initiative. The first cohort attracted applicants not only from Eswatini but also from South Africa, Nigeria, Botswana, and Liberia. The online cohort commenced on 1 October, following the same curriculum as the in-person classes.
Why This Minigrids Finance Course is Worth It: Stories from Two Students
Siphiwo Shongwe
“I love upskilling myself to stay relevant in the ever-evolving financial services industry I work in.”
Siphiwo Shongwe works as a credit officer at the Eswatini Development Finance Corporation FINCORP which provides access to financial services to Small and Medium Enterprises and individuals in the Kingdom of Eswatini. He loves upskilling himself to stay relevant in the ever-evolving financial services industry he works in. He recently completed a Capacity Building Program in Minigrids Development training course that was rolled out by the Africa Minigrids Program AMP in partnership with the University of Eswatini UNESWA’s Centre for Sustainable Energy Research CSER.
He is excited about having participated in the program’s first cohort as he outlined in a recent interview on the course.
Q: What do you do for a living, are you currently employed?
A: I work for FINCORP as a credit officer, and I am responsible for appraising loan applications.
Q: What motivated you to apply for the Capacity Building Program in Minigrids Development?
A: I wanted to have a better understanding of solar energy and have a background on the capital and operational expenditure for solar energy. This is because of the high interest that has been shown in one of our loan products by sugarcane farmers from the Lubombo region who are largely moving from using the national power grid to using solar energy.
Q: How did you feel when you were told that you have qualified for the course?
A: I received the notification rather late, so I was worried about getting clearance from work to go and attend the course for 6 weeks. Fortunately, I was given clearance at work without a problem.
Q: What were your highlights of the course e.g. favourite module and why?
A: I enjoyed all of the modules, but the demand side management module really stood out for me together with the module which underlined how to set up a minigrid.
Q: How do you feel about the participation of youths in the renewable energy sector?
A: I think youths should participate in the renewable energy sector and get opportunities to learn about and be exposed to viable renewable energy sources in their jurisdictions.
Q: What do you think can be improved about the Capacity Building Program in Minigrids Development course?
A: I think more time has to be given to practicals in the program so that the students can spend more time having a hands-on experience in the field, if resources permit.
Q: Would you recommend this course to anyone?
A: Yes, I would recommend this course to anyone, given the depth of the information that is shared during the training.
Phumelele Mkhonta
“Journalism thrives on accurate reporting and that is what motivated me to apply for the course.”
Phumelele Mkhonta is an environmental journalist in Eswatini. She has a deep passion for environmental matters and is even nicknamed The Green Girl by most of her close associates. True to her passion, she participated in the Capacity Building Program in Minigrids Development that was recently completed at the University of Eswatini’s (UNESWA) Centre for Sustainable Energy Research (CSER)
Upon completion of the training program, we stole a moment with her for a short interview on her course trajectory from the beginning to the end. This is what she had to say.
Q: What do you do for a living, are you currently employed?
A: Currently, I am an environmental journalist for one of the renowned newspapers in the country. I took up the job in line with my deep-seated personal mantra which is ‘fostering sustainability through the pen’. I mainly write about climate change, biodiversity, green technologies, energy, conservation and everything environment.
Q: What motivated you to apply for the course?
A: Journalism thrives on accurate reporting and that is what motivated me to apply for the course. I wished to expand my knowledge of energy- renewable and clean energy to be specific. I saw the course as a great opportunity to learn from professionals in Eswatini.
Q: How did you feel when you were told that you have qualified for the course?
A: I was exhilarated and somehow in disbelief. It was an affirmation that being a journalist in a space which seeks to educate on environmental issues, including transitioning to clean energy, was a solid venture.
Q: What were your highlights of the course e.g. favourite module and why?
A: My highlights of the course were learning about the dynamics of assembling minigrids effectively- this was completely new to me as it was technical and yet very eye-opening. Another highlight of the course was learning about green businesses, that strive to balance sustainability and profitability I found this to be very interesting.
Q: Do you think battery-powered minigrids are feasible renewable energy models for Eswatini and why?
A: I think they are feasible renewable energy models, as they are easily accessible for emaSwati in remote areas. Minigrids are also cost-effective as they can be deployed quickly and according to demand. Most importantly, minigrids can help close the gap in unemployment and create jobs by taking people up for installation and maintenance roles for example. Lastly, minigrids can effectively address energy challenges in Eswatini while promoting renewable energy use.
Q: How do you feel about women’s participation in the renewable energy sector?
A: Women’s participation in the renewable energy sector is important as it contributes positively to SDG 5, which promotes gender equality. It is important for women to participate in sectors where they can help improve livelihoods, including renewable energy.
Q: What do you think can be improved about the course?
A: The course was implemented perfectly, and the instructors were on top of their game. The only improvement would be for the more technical courses to be given more time and for practicals to be done more.
Q: Would you recommend this course to anyone?
A: I would definitely recommend the course to people- especially those who are invested in climate justice and clean energy.