AMP Ethiopia, through UNDP and with funding from the Global Environment Facility (GEF), recently celebrated the graduation of 50 engineers from its hands-on minigrid training, a key milestone in advancing the country’s clean energy transition. Hosted in partnership with the Ministry of Water and Energy (MoWE) and the Addis Ababa Institute of Technology (AAiT), the training equipped participants with practical skills in minigrid design, installation, operation, maintenance, and sustainable business models.
The initiative addresses a critical need. Over 56 million Ethiopians, primarily in rural areas, still lack electricity, despite government efforts to expand access. Ethiopia’s National Electrification Program (2019) aims for universal electricity access by 2025, with 35% of new connections delivered through off-grid solutions like solar minigrids. By strengthening local technical capacity, AMP Ethiopia helps reduce the learning curve, speed up deployment, and expand access to affordable, renewable energy, supporting national targets and global COP28 goals of tripling renewable capacity and doubling energy efficiency by 2030.
In line with AMP Ethiopia’s focus on inclusion, 23 of the 50 participants were women. Graduates gained technical expertise and explored business modeling and cooperative approaches, equipping them to lead projects that transform communities.
One participant, Netsanet Taye, reflected: “What I learned in the training—from design to installation and business modeling—enabled me to establish my own solar minigrid company. My capstone project was designing a minigrid for a rural community, bringing clean electricity that can improve livelihoods and create opportunities.”
Since the training began, AMP Ethiopia has supported over 0.6 MW of solar photovoltaic capacity at pilot sites, benefiting households, schools, health clinics, and businesses. These projects validate technical designs, refine business strategies, and strengthen institutional and financial capacity, laying the foundation for scalable minigrid deployment across Ethiopia.
AMP Ethiopia continues to work closely with government partners, financial institutions, and the private sector to strengthen policies, improve financing mechanisms, and foster sustainable market ecosystems. Through training, demonstration projects, and technical support, AMP Ethiopia, funded by GEF, empowers local engineers and communities to drive Ethiopia toward universal, renewable, and inclusive energy access.
Watch the full graduation highlights here:
Learn more about AMP Ethiopia’s efforts: