Abidjan, 29–30 April 2026 – More than 300 STEM students gathered at the Amphithéâtre Adama Diawara of Université Félix Houphouët-Boigny for a two-day forum on clean energy, electric mobility, employability, and gender inclusion in West Africa’s energy transition.
Organized by ECREEE in partnership with the Ministry of Transport and Maritime Affairs of Côte d’Ivoire and Université Félix Houphouët-Boigny, with support from United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) and funding from the Global Environment Facility and the International Development Research Centre of Canada, the forum focused on the theme: “Clean Energy and Sustainable Mobility: Inclusion Challenges and Multidisciplinary STEM Training in the ECOWAS Region.”
The event brought together students, policymakers, private sector actors, entrepreneurs and technical experts to discuss the skills, policies and innovations needed to support an inclusive energy transition in West Africa. Anchored in the ECOWAS Vision 2050 for universal energy access and green jobs, discussions covered renewable energy, energy efficiency, the circular economy, electric mobility and STEM employability.
A particular focus was placed on the structural barriers that limit women’s participation and leadership in the sector, and on the need to better align STEM education with the emerging opportunities of the clean energy transition. Representatives from public and private institutions presented the policies, business models and technical solutions shaping the deployment of electric mobility in Côte d’Ivoire and the wider ECOWAS region.
The forum also featured a student pitch competition on clean energy solutions and a live demonstration of electric vehicle charging infrastructure, giving participants practical exposure to technologies shaping the region’s energy future.
The event was organized under ECREEE’s regional initiatives: Integration of Electric Mobility with Renewable Energy Solutions in Côte d’Ivoire (GEF 11042) project and the Women and Clean Energy in West Africa (WOCEWA) project.