The official launch ceremony for the preparatory training course for certification of skills in off-grid solar photovoltaic installations (ECSES Certification) took place on Monday, May 26, 2025, in Allada, Benin. The event brought together several officials, including Mr. Assan Todéman, Director General of Energy Planning and Rural Electrification, representing the Benin Ministry of Energy, Water, and Mines, and Ms. Sonia de Souza, Capacity Building Advisor, representing GIZ.
This initiative is part of the Fund for Regional Stabilisation and Development (FRSD) within ECOWAS member states, led by the ECOWAS Commission in collaboration with the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ).
Speaking on behalf of the Executive Director of ECREEE, Dr. Mawufemo Modjinou, Senior Program Officer, highlighted the technical challenges of ECSES certification as a regional standard guaranteeing the quality and reliability of photovoltaic systems. He praised the commitment of the Beninese authorities and technical partners, particularly GIZ, which is implementing the technical cooperation component of the ECOWAS FRSD.
Ms. Sonia de Souza, for her part, emphasized the inclusive dimension of the project, which aims to promote the integration of young people and women into the dynamics of sustainable development, particularly in rural areas. She stressed that ECSES certification is a lever for professional integration and socio-economic stabilization, particularly for rural communities, paving the way for a structured and promising professional future.
In his speech, Mr. Assan Todéman, Director General of Energy Planning and Rural Electrification and also Chairman of the National Certification Committee, recalled that this training represents a strategic opportunity to equip young professionals with the skills they need to actively participate in the energy transition in Benin and the ECOWAS region.
The five-day training course brings together participants from the Collines, Donga, and Atacora departments, which are the FRSD’s areas of intervention in Benin. It is structured around seven modules alternating between theory and practice: installation safety, solar energy basics, design and sizing, component installation, wiring and commissioning, maintenance and troubleshooting, and exam preparation.
This training aims to equip participants with the skills they need not only to pass the certification exam, but also to build a sustainable career as certified installation technicians at the regional level.
As part of the project “Promoting the WE4F nexus through capacity building in ECOWAS communities,” funded by the FRSD, a training session is currently underway at the Songhai Center in Porto-Novo, bringing together 31 beneficiaries to explore green entrepreneurship and renewable energy.
The activities currently underway in Benin will also be implemented in Togo and Guinea-Bissau as part of the Fund for Regional Stabilisation and Development within ECOWAS member states.