Sierra Leone News: UNIDO Trains Dozens of Women on Renewable Energy & Gender
By Alusine Sesay
The United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) on Monday August 26, 2019, commenced a five-day workshop on renewable energy and gender with the theme: “Women and Sustainable Energy in Sierra Leone”.
The training which is held at the Bare Foot College, Konta Line, Port Loko District attracted over 40 women including managers of growth centres across the country.
The training is organised by the UNIDO in collaboration with the Ministry of Health and the Global Environment facility (GEF).
In her remarks at the official opening ceremony, UNIDO Country Representative Mariatu Swaray said that the training of women on renewable energy and gender is essential to open opportunities and improve the economy.
She said that women are greatly affected by energy poverty, adding that the training on to use of renewable energy will create a change in women. She said that the training will empower women to become catalysts for development and increase opportunities for women.
Madam Swaray said that UNIDO has constructed eleven growth centres across the country. She said the provision of solar energy to these growth centres has enhanced the capacity of these facilities to increase production. She said that training managers of these growth centres will enhance their capacities. She maintained that, if you invested in women’s development, you have invested in the future of the nation.
She registered UNIDO’s commitment to supporting women’s development.
The Bo, Kenema and Pujehun growth centre managers applauded UNIDO for opportunity accorded them and for strengthening their growth centres with renewable energy, which they said had enhanced their capacity to operate long hours to produce variety of products. They said UNIDO has been very supportive to women.
