On 8 December through 12 December 2015, the Clean Energy Solutions Center provided an energy efficiency assessment and audit capacity building workshop in Praia, Cabo Verde. There were a total of 31 participants from the public and private sector that included representatives from all 15 West African countries. The training targeted male and female electrical technicians and engineers working in the energy sector seeking to start or expand into the business of providing services to improve energy efficiency in buildings. This training is a component of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) countries’ implementation strategies to meet their National Energy Efficiency Action Plans (NEEAP) goals. Of note, a third of the trainees were women, which demonstrates the impact of ECOWAS’ gender mainstreaming in energy access policy. The training was delivered in collaboration with ECOWAS’ Center for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency (ECREEE).

See also: Adopting Gender-Responsive Development Strategies in West Africa