Renewable Energy Advocacy Leadership Program for future leaders

About Hivos

Hivos is an international organization that seeks new solutions to persistent global issues. With smart projects in the right places, we oppose discrimination, inequality, abuse of power and the unsustainable use of our planet’s resources. Counterbalance alone, however, is not enough. Our primary focus is achieving structural change. This is why we cooperate with innovative businesses, citizens and their organizations. We share a dream with them of sustainable economies and inclusive societies.

About Project

You are creative, curious, brave, involved and willing to take action to transform yourself and the world around you.

You want to find out how the lives of millions of people can be improved through green and inclusive energy access.

You are keen to learn how to navigate and influence power structures, listen, reflect and represent the needs of a community and engage people in issues to create a better future.

Then this might be for you!

Green and Inclusive Energy is a unique program run by Hivos that aims to create advocacy leaders in the area of improved renewable energy access.

We believe that if people have affordable and reliable access to decentralised renewable energy sources, they can transform their life. There are many challenges in making this happen but the main one is creating political will and getting sufficient resources.

This is why we need more young leaders who have the skills, knowledge and attitude to advocate together with their communities to create the change needed. From 6-11 October we will bring young future leaders from Zimbabwe, Tanzania and Kenya together in Arusha, Tanzania for a 5-day intensive course.

Details about the program

If you want to make a difference in the world, you will discover that change starts from within. And that’s where we will start. Then we will move to investigating and experiencing the economic and social benefits renewable energy access can bring, understand what is behind an advocacy campaign and provide you with the skills to master public speaking and lobbying. After the face to face training we will ask you to run an advocacy effort to practice and cement your skills and share your stories in a follow up meeting. The top participant(s) will be able to bring their advocacy to an international forum of energy and development policy makers

This program takes an action based rather than a theoretical approach as you learn best by doing and sharing. This means you will spend almost no time looking at power points or sitting behind desks.

Have we sparked your interest?

Do you fit the bill?

We are looking for individuals from Kenya and Tanzania, up to 35 years old, who:

•       Strongly believe in making a positive difference in their lives and the lives of others.
•       Want to (re)discover their passions and dreams.
•       Want to discover how affordable, reliable, green and inclusive energy access can transform communities.

Are open and positive towards:

•       Taking initiative and positive action.
•       Uncertainty, learning, and change.
•       Risk taking and perseverance.
•       Care for community and spending time with others in good and bad times.

Are willing to:

• Spend 5 days away and concentrate their attention solely on the program.
• Bring a small challenge or problem they have observed in their community and after the course put the learning into practice by running an advocacy effort on the challenge.

Female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply.

Please send your application to [email protected] with the subject RE Advocacy Leadership Program.

Your application should consist of 1) a max. 2 page resume and 2) a max. 2 page essay on a challenge you see in your community that is connected to accessing reliable, affordable and sustainable energy.  What is the challenge you have observed in your community that you would like to address? Why would you like to address it? Do you see any relationship between the challenge and energy? What is your vision on how the community would look different if it was addressed?

Only successful applicants will be informed by the end of August.