The UN Development Programme has celebrated the graduation of its first cohort from a newly launched energy efficiency skills initiative. A total of 75 students from Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) colleges in Mpumalanga have earned certification as Energy Performance Practitioners under the Just Energy Transition framework.
The programme was designed to bridge the skills gap in energy efficiency, targeting young people from historically disadvantaged and rural communities. It involved six months of combined theory, hands-on training, and work-integrated learning. Graduates were taught how to assess, audit, and improve how buildings use energy—skills expected to be in high demand as South Africa accelerates efforts to reduce carbon emissions and improve sustainability.
Gender inclusion was a strong feature of this cohort: out of the 75 participants, 50 were women. This follows earlier phases of the programme in Limpopo, where young women were trained to install, repair, and maintain solar photovoltaic systems. To date, nearly 200 students have gone through TVET skills training under this programme across two provinces.
Stakeholders point to the programme’s dual value: on one hand, it offers young people pathways into green jobs; on the other, it builds technical capacity that supports South Africa’s energy goals—especially the shift towards cleaner, more efficient systems.
TVET colleges, together with partners such as sector training authorities and international development agencies, played a central role in ensuring graduates emerge ready to take up real-world challenges. Internships and workplace learning opportunities reinforce that readiness, creating a more direct link between education and employment.
For South Africa, where youth unemployment remains a serious challenge, this programme offers a model of how social impact projects can deliver on multiple fronts: environmental sustainability, job creation, gender inclusion, and skills development.
