Empowering Women

as Managers of the Renewable Energy Sector

APEC Project

May - November 2018

What is the project about?

The Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) launches the initiative “Empowering Women as Managers in the Renewable Energy Sector,” a project developed by the United States and implemented by the Renewables Academy AG (RENAC), Nedworc Foundation (NWF) and SD Strategies. Through an ambitious, comprehensive and targeted capacity-building and mentoring program, this project aims to support the accelerated career advancement of women in APEC economies who work in the field of renewable energy. It intends to develop their full personal potential and increase their confidence and skills to become effective employees, decision makers, entrepreneurs and leaders in the public or private sector. Specifically, Empowering Women as Managers in the Renewable Energy Sector seeks to support women’s career development by:

Increasing their knowledge of renewable energy technologies, markets and policy;
Enabling them to develop sound, comprehensive and convincing business plans; and
Facilitating professional exchanges and peer-to-peer mentoring.

Testimonials

"It was a fruitful experience to be part of the programme “Empowering Women as Managers of the Renewable Energy Sector”. The learning experience and the RENAC Online training were superb.”

Jacqueline Sanchez, USA, 2018

“Gaining knowledge with fun and building a network with diverse resources at the same time. Great training experience!”

Fitria Firman, Indonesia, 2018

“Thanks to RENAC and all team members for the implementation of this useful training. Please keep in touch.”

Wanitkorkul Ananya, Thailand, 2018

“The training was full of interactive discussions along with vivid and practical exercises. I feel honored to have been accepted into this women-only programme with various backgrounds and experiences.”

Monika Merdekawati, Indonesia, 2018

Training Program Description

This program combines online training, mentoring program and face-to-face training allowing women the flexibility to access the training materials at a pace and time that is convenient to them. The project consists of three consecutive components. Participants will be selected through a competitive process. The first program phase is a three-month online training, at the end of which participants will take an online exam.

Trainees passing the exam will advance to the second stage, the development of their business plan ideas through professional feedback and the engagement with experienced mentors. Selected women with promising business plan ideas will then progress to the third phase, an intense one week in-person workshop. The week will include further lectures and trainings, business plans pitches to experienced stakeholders, and networking opportunities. An alumni network open to all participants will facilitate continued peer-to-peer engagement and mentoring after the program’s completion.

The initiative will contain of the following cornerstone activities in 2018:

Activity	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sept	Oct	Nov
Online trainings	X	X	X
Development of individual business plans with mentoring from experts	X	X	X	X
Face-to-face trainings					X
Pitching of the business plans					X
Alumni network					X	X

Who can apply?

Practical training grid integration of renewable energy — Photo: Heidi Scherm

Empowering Women as Managers in the Renewable Energy Sector is specifically designed for women holding mid-level career positions in the energy sector in the APEC economies. Applications from women in travel eligible economies are strongly encouraged and participants from travel eligible economies will receive APEC funding for their attendance at the one-week workshop (Chile, China, Indonesia, Malaysia, Mexico, Papua New Guinea, Peru, Philippines, Russia, Thailand and Vietnam).

The typical applicant will have between 6 and 12 years of experience working in the energy sector, including for but not limited to a ministry or other public agency; grid operator; power generation company or supplier or other enterprise providing energy goods or services; academic or lobby or financial institution or NGO working in the energy sector.

Costs

Participation in all online and in-person sessions will be covered by the project. This includes access to online courses, all course material, as well as lunch and coffee breaks during the in-person training.

Participants from the 11 travel-eligible APEC economies¹ who are selected for the one-week workshop will receive funding from APEC for economy-class return airfares and a per diem to cover hotel accommodation, meals and incidentals. Advance payment may be considered upon approval of the APEC Secretariat.

¹Chile, China, Indonesia, Malaysia, Mexico, Papua New Guinea, Peru, Philippines, Russia, Thailand, Vietnam

How to apply - Application closed

Women interested in joining the program are requested to apply through RENAC’s website at using this link on or before 27th May 2018 midnight CET. The application includes a motivation to participate, CV, information on eligibility and qualifications, and initial idea for business idea.

Participants will be selected based on their suitability and the quality of their applications. Applicants must demonstrate that they fulfil all eligibility criteria as outlined above. RENAC will inform candidates via email one week before the first online session. Successful applicants must confirm their participations by sending an email to RENAC within one week after their acceptance. If a candidate fails to confirm her participation, the offer might be transferred to another applicant on the waiting list.

Terms and conditions

If a candidate is accepted for the APEC program and confirms her participation, she is obliged to take part in the entire programme as stipulated by the access conditions. Confirmed participants should be willing to take part in the three month online training program, online exam, mentoring program for business plan development, the face-to-face training and the pitching sessions.