The
Public Utility Regulatory Authority (PURA) and the National Enterprise
Development Initiative (NEDI) on Tuesday signed a memorandum of understanding
at the PURA Conference room aiming to introduce renewable energy in businesses
across the country.
The
project between the two sister institutions was the culmination of a series of
efforts from both the authority and NEDI towards key programmes aimed at
streamlining youth and women participation in productive sectors in the
country.
The
US$100,000 project dubbed ‘’Youth and Women Renewable Energy Entrepreneurship
Fund’’ is going to last for 18 months. It started in March 2017 and will end in
September 2018.
The Director General of PURA, Ansumana Sanneh,
speaking at the signing ceremony, said the project would promote youth
employment, especially graduate youth from vocational training colleges,
entrepreneurship through ownership of renewable businesses and overcome
financial barriers.
‘’PURA
through the renewable energy fund were contracted by GEF/UNIDO to set up Women
and Youth Renewable Energy Entrepreneurship Fund aimed at the introduction of
Renewable Energy in their business,’’ he said.
Mr
Sanneh said in addition to the grant financing provided to the worthy
beneficiaries, there would also be training on both the business and technical
aspects of the projects conducted.
‘’NEDI
becomes a key partner in this endeavor to ensure that the necessary skills are
transferred to beneficiaries for long-term sustainability’’.
Mr
Sanneh acknowledged the collaborative partnership and support from GEF/UNIDO.
The
Director General of NEDI, Buba Touray, said the project was one of many that
NEDI was undertaking with other companies to improve the use of renewable
energy in The Gambia.
The
Women and Youth Entrepreneurship Fund, in partnership with GEF/UNIDO, will
focus on productive sectors of the Gambian economy like agriculture, poultry
and ICT.
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