International Development Grant
Solar Technology for the West African Economic and Monetary Union
Project Number: CA-3-S065678001
Status: Closed
Country/Region:
Maximum Contribution: $2,116,720.00
Start Date: April 05, 2013
End Date: November 30, 2018
Duration: 5.7 years
Project Description
The purpose of this project is to establish the Institute for Training in Applied Solar Technology (IFTSA) at the University of Ouagadougou thereby creating a regional centre of excellence in advanced solar technologies in West Africa. It supports the training of 500 advanced technicians and 100 engineers of which at least 20% are women. The initiative aims to increase the technical knowledge and teaching capacities of staff of the IFTSA and to build links between this centre and the private sector involved in the production of solar technologies. Ultimately the project’s goal is to help reduce poverty and improve the quality of life of people living in the poorest rural communities and the poorest communities close to urban areas in the eight member states of the West African Economic and Monetary Union by encouraging countries to optimize the use of solar energy expediting their economic growth. The project also contributes to environmental sustainability through the promotion of clean renewable energy.
Expected Results
The expected intermediate outcomes for this project include: increased effectiveness of regional institutions to train qualified human resources in solar technology applied in the countries concerned; increased use of solar energy in the key areas of national life (health education food security and economy) of the countries concerned.
Progress & Results Achieved
Results achieved as of the end of the project (November 2018) include: (1) the development of training materials lead to new practical assignments; (2) the delivery of 44 licentiate courses (2-year licentiate: “technician” title; 3-year licentiate: “senior technician” title) and 24 Master’s course (2 years in the Master’s program: “engineer” title) each including two job-entry internships; (3) 27 women and 151 men have graduated with either a professional or higher technical degree; (4) 20 women and 88 men have graduated as engineers; (5) 95% of the 227 of men and all 47 women graduates were employed in their field; and (6) nearly 32 000 people (of which 16 500 were women and 15 500 were men) use solar energy in the communities that have benefited from the pilot projects. In Burkina Faso maternities and clinics in 6 villages now have solar power (benefiting 12 284 men and 13 305 women); in Mali 3 villages were equipped with lighting and solar pumping for drinking water (benefiting 2 400 men and 2 600 women); in Senegal 2 villages were solar powered by household kits (benefiting 528 572 men and women). These pilot projects continue to benefit local partners to improve and adapt solar technologies to the Sahelian environment.
Key Information
Executing Agency:
Ecole Polytechnique Montreal
Reporting Organization:
Global Affairs Canada
Program:
YFMInternaAssistPartnershp&Programing Br
Last Modified:
September 19, 2025
Development Classifications
DAC Sector:
Aid Type: Other technical assistance
Collaboration: Bilateral
Finance Type: Aid grant excluding debt reorganisation
Selection Mechanism:
Pre-APP