Scale up Capacity Building

The introduction of a new industry coincides with learning of new skills within almost all organizations involved.   For the project developers, it is the knowledge of a technology, the closing of a deal with the national utility, and the preparation of a bankable proposal among others. For the financiers, it is the analysis of the risks. For the utility and the end-user it is the quality of the product offered. In the initial stages of the market uptake, the capacity building initiatives are often conducted on project by project basis. This takes time and is one of the reasons for an often slower than anticipated uptake of the industry. With the market growing, the industry should start to bundle capacity building efforts including: technical training for hundreds of installers of systems through industry associations; formal training with integration of curriculum in regular programs; a “innovation solicitation” process to stimulate further market growth with the key members of the industry; and, establishment of a framework for wholesale capacity building initiatives. These kinds of initiatives could train quickly thousands of employees.

A successful stand alone system program needs well-qualified managers and technicians. Local recruitment is advisable since people from the community who are known and trusted are more effective than workers from a central agency located outside the area. This, however, will often necessitate extensive training. Managers need to be proficient in business, marketing, and financial operations and to have access to information, technical assistance and ongoing training to update their skills. Adequate salaries and benefits are also required to retain qualified managers in rural areas. In addition, technicians must be trained (and given periodic refresher courses) in order to assure responsive repair and maintenance services – an often underemphasized aspect of stand alone system programs. Technicians also need appropriate tools and transportation as well as locally available supplies of spare parts.