Partner name:                             Global Village Energy Partnership (GVEP)  

Title of Placement:                      Developing Energy Enterprises Project East Africa

Location:                                      Kenya

Start date:                                    1^st July 2009

Duration:                                      6 months

No. of volunteers:                        1 

A 6-month placement supporting GVEP International’s project to increase the availability and quality of energy products and services in Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda through the development of micro and small energy enterprises. 

What work will I be doing?

You will be working to support GVEP International’s ‘Developing Energy Enterprises Project (DEEP) East Africa project, which aims to enable development of a sustainable and widespread industry of micro and small energy enterprises providing energy services and employment in rural and peri-urban areas of Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania.  

Based in Nairobi, you will be involved in the research and training aspect of the project. This will involve researching energy technology service providers in Kenya, working with partner institutions to learn about the local and national context of the programme, and providing input to the technical and research training programs for Energy Enterprises.

You will also be required to visit project sites and write up case studies and visibility materials for the dissemination of the experiences gained through articles, reports, and websites. 

Who will I be working for?

GVEP International is a UK charity that aims to reduce poverty through accelerated access to modern energy services.

It consists of a global partnership of development agencies, governments, non-governmental organizations, the private sector and academia. With the principle "Accelerating Access to Energy", GVEP International mobilises and supports partners to develop and promote modern energy services to reduce both energy and income poverty. It promotes best practices, supports the development of new technologies, facilitates access to finance, and provides access to information to its partners. It also actively fights climate change and provides the tools its partners require to adapt to changing global conditions.

GVEP International is based in London, with regional offices in India and Kenya and currently has over 2,000 partners across more than 120 countries. 

What skills or experience do I need?

Required characteristics:

• Practically minded
• A university graduate, preferably with energy sector technical knowledge
• Good writing skills

• Fluent in English
• Experience in developing countries