from PEDRO AGOSTO in Luanda, Angola
Angola Bureau
LUANDA, (CAJ News) – DP World has expanded its Solar Mamas initiative into Angola, marking the first time rural women from the country have participated in the renewable energy training programme run with Barefoot College International (BCI).
Four women from Quilenda municipality in Kwanza Sul province have completed a three-month solar engineering course at BCI’s Training Academy in Dakar, Senegal.
The programme equips participants with practical skills to install, operate and maintain solar lighting systems, enabling them to bring reliable electricity to off-grid communities.
The Angolan trainees represent the villages of Quipungo, Songoriapemba, Massange and Kazombo. Selected in collaboration with local communities and DP World Luanda, they were chosen for their willingness to enter a male-dominated technical field and their commitment to driving development in their villages.
With the addition of Angola, DP World has now supported 32 women across sub-Saharan Africa through the Solar Mamas programme, which focuses on training rural women as solar technicians and community energy entrepreneurs.
Participants also receive basic entrepreneurship training, allowing them to establish micro-enterprises and generate income by providing solar services locally.
The training, delivered between September and December 2025, reflects DP World’s broader sustainability strategy, which prioritises women’s empowerment, education and access to clean energy in the communities where the logistics group operates.
Esha Mansingh, Head of Corporate Affairs and Sustainability for sub-Saharan Africa at DP World, said the initiative supports inclusive development while addressing energy poverty. She noted that the company is proud to have enabled 32 women to complete the programme to date.
Barefoot College International highlighted the development impact of the initiative as around one billion people globally still lack access to electricity, particularly in rural environments.
The Angola project marks the start of a long-term partnership aimed at supporting clean energy access, economic resilience and inclusive growth in Kwanza Sul and beyond.
– CAJ News