Online Reporter
Sifelani Tsiko
Fact Check Editor
Global energy technology firm Schneider Electric and the Schneider Electric Foundation have launched the Energy Transition Innovation Challenge – an initiative designed to equip Zimbabwe’s youth with the skills, knowledge and opportunities required to participate in and lead the country’s energy transition.
This initiative was launched in Ruwa and forms part of Schneider Electric’s global Youth Education and Entrepreneurship (YEE) programme, which focuses on developing future-ready skills in the energy transition and fostering inclusive economic growth.
The two – year Energy Transition Innovation Challenge will be hosted at the Ruwa Vocational Training Centre’s innovation hub and is expected to impact 9 000 young people, with 3 000 participants in its first year and a further 6 000 in the second.
This initiative prioritises inclusivity, targeting young people from underserved and rural communities to ensure that access to opportunity is equitable and far-reaching.
It also aligns with Schneider Electric’s broader ambition to empower three million young people worldwide by 2030 with access to education, training, and entrepreneurship opportunities.
Partners said the Energy Transition Innovation Challenge will be realised through a hybrid model combining digital learning and in-person training initially at the central innovation hub and similar hubs in the second year of the programme.
They also said it integrates Schneider Electric’s Energy Transition course, which forms part of the Get into Energy Transition curriculum, which equips participants with foundational skills and knowledge required to progress towards jobs in renewable energy.
It is supported with complementary content from UNICEF’s Futuremakers initiative that focuses on design thinking, entrepreneurship, and project management for inclusive economic participation.
“This Energy Transition Innovation Challenge will provide young Zimbabweans with the capabilities to thrive in today’s and the future’s energy landscape, while contributing meaningfully to sustainable development and economic resilience,” said Ravishka Jairam, Youth Education & Entrepreneurship Programme Leader at Schneider Electric.
“We look forward to working with The BOOST Foundation on this truly exciting initiative.”
Said Tinashe Mushonga, executive director, BOOST: “Through this partnership with Schneider Electric Foundation, we are creating an ecosystem where young people are not only equipped with green, technical and entrepreneurial skills, but are also empowered to become innovators, problem-solvers and job creators within Zimbabwe’s growing green economy.
“At BOOST, we believe that young people are central to driving sustainable development, and the Energy Transition Innovation Challenge provides a practical platform for them to transform ideas into impactful community solutions.”
The French energy technology firm Schneider Electric manufactures electrical distribution equipment, including transformers and switchgear, while the broader Zimbabwe business spans energy management, automation and digital infrastructure.
“This programme is about creating real, tangible pathways, moving from learning to doing, from ideas to implementation, and from potential to impact,” said Jaram.
