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EBRD launches inclusive apprenticeship program in the energy sector in Jordan

Posted on by darion

The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) has launched an apprenticeship program aimed at supporting an inclusive energy sector in Jordan. Aimed at young professionals aspiring to a career in the energy sector, this initiative is funded by the Swiss State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO) and developed in collaboration with Al Hussein University of Technology (HTU) and the National Electric Power Company (NEPCO) Training Center (ETC ).

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The Apprenticeship Program provides on-the-job training to help young people transition from education to employment. It is integrated into HTU’s electrical and energy engineering degree programs. The first cohort of 32 students completed an eight-month internship, which included three months of technical coursework and five months of on-site rotations at NEPCO field sites, focusing on power systems.

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Earlier in 2021, the EBRD supported NEPCO with a USD 100 million financing package to address working capital constraints by replacing short-term debt financing acquired during the height of the Covid-19 crisis.

This apprenticeship initiative forms part of the EBRD’s Country Strategy for Jordan (2020-25), which prioritizes economic inclusion through improved vocational training for women and youth. It is also in line with the EBRD’s Memorandum of Understanding with HTU, signed in 2022, which aims to increase access to skills in the science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) sectors.

The internship ending event was attended by Gretchen Biery, EBRD Regional Director for the Eastern Mediterranean; Emilija Georgieva, Swiss Ambassador to Jordan; Amjad Rawashdeh, CEO of NEPCO; Dr. Ismael Al Hinti, President of HTU; and Lutfi Al Sharif, vice president of HTU.

NEPCO, the owner and operator of Jordan’s electricity transmission system, plays a key role in the country’s renewable energy transformation. The company leverages private capital and expertise to leverage Jordan’s wind and solar resources.

Since 2012, the EBRD has invested over €2 billion in 71 projects in Jordan, 71% of which went to the private sector. This includes financial support to the Jordanian banking sector in the form of loans to micro, small and medium-sized enterprises, as well as subordinated debt and trade finance facilities.