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UNIVERSITY OF NAIROBI
COLLEGE OF AGRICULTURE AND VETERINARY SCIENCES
WANGARI MAATHAI INSTITUTE FOR PEACE AND ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES 

Contact: WANGARI MAATHAI INSTITUTE (WMI)
+254 20 250 6448, +254 721376 186
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE April 16th, 2015

 NEWS RELEASE

wPOWER Hub leads an African Delegation to India for an India–Africa exchange on sustainable clean energy entrepreneurship

Nairobi, Kenya – The wPOWER Hub of the Wangari Maathai Institute (WMI) of the University of Nairobi is leading a 24-member team from Nigeria, Kenya, Rwanda and Tanzania to India as part of an India –Africa exchange facilitated by the U.S. Department of State.  This exchange visit will focus on experiential learning of the major domestic energy opportunities and technologies, including solar and clean cooking solutions.   The team will also experience the work at the grassroots through visits to the field activities of Swayam Shikshan Prayog (SSP) and witnessing a Training of Trainers (ToT) session in and around Pune, India.   This will be the second program of its kind, the first having been held in Kenya in July, 2014.

While in India, the team will attend the wPOWER global partnership forum, sponsored by USAID India and Swayam Shikshan Prayog (SSP).  SSP is a learning and development organization that builds platforms and partnerships for grassroots women, in renewable energy.  The forum will be held in New Delhi at the India Habitat Center on April 16^th-17^th.  Over 100 women entrepreneurs and climate, gender & energy leaders will convene to discuss the pivotal role played by women in last‐mile distribution of clean technologies, celebrate their successes and share experiences about overcoming their barriers to success.

As part of the India-Africa exchange, the team will also visit the Headquarters of The Energy and Resource Institute (TERI), TERI University and TERI Gram in India where they will learn and experience best practices in Clean Energy Entrepreneurship and training with special focus on solar technology, biomass energy, gasification and biofuels.

During the forum, Ms. Wanjira Mathai, Director of the wPOWER Hub, & Chair of the Green Belt Movement (GBM) will speak during the opening plenary and participate in a panel discussion on Leveraging Women’s Leadership & Networks for Inclusive & Sustainable Development. Prof. Kiama Gitahi, Director of WMI, will speak on forging partnerships and the role of Institutional stakeholders in strengthening women entrepreneurs, their capacities and networks through multi-stakeholder partnerships. Other speakers will include grassroot women entrepreneurs from Nigeria, Uganda, Kenya, Rwanda and Tanzania.

Other prominent speakers expected to participate in the program include Mr. John Beed (USAID Mission Director, India), Ms. Varshajoshi (I.A.S, Joint Secretary (MNRE), Government of India), Ms. Randi Davis (Director, Gender Team, UNDP), Ms. Prema Gopalan (Director, SSP), and Ms. Sudha Setty (Country Representative in India for the Global Alliance for Clean Cookstoves).

About wPOWER Hub in Kenya

The U.S. Department of State, together with parallel support from the MacArthur Foundation, created a wPOWER Hub at the Wangari Maathai Institute (WMI), founded by the late Nobel Laureate Wangari Maathai, at the University of Nairobi in Kenya. The new wPOWER Hub builds an evidence base on women, energy access and climate solutions; holds Training of Trainers (ToT) workshops; facilitates African and Indian women entrepreneur and leadership exchanges to build a network of women climate leaders, and build public awareness. The Department of State launched the Partnership on Women’s Entrepreneurship in Renewable Energy (wPOWER) in January 2013 which aims to empower more than 8,000 women clean energy entrepreneurs across East Africa, Nigeria and India who will deliver clean energy access to more than 3.5 million people over the next three years.

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