First face-to-face meeting between the ECOWAS Certification Unit and CODINORM in Abidjan

Praia, 05 December 2024
As part of the ECOWAS Sustainable Energy Forum (ESEF 2024), held in Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire, the ECOWAS Sustainable Energy Skills Certification Unit (ECSES) held its first face-to-face meeting with the country's certification focal point, CODINORM (Côte d'Ivoire Normalisation). The meeting took place on 26 November 2024. 

The ECSES delegation was represented by the Coordinator of the Regional Certification Programme, Claudino Mendes, and the Certification Assistant, Maria Furtado. CODINORM's Director of Certification, Elgar KOUAME, Head of Project Department Roland M'BADAMA and two other members of the technical team were present. 

Topics discussed at the meeting 

During the meeting, a number of strategic issues relating to the certification of competences in sustainable energy were discussed: 

ECOWAS Sustainable Energy Skills Certification Programme: 

  • Presentation and analysis of the current status and results of the programme. 
  • Discussion of the steps needed to fully establish ECSES in Côte d'Ivoire. 
Collaboration between CODINORM and ECSES: 

  • Sharing information on the development of the certification programme for energy efficiency professionals, in partnership with ASAP-AfDB. 
  • Discussion on the CODINORM certification programme for renewable energy professionals. 

The meeting also highlighted the key role of the ECOWAS Skills Certification Programme, which seeks to mobilise a skilled workforce in the region. This initiative aims to ensure high standards in the installation of solar photovoltaic systems and foster investor confidence in the renewable energy and energy efficiency sector.