SDA Bocconi and RES4Africa together to train the energy experts of tomorrow

The program trained 59 high-level participants who are professionals and managers from public institutions, national authorities, energy companies, implementing agencies, research institutions and civil society organizations from 13 African countries over the course of 10 days in Milan, Italy. One week was spent at SDA Bocconi and another at Politecnico Graduate School of Management.

The program was carried out in partnership with Enel Foundation, the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation and the European Investment Bank. Speakers included Michele Calcaterra (Professor at SDA Bocconi), Salvatore Bernabei (CEO of Enel Green Power and President of RES4Africa), Ernesto Ciorra (Chief Innovability Officer of Enel and General Manager of Enel Foundation), Christian Zulberti (Deputy Director of Enel Foundation), Roberto Vigotti (Secretary General of RES4Africa Foundation), Matteo Giacomo Di Castelnuovo (Professor at SDA Bocconi), and Carmelo Cocuzza (Head of Unit, Technical Assistance Operations in Africa, Caribbean, Pacific, Asia and Latin America at EIB).

Salvatore Bernabei, directly addressed the attendees, stating that they “fave the mission and target to address energy poverty in Africa”. Mr. Bernabei also encouraged the participants to work on their countries’ sustainability: “If you are here, it means you want to set the basis for a new future of your countries and communities. I want you to know you are not alone: you can rely on RES4Africa. Together, we can mark the end of a course, and the beginning of a new, brighter era for all the African continent”.

The goal of ATC (Advanced Training Course) was to enhance local ownership of sustainable projects, opening new REs-related job opportunities and improving local skills. Participants attended lectures that offered a comprehensive overview of the main topics regarding Africa’s energy transition. In addition to the lectures from managers, professors and technicians, they visited CESI SpA headquarters and had the chance to see the Duomo.

“The ATC is the living example of the importance of capacity-building” said Roberto Vigotti. “Africa’s energy transition can be truly unleashed only by a managerial class of skillful and motivated professionals, and the tools that this program can provide are fundamental to ensure more equal, sustainable, and inclusive societies in African countries.”

In addition, Carmelo Cocuzza affirmed that “today, in the framework of the ATC, engineers, private investors, academia and foundations gathered for a common goal: fighting against climate change. It is only through a joint and coordinated approach, as the one we are witnessing here, that we will achieve such an aim.”“For Enel Foundation, the ATC is a great opportunity to share what we have learnt and to improve our understanding of the needs, culture and context of the African people. It also represents a great opportunity for shared value creation to enhance our understanding of the world as Enel Foundation and for the students to acquire better knowledge on energy,” said Ernesto Ciorra.

SDA Bocconi School of Management