Empowering Sierra Leone’s renewable energy transition through the new EREVETS project
Maastricht School of Management – Maastricht University (MSM-UM) is pleased to announce the awarding of a new Erasmus+ Capacity Building in VET initiative: EREVETS: Empowering the Renewable Energy Sector through VET Support in Sierra Leone. The project will run for three years and aims to strengthen the technical and entrepreneurial skills needed for Sierra Leone’s green transition.
Sierra Leone has set ambitious goals for universal electrification and green growth. However, the country faces a shortage of skilled professionals capable of supporting renewable energy deployment. EREVETS addresses this challenge by improving the capacity of vocational and higher education institutions to deliver quality training in renewable energy technologies, entrepreneurship, and inclusive workforce development.
The project is coordinated by MSM-UM and brings together Politeknika Txorierri from Spain, Eastern Technical University of Sierra Leone, Freetown Polytechnic and the University of Sierra Leone – Fourah Bay College. The Renewable Energy Association of Sierra Leone supports the project as a strategic private sector partner, ensuring strong links between industry needs and training provision.
EREVETS will work on four core priorities:
- upgrading renewable energy curricula and teaching practices through staff training, digital learning, and investment in training facilities;
- aligning vocational programs with labour market demand and national policy priorities by establishing two regional Triple Helix platforms that bring together government, education institutions and industry stakeholders;
- embedding entrepreneurship education in VET so graduates can create clean energy start-ups and contribute to job creation;
- promoting gender inclusion by supporting female students through mentorship, staff training, and institutional policies to improve retention and career pathways.
By combining curriculum development, teacher training, industry collaboration, internships and entrepreneurship support, the project positions Sierra Leone’s VET sector as a driver of sustainable energy access and economic growth. It will also contribute to broader EU priorities in green skills development, youth employment, gender equality and the Global Gateway agenda.
EREVETS builds on MSM’s long-standing engagement in Sierra Leone, including previous programmes on WASH education and youth entrepreneurship, and draws on lessons from related Erasmus+ initiatives in Africa.
The project will be led by Stefano Locatelli together with Dr. Julius Gatune Kariuki and will run from 1 January 2026 until December 2028.
This publication was produced with the financial support of the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA). Neither the European Union nor EACEA can be held responsible for them.
MSM's Expert Centre on Emerging Economies
This institutional collaboration project is part of MSM's Expert Centre on Emerging Economies. The department is an expert centre on sustainable private sector development in emerging and developing markets. We capacitate managers and professionals from government, private sector, NGOs, and post-secondary education in Africa, Asia, Middle East, and Latin America. We offer consultancy and customized training programs, and we manage complex projects in key sectors, e.g. water, agriculture and health. For more information click here.
Related news
New project: Greening Ethiopia – Towards a more climate responsive higher education system in support of sustainable agriculture and energy in Ethiopia
Entrepreneurial University Transformation training in Sierra Leone
Exposure visit to MSM to strengthen WASH in Sierra Leone
Strengthening Youth Entrepreneurship in Sierra Leone
