Open Africa Power 2021: Call for applications

March 4, 2021

Today, Enel Foundation announced the call for applications for the Open Africa Power 2021 program, which this year will begin in May.

The call for applications will officially remain open from March 4 to April 6, to high-profile African students undergoing or having completed Master’s, MBA or PhD studies in African universities. After receiving more than 750 applications last year, Open Africa Power is welcoming candidates who want to acquire a holistic know-how of the electricity sector, enhancing their technical, regulatory and business skills required to work in the private and public sector towards the electrification of Africa. African Nationals currently living abroad, but wanting to relocate back to Africa, will also be admitted, as one of the program’s aims is to contribute to talent retention in the continent.

The 2021 edition will engage up to 60 African students and alumni in a series of professional development and leadership activities, comprising online and (if possible) residential modules.

Enel Foundation invites all interested candidates to carefully read the call for applications available at the Enel Foundation website. Those fulfilling the required criteria can submit their applications via the dedicated online platform using the verification code (OAP21CFA) until April 6, 2021. After visiting Kenya, Ethiopia, and South Africa in previous editions, Open Africa Power 2021 will stage its program online, for a smooth and safe experience for all its participants, despite the current global health emergency.

Open Africa Power is an education venture initiated by Enel Foundation in 2018, in partnership with top Academic institutions such as Strathmore University and University of Nairobi in Kenya, University of Addis Ababa in Ethiopia, University of Cape Town in South Africa, and Italian institutions such as Politecnico di Torino, Politecnico di Milano, Bocconi University, Florence School of Regulation, and Venice International University.

The ambition of the program is to empower and retain African talent in a crucial sector like energy, of paramount importance to unlock Africa’s sustainable future. The program offers knowledge on all aspects of sustainable electricity production and distribution to the best and most motivated PhD, Master’s, and MBA students and alumni. The program also aims to create a networking platform for participants in order to maximize impact.

Open Africa Power has seen a constant and remarkable increase in the number of applicants, from 140 in 2018 (its first year), to over 750 in 2020; almost 40 African Nations were represented. Last year’s 61 selected candidates were highly skilled (63% of them held, or were in the process of obtaining, a PhD), and showed diverse and complementary backgrounds, ranging from IT to law, from engineering to economics.

One of the key aspects of the program is to focus on geographical, as well as gender diversity. With a high percentage of female participants (43% in 2020), the program is providing a concrete demonstration of African women’s role in pushing forward a new generation of African leaders deeply engaged with their respective country’s clean energy future.

Listen here to a couple of inspirational videos from OAP alumni. 

Open Africa Power 2019 alumnus Samson Masebinu testimony  

Open Africa Power 2019 alumna Ujunwa Ojemeni testimony  

Open Africa Power 2020 alumnus Olakunle Alao testimony

Open Africa Power 2019 alumna Carol Ofafa testimony 

Open Africa Power 2020 alumna Joan Chahenza testimony