DP World and Barefoot College International (BCI) have celebrated the graduation of ten women from Somaliland under the Solar Mamas initiative, advancing their partnership to empower women and communities across Africa.
Selected from villages near Berbera and Hargeisa in collaboration with local communities and DP World, the women completed a three-month training course at BCI’s centre in Zanzibar, Tanzania. There, they gained skills as solar energy technicians, learning maintenance, entrepreneurship, and life skills to launch small-scale ventures in their communities.
These graduates—six from Berbera and four from Hargeisa—are the Solar Mamas programme’s first beneficiaries in the Horn of Africa. Inspired by DP World’s success with the initiative in Senegal, the programme provides rooftop solar power to local homes and enhances crop yields through regenerative farming.
Supachai Wattanaveerachai, CEO for the Horn of Africa at DP World, stated: “We take great pride in our Solar Mama graduates. This initiative is vital to DP World’s strategy of promoting sustainable development and empowering communities where we operate. It contributes to 15 of the 17 UN Sustainable Development Goals.”
He added: “We are delighted to support this inspiring project and its lasting impact.”
Sue Stevenson, BCI’s Director of Strategic Partnerships, remarked: “These women exemplify integrity, courage, and determination to uplift their communities. We commend their commitment and thank DP World for enabling such transformative change. Together, we’re creating solutions that enhance women’s lives, reduce poverty, and build sustainable communities.”
Globally, nearly one billion people lack electricity access, and complex technologies often fail in rural areas. The Solar Mamas programme addresses this gap by training women with hands-on, language-agnostic skills to install and maintain solar systems—generating income while driving a just energy transition.
