| Abstract |
The United Nations University Geothermal Training Programme (UNU-GTP) has operated in Iceland since 1979 offering six month annual courses for professionals from developing countries. The aim is to assist developing countries with geothermal potential in capacity building in order to make the countries self sufficient in expertise for geothermal development. The training is tailor-made to suit the needs of the home country. Since 2000, the possibility has also opened for some UNU Fellows to extend their studies to MSc level with the six months training adopted as an integral part (30 out of 120 ECTS). In 2008, the possibilities were expanded further to include PhD studies. As a contribution to the UN Millennium Development Goals, the UNU-GTP has expanded its activities with “annual” workshops/short courses in Africa (started in Kenya in 2005), Central America (started in El Salvador in 2006), and Asia. The events have been organized in cooperation with local energy agencies responsible for geothermal development. The aim is not only to increase capacity building, but also to further geothermal cooperation and to reach out to countries with interest in geothermal development which have not yet received quality training. Discussions are now underway with interested financial partners, looking at the feasibility of this developing into regional geothermal centres, under the UNU-GTP umbrella. An off-spring has also been the decision of UNU-GTP in offering short courses that can be tailor-made to the needs of a client from a developing country with local or external sponsors, with the first such events taking place in 2010. Africa is a major cooperating partner of the UNU-GTP and a priority area within the UN system. Amongst the 452 UNU-GTP graduates (1979-2010), 129 or 29% have come from twelve African countries. Moreover, 12 of 25 UNU MSc-graduates are from 5 countries of Africa. The first two UNU PhD-Fellows are also Kenyans. Kenya is the leading country in geothermal development in East Africa, and many of their specialists have been trained in Iceland. The close cooperation between UNU-GTP, on one hand, and KenGen and more recently also GDC, on the other, has been the key to the successful annual Short courses given in Kenya from 2005, from which all countries in the region with geothermal potential have benefitted. The UNU-GTP expects to see other African countries succeed in geothermal development and is determined to continue to provide the training opportunities that the region needs. |