EBRD Launches Inclusive Energy Sector Apprenticeship Scheme in Jordan

The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) has launched an apprenticeship scheme to foster an inclusive energy sector in Jordan. This initiative, aimed at young professionals aspiring to careers in the energy sector, is funded by the Swiss State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO) and developed in collaboration with Al Hussein Technical University (HTU) and the National Electric Power Company (NEPCO) Electrical Training Centre (ETC).

The apprenticeship program provides on-the-job training to help young people transition from education to employment. It is integrated into HTU’s electrical engineering and energy engineering degree programs. The first cohort of 32 students has completed the eight-month apprenticeship, which included three months of technical instruction and five months of on-site rotations at NEPCO’s field sites, focusing on electrical power systems.

Previously, in 2021, the EBRD supported NEPCO with a US$100 million financing package to address working capital constraints by replacing short-term debt financing acquired during the peak of the Covid-19 crisis.

This apprenticeship initiative is part of the EBRD’s country strategy for Jordan (2020-25), which prioritizes economic inclusion through improved vocational training for women and youth. It also aligns with the EBRD’s Memorandum of Understanding with HTU, signed in 2022, which aims to enhance access to skills in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) sectors.

A closing event for the apprenticeship was attended by Gretchen Biery, EBRD Head of the Eastern Mediterranean Region; Emilija Georgieva, Ambassador of Switzerland to Jordan; Amjad Rawashdeh, General Manager of NEPCO; Dr. Ismael Al Hinti, President of HTU; and Lutfi Al Sharif, Vice President of HTU.

NEPCO, which owns and operates Jordan’s electricity transmission system, plays a pivotal role in the country’s renewable energy transition. The company leverages private capital and expertise to harness Jordan’s wind and solar resources.

Since 2012, the EBRD has invested more than €2 billion across 71 projects in Jordan, with 71% of these investments directed towards the private sector. This includes financial support to the Jordanian banking sector through loans to micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises, as well as subordinated debt and trade finance facilities.