Confirm Sites and Cohort

Once funding is confirmed, begin by working with Solar Village Project to validate your target district and the cluster of solar installations that will be supported. Map each site (schools, health centres, community buildings) and document current system performance, common faults, and maintenance gaps. Establish baseline indicators such as average downtime and response time for technical issues.

Next, recruit your trainee cohort. Prioritise women from local communities who show strong interest in technical livelihoods. Where appropriate, include youth or local electricians to strengthen the local ecosystem. Clearly communicate programme expectations, including attendance, safety standards, assessments, and the possibility of a six-month paid service contract for qualified participants.

Confirm delivery logistics with Solar Village Project. Finalise dates, venue, equipment needs, and local coordination roles before moving to implementation.

Prepare Training Infrastructure

With Solar Village Project’s technical guidance, secure a training venue that has reliable electricity, space for demonstrations, and safe access to live or demonstration solar and battery systems. Ensure systems reflect the type installed in your community so training remains practical and relevant.

Organise safety equipment, basic tools, and documentation materials. Solar Village Project will provide structured curriculum materials, maintenance checklists, troubleshooting guides, battery care protocols, and service ticket templates. Translate materials into local language if needed.

Before training begins, align on clear competency standards. Define what participants must demonstrate to qualify for the service contract phase. Brief community stakeholders so they understand that trainees will soon begin supervised maintenance visits. Early communication reduces resistance and builds trust in the women as emerging technical leaders.

Deliver Practical Training

Solar Village Project leads an intensive, hands-on training programme focused on operating and maintaining solar + storage systems. Training begins with safety: correct shutdown procedures, safe battery handling, hazard identification, and personal protective equipment use. Participants practice until procedures become routine.

The programme then moves into routine inspections, cleaning panels, checking connections, monitoring battery health, recording system performance, and documenting service visits. Trainees work directly on systems rather than relying only on classroom instruction.

Basic troubleshooting follows structured diagnostic steps. Participants learn to identify common faults, resolve first-level issues, and escalate complex problems correctly. Strong emphasis is placed on documentation and service ticketing to ensure professional standards.

At the end of training, Solar Village Project assesses participants through practical demonstrations. Only those who meet defined technical and safety standards progress to the service contract stage, reinforcing quality and accountability.

Activate Paid Service Contracts

Qualified trainees enter a structured six-month paid maintenance engagement. Define clear responsibilities: scheduled inspections, first-response troubleshooting, documentation submission, and escalation protocols. Solar Village Project supports contract setup, reporting templates, and performance tracking.

Assign each trainee or team to a specific cluster of installations. Develop a preventive maintenance calendar and set response time expectations for reported issues. During initial service visits, provide light-touch supervision to reinforce correct procedures and build confidence.

Track key metrics throughout the engagement, including number of service visits, issue resolution time, battery condition, and system uptime improvements. Regular check-ins with Solar Village Project help address recurring technical issues and ensure service quality remains high. This step transforms training into dignified, paid technical work while measurably improving system performance.

Measure Impact and Strengthen Capacity

Throughout the six-month period, monitor outcomes against the baseline data collected at the start. Focus on three core impact areas: increased local technical capacity, reduced system downtime, and faster issue resolution. Document improvements clearly to demonstrate return on investment to funders.

Hold structured reflection sessions with trainees to discuss technical challenges, confidence growth, and community feedback. Identify advanced skills that may require additional training or mentorship. Encourage peer knowledge-sharing to strengthen collective capacity.

At the end of the contract period, conduct a formal review with Solar Village Project. Assess technical competency, reliability, documentation quality, and community satisfaction. Decide whether to renew contracts, expand to additional women, or replicate the model in new districts.

By institutionalising local first responders, you reduce long-term dependence on external technicians while creating a sustainable pathway to paid, dignified technical livelihoods for women.