17 out of 27 specialists from national, regional, and local authorities and utilities, who attended an intensive training under the AEE’s international “Certified Energy Manager” program, received this internationally recognized qualification at an award ceremony held this week. The four-day training of the Ukrainian specialists was supported by USAID ESP and the State Agency on Energy Efficiency and Energy Saving.
The training, which took place in late July 2024, was the first internationally recognized course to certify Ukrainian energy managers during the past seven years. The main goal of the course was to develop energy management capacity in the regions of Ukraine. It also aimed at increasing the institutional capacity of energy management systems at the national, regional, and local levels of government and utility companies.
Kathleen Kirsch, Deputy Director of the USAID Ukraine Office of Critical Infrastructure, emphasized the importance of the professional development of Ukrainian specialists at this critical time for Ukraine. According to her, energy managers are needed at all levels of management today. They will play an important role in the recovery and development of the country’s energy sector. Ms. Kirsch also noted that the introduction of energy management is an important factor in improving energy efficiency, increasing the competitiveness of Ukraine’s economy, and achieving EU indicators in the energy sector as part of Ukraine’s European integration movement.
Energy management is one of the key elements for local governments, communities, and businesses to ensure the sustainability of local energy systems and efficient energy consumption. USAID ESP supports the Government of Ukraine, oblast administrations, municipalities, and utility companies in the energy transition. This will contribute to the energy resilience of communities, the sustainability of local energy systems, and decarbonization.
USAID ESP’s support to Ukraine’s energy sector, in particular through cooperation with the State Agency on Energy Efficiency and Energy Saving, is aimed at accelerating energy sector recovery and ensuring sustainable development of Ukraine and its territorial communities.