An essential pillar of the third phase (2023-2025) of the PROMESS project, the post-training support scheme for holders of the solar installer diploma was set up in the second half of 2024. After a period of human resources reorganization, a development officer was recruited internally to the project in July 2024.

The role of the development manager includes :

• Develop and lead a network of companies in the solar sector to identify opportunities for internships, employment or subcontracting, and thus foster the professional development of PROMESS graduates.
• Provide administrative and technical support to graduates (help in setting up individual companies, review of responses to calls for tender for those already established as companies, etc.), in liaison with the training coordinator.
• Manage the graduate network.

After a period of developing communication tools (presentation of the center, presentation of training courses, etc.) and monitoring, and 6 months of operational implementation of these activities, the initial results are encouraging:

• Nearly 150 companies have been contacted, with around 15 receiving a presentation (by video or face-to-face) on PROMESS activities. Further meetings are scheduled in the coming weeks with companies already contacted.
• An initial partnership agreement has been signed with one company, and several others are currently under discussion. These will enable the project to keep abreast of companies' HR needs, with PROMESS then liaising with graduates to enable them to apply for positions.
• - 3 companies have already contacted PROMESS to be put in touch with graduates for various projects (installation, maintenance of PV systems).

Various post-training activities around the training center are planned as part of the project. The first of these were carried out between December 2024 and February 2025.

The aim is to enable professionals from the solar and photovoltaic sector to discover the training center, the teaching methods and equipment used, and to convince them of the overall quality of solar installer training. The day begins with a tour of the center (classrooms, computer room, teaching equipment, stock, etc.), followed by observation of practical classes, and concludes with an exchange of views with the instructors and students of the current FIS (Formation d'Installateurs Solaires).

In December, 5 companies (from Thiès, Dakar and Louga) represented by 8 people, took part in this day. Feedback was extremely positive, both in terms of the organization of the day and the quality of the facilities and training provided. Of particular note was the fact that the technical director of one of these companies, who was present during the visit, is a PROMESS graduate. The director of this company, who also attended the day's event, strongly emphasized the company's skills and professionalism. This message, conveyed by one of the "guests", had a considerable impact, both on the other companies present and on the learners. This time also enabled the participants, both professionals and learners, to exchange contact details.

One company signed a partnership agreement with PROMESS on this occasion, while two others wished to start discussions to also establish an operational partnership with PROMESS. As a result, a number of companies have approached PROMESS to put them in touch with graduates with specific labor needs.

Although still in its infancy, this proactive approach to the photovoltaic and solar industry has produced some interesting results. Companies have stressed the importance of this approach, to make the training program and its graduates visible. The sector, which is expanding in the country (telecoms network, mini-grids in rural areas, structuring projects in the solar sector), has a growing need for manpower. Participants therefore stressed the importance of creating this trust with the training center, which will encourage the hiring of installers trained at PROMESS.

The Graduates' Day was designed to enable alumni from different cohorts to meet and network, but also, from PROMESS' point of view, to gain a better understanding of their career paths, realities and needs.

The first meeting took place on February 8, bringing together 40 graduates from various geographical areas (Thiès, Louga, Dakar), representing a quarter of the project's graduates. Participation was deemed satisfactory for a first.

The day began with testimonials from 4 graduates who had successfully developed their business. They had been identified by PROMESS and briefed in advance on this intervention, aimed at sharing their experience and best practices at different levels (customer prospecting, negotiation, drawing up quotations, professional behavior, etc.).

These presentations gave rise to numerous exchanges and proposals. The day's participants mentioned the following in particular:

• The need to repeat this type of event on a regular basis, and to strengthen the network by formalizing an associative structure.
• Organization of seminars and workshops on energy-related topics (energy efficiency, standards, etc.).
• Raising awareness within the network of the need for solidarity between the most active graduates and those having the most difficulty finding employment or self-employment.

On this last point, 2 of the participants were asked by one of the "active" former graduates to help out on worksites starting the following day. Beyond this particular example, the expectation remains to truly structure the alumni network, to encourage peer-to-peer assistance and collaboration in the implementation of projects.

This meeting also enabled the project team to carry out the "Trajectoires" survey, an annual survey designed to obtain information on the career development of network alumni. The survey will then continue remotely with those who were unable to respond in person, with the survey report due to be produced early in the second quarter of 2025.

The entire PROMESS team was actively involved in the organization and staging of this event, which will be followed by others of its kind to support graduates in their collective endeavors.