Partnership for Learning and Skills to Advance Safer Engineering in East Africa

Led by Moi University, Kenya, and funded by Lloyd’s Register Foundation, the Partnership for Learning and Skills to Advance Safer Engineering in East Africa (PLEASE) project aims to boost local engineering skills and leadership capacity in order to meet the safety challenges posed by East Africa’s rapid transition to decarbonised and digitalised energy and maritime systems. It will do this by establishing a collaborative regional partnership, which will drive capacity building programmes across Kenya and Tanzania. 

In Eastern Africa, the energy and maritime sectors are experiencing rapid infrastructure expansion, as well as technological and sustainable advancements, but there are not enough people with the essential skills to drive these transitions safely. Nor are there training programmes available to skill up the numbers of engineers and practising professionals required. 

The PLEASE collaboration, structured as a hub and spoke model, will comprise people and organisations from academia, training institutions, professional bodies, regulators, policy makers, industry practitioners and funders to give the project the reach and influence to reshape training and education for engineers and allied professionals for years to come.  

The project also has a special focus on removing barriers to entry for women in engineering and leadership positions within the priority sectors.  

The project aims to address current and future skill levels by developing and delivering: 

• Training modules for university partners to embed within their existing undergraduate engineering curricula, as well as a Train-the-Trainers programme for teaching staff.  

• Short courses to upskill professionals and trainers already working in the sectors, with the Engineers Board of Kenya integrating the programmes into its licensing framework. 

• A bespoke apprenticeship programme for early-career graduates in marine engineering. 

For the entire length of the project there will be a programme of engagement and dissemination, as Hub partners co-develop the training, advocate for educational policy reform and disseminate information and best practice to the wider stakeholder community.  

The PLEASE project aims for long-term, broad-scale impact within the maritime and energy sectors in East Africa, empowering engineers with the skills they need to safely transition to clean technologies and practices. If you would like to learn more about the PLEASE project, subscribe to our newsletter or contact our programme manager using the details below.