At the heart of the programme is a free course, "Project Management in Solar Power Plant Construction," designed to prepare women for professional careers in the renewable energy sector
WHY IT MATTERS
69%
of companies in Ukraine report workforce shortages
6 mln
Ukrainians remain abroad due to the war
32%
of the renewable energy workforce are women
Solar Step helps attract new talent to the renewable energy sector while creating career opportunities for women in one of Ukraine's most strategic industries
FIRST COHORT RESULTS
( N O V 2 0 2 5 → M A R 2 0 2 6 )
1,457
applications from across Ukraine
51
women successfully completed the programme
5
participants received job offers before completing the course
8
graduates secured employment in the renewable energy sector
90%
of participants reported improved career prospects after completing the programme
BENEFITS OF JOINING SOLAR STEP
A curriculum designed around the current needs of the renewable energy market
Training delivered by experienced solar energy professionals
Ongoing support from mentors and lecturers throughout the programme
Networking opportunities with potential employers, industry leaders, and career support
Interactive workshops, video lessons, and learning materials
Optional sessions focused on developing soft skills
Access to Ukraine's professional solar energy community
Certificate of completion
PROGRAMME STRUCTURE
The programme runs for four months and covers the full lifecycle of solar power plant projects—from energy market fundamentals and technical solutions to project development, construction, and project management.
01
Solar markets & SPP fundamentals
02
SPP fundamentals
planning & procurement
03
Construction
& commissioning
04
Leadership, gender equality & career development
RESEARCH RESULTS
The Energy Act for Ukraine Foundation conducted a nationwide study “Barriers and challenges faced by women during their professional transition to the solar energy sector.”
The research involved 696 female respondents from across the country (excluding areas of active hostilities and temporarily occupied territories) and was carried out in both quantitative and qualitative phases.
Solar energy in Ukraine is developing rapidly and creating new professional opportunities. However, women remain significantly underrepresented: they account for only 23–27% of the energy sector workforce, despite the acute shortage of specialists reported by over 75% of employers.
The findings of the study are of practical importance: they highlight the key barriers to women’s integration into the solar energy sector and provide a foundation for specific recommendations and initiatives aimed at fostering women’s professional development in this and related industries.
The research was supported by Mercy Corps.
PARTICIPANT TESTIMONIALS
"This programme changed my life. I found my future in the solar energy sector."
"The programme helped me combine technical knowledge with project management skills needed for a real career in the industry."
"The course content was well structured and gave me a practical understanding of how the solar energy market in Ukraine operates."
BECOME A SOLAR STEP PARTNER
We invite donors, businesses, educational institutions, employers, and industry experts to partner with us in developing future cohorts of the program.
Partnership opportunities include financial support for training, mentoring participants, engaging industry experts as instructors, providing internships, creating career opportunities for graduates, and co-developing educational modules.
Together, we can help more women gain practical skills, enter the solar energy sector, and contribute to Ukraine's energy resilience.
The first cohort of the Solar Step project is implemented by the Energy Act for Ukraine Foundation with financial support from Mercy Corps and KSE Graduate Business School as the educational partner
