international
July 2018 – Through her studies in electrical engineering at the University of Dar Es Salaam, Jessica Nickson Sanga built an interest in conservation and the effective utilization of energy. These, she says, “are keys to sustainable development.”
Her internship with Tanzania’s Energy and Water Utilities Regulatory Authority (EWURA), she says, increased her interest in energy and inspired her to gain more knowledge. Following the internship, she plans to further study both energy and economics “to ensure that energy development is achieved within Africa.”
Jessica was a participant in the Women in Energy Regulation Internship Program, which fosters interest and advances career opportunities for young women in energy regulation. Supported by USAID’s Energy Division and Power Africa and implemented by the National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners (NARUC), the program aims to help young women in emerging economies build necessary skills to pursue careers at regulatory agencies, electric utilities and other organizations.
The internship program has thus far supported four young women in Kenya and Tanzania to receive hands-on training and experience in energy regulation. In the coming year, NARUC plans to implement the program with additional commissions through our bilateral partnership programs, supported by USAID Mission funding.
Through her internship, Jessica received training, participated in hearings and contributed to important projects at EWURA. For instance, she participated in the drafting of upcoming rules for compressed natural gas supply and marketing, including on construction, licensing, and environmental protection. She also worked on EWURA’s review of key financial and regulatory accounting information from power providers and helped inspect a substation that was damaged in a fire.
NARUC will continue to monitor the academic and professional trajectories of Jessica and her pilot cohort as they continue to build the skills and experience necessary to have successful careers within the energy sector. There is little doubt that these inspiring young women will chart impressive paths, and NARUC looks forward to facilitating opportunities for more interns to follow their example.
The contents of this post are the responsibility of NARUC and do not necessarily reflect the views of the United States Government.