REA Opens More Doors for Women in Engineering

 By Alain Kabinda 

LUSAKA — Zambia's energy future may depend not only on how many power projects the country builds, but also on who gets the opportunity to design, manage and deliver them. 

For young women pursuing engineering and other science-related careers, the journey from university classrooms into the professional world has often been marked by limited practical exposure, mentorship gaps and underrepresentation in technical workplaces.

 The Rural Electrification Authority (REA) is now seeking to change that reality through a new “Female Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) Internship Programme”, which will provide young women with hands-on experience in Zambia's energy sector. 

The programme will accommodate between 10 and 15 female students each year, subject to available resources, with internships running for between three and six months. 

At the centre of the initiative is a simple objective: to give female students an opportunity to move beyond theory and experience engineering in practice. 

REA Chief Executive Officer Eng. Alex Mbumba said the programme was developed in response to the low participation of women in Zambia's engineering profession. 

                                                        Eng. Alex Mbumba 

He noted that women represented only five percent of registered engineers in Zambia as of March 2026, highlighting the need for deliberate interventions to increase female participation in technical professions. 

“Women remain significantly underrepresented in this area,” Eng. Mbumba said. 

For REA, however, the challenge is not only getting more girls and young women to study STEM subjects. 

It is also ensuring that those who enter universities have opportunities to acquire the practical experience, professional networks and confidence needed to transition into employment. 

The internship programme will primarily target students studying *electrical engineering, power systems engineering, renewable energy engineering, and energy and environmental engineering*. 

Students from related fields, including civil and mechanical engineering, environmental science, GIS, geomatics and information technology, may also be considered. 

The interns will be exposed to actual rural electrification activities rather than being restricted to routine office assignments. 

Their practical experience could include *distribution line design, transformer installation and sizing, load analysis, grid extension planning, solar mini-grid planning and installation, feasibility studies, GIS mapping, site inspections, project monitoring, community engagement and technical reporting*. 

This practical exposure is expected to give students a clearer understanding of how engineering knowledge is applied in communities where electricity infrastructure is being developed.

 The programme will also provide workplace safety training, technical supervision and mentorship.

 Where possible, REA intends to connect female interns with women already working in the profession, creating opportunities for career guidance and role modelling. 

The students will also be exposed to professional skills such as communication, teamwork, work ethics, problem solving, project and contract management, technical report writing and career planning. 

Eng. Mbumba has called on engineers and supervisors involved in the programme to ensure that interns receive meaningful assignments and regular feedback. 

The initiative has also brought universities into the conversation about how Zambia can better prepare engineering students for the world of work. 

And Copperbelt University Deputy Vice Chancellor Prof. Paul Chisale said stronger collaboration between universities and industry was necessary if institutions were to produce graduates with the technical competencies demanded by employers. 

He said practical exposure was particularly important for disciplines that require technical and psychomotor skills. 

“You have to work very hard for this internship,” he told students. 

He urged interns to demonstrate discipline, follow instructions and seek guidance whenever they encounter difficulties. 

He also warned against negligence when handling expensive equipment, noting that mistakes in an industrial environment could have serious consequences and potentially affect opportunities for other students. 

The message is clear: access to an internship is an opportunity, but converting that opportunity into professional growth will depend on the students themselves. 

Mulungushi University has also welcomed the programme, describing internships as an important bridge between academic learning and professional practice. 

The university said engineering students needed opportunities to work alongside experienced professionals, understand real project demands and begin developing the confidence and skills required in the workplace. 

Mulungushi University committed to preparing students for placement, maintaining contact throughout the internship period and using lessons from the programme to strengthen university teaching. 

The university also expressed interest in collaborating with REA on curriculum reviews to improve the alignment between academic programmes and industry requirements. 

The University of Zambia (UNZA) similarly said the programme would give female STEM students practical exposure to areas including *rural electrification design, solar mini-grids and project management*. 

UNZA identified applied research, curriculum development and technical seminars as possible areas for deeper collaboration with REA. 

Such partnerships could create a two-way relationship in which universities understand the changing needs of the energy industry while industry benefits from graduates whose training is more closely aligned with workplace realities. 

For the Ministry of Gender Equality, the programme represents more than an education initiative. 

Representing Permanent Secretary for Gender Equality Mainga Kabika, Assistant Director responsible for Women Economic Empowerment in the Gender Division Austin Makufamba said the initiative responds to two national priorities — developing the skills Zambia needs for its growing energy sector and increasing women's participation in technical professions. 

He said Zambia's energy ambitions would require engineers, planners, environmental specialists, ICT professionals, GIS experts, technicians, artisans and project managers. 

Women, he said, could not remain underrepresented in the technical roles driving the country's development. 

The five percent representation of women among registered engineers, as highlighted by REA, demonstrates the need for deliberate interventions addressing barriers that women face in technical education, practical training, employment and leadership. 

Makufamba said encouraging girls to study science and mathematics was not enough if they could not subsequently access practical training and professional mentorship. 

He linked the initiative to Zambia's gender policy and legislative framework, including the *2024 National Gender Policy* and the *Gender Amendment Act No. 22 of 2015*. 

As Zambia works to expand electricity access, the demand for technical professionals is expected to extend beyond traditional electrical engineering. 

Modern energy projects require expertise in environmental planning, land assessment, risk management, permitting, project management, construction supervision, data analysis, GIS and community engagement. 

REA will assess interns through supervisor reports, progress reviews and competence evaluations. 

Feedback from students and participating institutions will also be collected to help improve the programme. 

The authority is further encouraging universities, professional bodies, corporate partners and private-sector organisations to contribute through mentorship, specialised training, technical assistance and professional exposure. 

For the young women entering the programme, the experience could represent a critical transition — from learning about electricity and infrastructure in lecture rooms to seeing how those systems are designed and delivered on the ground.