Samenvatting

The transition to sustainable energy systems is both technological and social, requiring new forms of learning, collaboration, and governance. This poster examines how inclusive skills ecosystems can foster a just energy transition by drawing on insights from a bi-continental capacity-building network linking Colombia and South Africa. Grounded in skills-ecosystem thinking (e.g., Keep & Mayhew, 2010; Ramsarup et al., 2023), the analysis synthesizes evidence from trainings, fellowships, cross-regional exchanges, mobile schools, and policy dialogues. Results show strengthened technical, social, and governance skills; the value of co-creation between local and academic knowledge; and the importance of South–South cooperation for contextual learning. Key challenges include language barriers, institutional asymmetries, and limited direct engagement with policy actors. Developing skills for a just energy transition requires moving beyond isolated training to systemic approaches that connect institutions, actors, and regions. Future work should translate these insights into policy action through co-designed briefs, policy debates, and stronger governance of knowledge. Scaling and sustaining transnational learning initiatives of this kind is essential to build the social foundations of sustainable and equitable energy transitions.