On 21–22 October, INSPIRE brought together an incredible group of over 140 practitioners, researchers, renewable energy professionals and industry stakeholders in Johannesburg for the INSPIRE 2026 Learning Event: INSPIRE’ng TRANSFORMATIONAL IMPACT – Learning from the past to REwire the future.
And what a two days it was!
With a packed programme, thought-provoking sessions and plenty of opportunities for exchange, the event created space for the kinds of conversations that matter: honest reflections, challenging questions, shared experiences and new perspectives on strengthening social performance across the renewable energy sector.
Over the two days, we explored a wide range of issues shaping the sector, reflecting on 15 years of REIPPPP and asking what it will take to translate lessons from the past into more meaningful and lasting impact.
Discussions covered transformative socio-economic development, community engagement, collaboration and partnerships, IPP development on communal land, Community Trusts and governance, social performance maturity and competencies, and the evolving social performance ecosystem.
Two standout moments were the keynote addresses – on Day 1 by Matodzi Ratshimbilani of Kouga Trust and MVR Attorneys to set the scene for our event, and on Day 2 by Katherine Zscharnagk of Forum for the Future on Artificial Intelligence and Social Justice in the Energy Transition, which invited participants to consider the implications of emerging technologies for people, communities and a just energy transition.
The programme also challenged us to look ahead. Our interactive Masterclasses brought another dimension to the learning experience, creating opportunities to dig deeper into topics including C-suite leadership, Trauma-sensitive leadership, Navigating complex local project contexts, Community Trust governance and Learning from one another.
Throughout the event, our speakers and facilitators brought knowledge, experience and fresh perspectives into the room. Most importantly, participants brought their own questions, experiences and willingness to engage, making every session an opportunity for collective learning.
The programme was certainly full, but the energy in the room and the depth of engagement made it clear that these conversations were valuable. From thought-provoking discussions to new connections and unexpected exchanges, there was plenty to take away.
A big thank you to everyone who joined us, shared their expertise, facilitated discussions and contributed to making this event such a meaningful learning experience. We are also grateful to our funders, GIZ, and our partners, SAWEA and the IDC, for their support.
This is just the beginning and we will be sharing more from the event!
𝘚𝘶𝘱𝘱𝘰𝘳𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘣𝘺 𝘎𝘐𝘡’𝘴 𝘚𝘵𝘳𝘦𝘯𝘨𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘯𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘗𝘢𝘳𝘵𝘪𝘤𝘪𝘱𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘪𝘯 𝘚𝘰𝘶𝘵𝘩 𝘈𝘧𝘳𝘪𝘤𝘢’𝘴 𝘌𝘯𝘦𝘳𝘨𝘺 𝘛𝘳𝘢𝘯𝘴𝘪𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 (𝘗+) 𝘗𝘳𝘰𝘫𝘦𝘤𝘵, 𝘪𝘮𝘱𝘭𝘦𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘣𝘺 𝘐𝘕𝘚𝘗𝘐𝘙𝘌.
