Latin America and the Caribbean have one of the cleanest electricity mixes on the planet; however, possessing this natural wealth does not by itself guarantee leadership in the global energy transformation. To turn this potential into development, investment, and innovation, the Latin American and Caribbean Energy Organization (OLACDE) has launched the OLACDE 2026 Executive Leadership Program: Latin America and the Caribbean Facing the Challenges of the Future. This regional initiative seeks to train emerging talent to take on a leading role in the strategic decisions that will shape the sector.
Developed under the ETRELA Project—funded by the International Climate Initiative (IKI) of the German Government and supported by Youth4Energy—the program addresses a key regional paradox: the disconnect between the abundance of renewable resources and limited participation in the global expansion of these technologies. OLACDE’s proposal integrates energy and climate change with leadership methodologies, digital transformation, artificial intelligence, entrepreneurship, and policy advocacy, in order to overcome the technical challenge and foster a regulatory and financial environment suited to energy industrialization.
Beyond academic training, OLACDE is driving a paradigm shift: moving from isolated youth initiatives to the permanent institutionalization of new generations’ participation within its governance. Recognizing that young talent is an underused resource in the region, the Organization seeks to build effective bridges between knowledge, financing, and practical opportunities. In this way, the training aims to shape interdisciplinary leaders equipped with empathy, adaptability, and systemic vision, capable of connecting the public, private, academic, and civil sectors.
The synchronous training sessions began on August 10, 2026, through four intensive modules. As a high-impact incentive, a select group of participants will have the opportunity to bring their proposals to high-level decision-making forums during the 2nd Latin American and Caribbean Youth Meeting on Energy, held as part of the 11th Energy Week taking place on October 5 in the Dominican Republic. Through these actions, OLACDE reaffirms its unwavering commitment to training the leaders who will guide the region’s just and sustainable energy transition.
