Dynamo projects: A transnational diaspora idea. Promoting climate action and gender empowerment through sustainable energy access in Colombia

By Héctor Peñaranda Carrillo | Issue 27

Theoretical and practical training for women of the Nashira Eco-Village (Knowledge Multiplier Team) on the installation of an agrovoltaic greenhouse within the community. All photos courtesy of the author

An embracing opportunity for sustainable local development offered by any just energy transition scenarios will inherently transform the labour system and the way human capacities are constructed and developed. Studies estimate that a decarbonised economy will create 22.5 million jobs, far outweighing the 7.5 million positions that would be lost. Regarding this, the diaspora, as a "bridge-builder", plays an outstanding role in the oncoming disruptive chance for collective construction, which goes beyond a mere technological change, offering socio-political resilience strategies in times of dehumanisation, climate change and global chaos. This text describes briefly how my experience as a member of the Colombian diaspora in Germany has paved the path to develop a social intervention model to foster and accelerate an inclusive energy transition in rural and suburban areas of Colombia.

Grounded in a voluntary migration to Germany in 2011 and a Master's degree in Intercultural Conflict Management by 2014, my journey has driven a focus on global impact and human development. I've since specialised in renewable energies and international development cooperation, actively developing humanitarian aid and climate change projects and alliances across Europe and Colombia. My close support for unaccompanied refugee minors in Berlin starkly demonstrates the universal human cost of displacement, drawing powerful parallels with the compelling, often involuntary, migration stories stemming from Colombia's protracted armed conflict. 

MEG: A gateway to diaspora collaboration 

A catalyst in my active role as a diaspora member is the MEG: Development-Oriented Migration Policy (German acronym), an outstanding programme of the German Agency for International Cooperation (GIZ), which through its various components strengthens the role of the diasporas in Germany and enhances their capacities for local sustainable development.  Components materialised in programmes are designed to maximise the impact of bilateral migratory and development cooperation, promoting a broader participation of migrants and diaspora-led organisations.

In 2017-2018, I was a beneficiary of the Business Ideas for Development programme, part of the MEG-Entrepreneurship Component, from which emerged my transnational business idea: Dynamo Projects SAS. Within the Diaspora Experts component of MEG, I served in different cooperation missions in Colombia, as a technical advisor on Renewable Energies and Development. Moreover, within the Diaspora Organisations component, the MEG programme has funded Kunstrial e.V* to implement two of DynamoLAB intervention projects: DynamoLAB: Energy and Knowledge (2020-2021) and DynamoLAB: EcoNashira Women and Energy (2024-2025). 

Nowadays my active role in the field of migration and development led to my appointment as a member of the Diaspora Advisory Board (DAB) (2024-2026) of the MEG programme for the German Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ).

Dynamo projects: An initiative for peace and development

In  2018, Dynamo Projects rose as a social enterprise empowering my personal holistic vision of transitions, which involves: justice, diversity, autonomy, technology, and mobility. Dynamo established a business model in Colombia focused on developing solar and agrivoltaic projects, building capacities for the transition, developing circular rural electrification concepts and energy communities. 

Dynamo's work is grounded under the principle of humanising energy and our mission encompasses a cross-cutting focus of action on gender and access. Currently , we have a solid team emerging from our interventions, a network of relevant partners and clients, and gained some recognition.

DynamoLAB: An intervention model for accelerating a just energy transition

DynamoLAB is conceived as a methodological product that aims to create women-led knowledge networks, enabling the implementation of local initiatives for sustainable development and energy transition. The model envisions mainly projects to build women-led teams of knowledge multipliers, to implement local energy solutions collaboratively and to raise awareness by means of evidence based- experiences among stakeholders.

DynamoLAB: Energy and Knowledge (Cundinamarca, 2020-2021): Benefiting the Arpayove rural aqueduct and surrounding communities, we trained a group of 10 multipliers. We built a solar laboratory (4 Kwp) and installed photovoltaic solutions for a community centre (2 kwp) and a rural school (2 kwp). We multiplied knowledge among stakeholders, reaching over 200 people, and built a women-led solar installation team

Photographs related to the Dynamo LAB project in Cundinamarca, Colombia. These collaborative spaces are used for training and capacity building for different stakeholders during the knowledge multiplication phase at the solar laboratory, Aula DynamoLAB, in Facatativá.

DynamoLAB: Circular Agrivoltaic Rural Electrification (Cesar, 2024): We developed a 

circular electrification concept by recovering remnants from solar parks and disused electric car batteries. We delivered six rural electrification systems with agrivoltaic structures, which provide electricity and food security. We installed 6 kWh storage systems and 3 kWp solar systems in each home and donated refrigerators. We also provided insights and tools for the creation of agrivoltaic gardens.

 Photos of the circular rural electrification project in San Ángel, Cesar, Colombia. Beneficiaries and project team implementing agrovoltaic solutions built using construction remnants from commercial solar parks of ENEL.

DynamoLAB: ECO-Nashira, Women and Energy (Valle del Cauca, 2024-2025): In Nashira, a matriarchal eco-village, we built a team of 14 women multipliers. We electrified two communal cooking facilities,  a local rural school, and built a solar laboratory with an agrivoltaic greenhouse and a biodigester prototype. We reached over 200 people in knowledge-multiplication sessions and created a local solar installation team. We are now jointly building the first women-led energy community in Colombia.

 EcoNashira Women and Energy project highlights: Knowledge Multipliers team, knowledge transfer sessions, solar installation at the community center, and the construction of an agrovoltaic solar greenhouse. Training and practice at the Nashira Eco-Village in Palmira, Valle del Cauca, Colombia.

DynamoLAB: A2T Access to Training Colombia (2025-2026): We aim to reach six schools in three regions of Colombia with a complementary 110 hours training programme. Students will design and implement photovoltaic solutions for each of the facilities. The programme is certified and can be accredited as a technical vocational programme. We aim to directly impact more than 400 persons and indirectly at least 3000.**

 School interventions aimed at creating new perspectives and narratives around energy and sustainability. Sensitization and preparation with students in Cundinamarca, Valle del Cauca, and Cesar, Colombia, for the DynamoLAB A2T project.

The power of the diaspora

Driving climate action through renewable energy technologies and fostering comprehensive capacities with an unwavering focus on equality are at the heart of our mission. From my unique position within the diaspora, Dynamo Projects has solidified its autonomy and forged an identity rooted in collaborative, human, and socio-environmental values that transcend geographical borders. In times marked by the unjust criminalisation of migration, decentralised knowledge networks become powerful conduits, enabling ideas, resources, and interests to flourish across boundaries. The diaspora's pivotal role lies in energising collective narratives that inspire transformation and reconciliation, unlocking supportive and collaborative exchanges that move decisively from discourse to tangible implementation.

*Kunstrial e.V is a diverse diaspora-led-non-profit-organisation based in Berlin, working to facilitate decolonized cultural and knowledge exchange between EU and LATAM.

**A2T is a project implemented mainly with the financial support of: EUDiF, a facility programme of the International Center of Migration and Policy Development (ICMPD); Dynamo Projects and private sector partners such as: Volvo-ASTARA-ENEL-WEC-Schneider Electrics.

Héctor Peñaranda Carrillo

Héctor is Founder and General Director of Dynamo Projects SAS, working the last 15 years between Germany and Colombia in the field of Conflict Management, Renewable Energy and Sustainable Development Cooperation. You can find him on LinkedIn.