Large-scale multiactor training and mentoriship programme to ASSist people with physical impairments in energy povERTy

The ASSERT project tackles the major challenges of energy poverty with an innovative approach that places people at the center of the solution. Its main goal is to address energy poverty in a comprehensive and multidimensional way, promoting the empowerment and capacity-building of one of the most vulnerable groups and the stakeholders involved. The specific objectives of the project are as follows:

1. Training for policymakers and energy professionals: ASSERT ensures that policymakers at all levels, along with advisors and energy sector professionals, receive comprehensive training on energy poverty. This training includes analyzing the multiple dimensions of energy poverty and integrating it into the context of the clean energy transition. In many European countries, particularly in the south, there is a lack of solid knowledge for effective decision-making and coordination between sectors such as health and social services. ASSERT seeks to address these gaps, thereby facilitating a more efficient and inclusive sociopolitical framework to tackle energy poverty.
2. Training for frontline professionals: ASSERT promotes programs to train professionals working with the most vulnerable citizens, such as healthcare and social services staff, to identify households affected by energy poverty and provide advice on solutions to reduce consumption and improve access to affordable and sustainable energy. This approach makes frontline professionals key allies for affected individuals, helping them progress toward greater energy security.
3. Training courses for households affected by energy poverty: ASSERT offers specific courses for households in situations of energy poverty, including those with low digital skills, to help them better manage their energy bills and actively participate in the transition to fair energy. This training empowers households to become agents of change toward a more equitable and sustainable society. The project places special emphasis on households with people with functional diversity, who often have higher energy needs and lower incomes, making them more vulnerable to the effects of energy poverty. By providing tailored support, ASSERT seeks to break the vicious cycle of energy poverty and its health impacts, improving quality of life and reducing associated risks.

To achieve these objectives, ASSERT will design and implement a comprehensive training and mentoring program, led by Ecoserveis, in five pilot countries in the Mediterranean region (Spain, France, Greece, Italy, and Cyprus). The personalized mentoring program will provide direct support to 25 pairs consisting of a municipality and an intermediary organization working with people with functional diversity. This collaboration facilitates the adoption of energy efficiency solutions and a comprehensive approach to energy poverty within local public policies.

With this holistic approach, ASSERT builds networks of mutual support and fosters a shared, participatory vision of energy poverty, thus contributing to a fairer, more inclusive, and sustainable energy model.

• Leader del WP5 “Mentorship programme” open call for local pilots

• Launch a call to identify 25 Municipality-Entity pairs as beneficiaries of a mentorship program on how to address energy poverty for people with functional diversity.
• Support 5 municipality-entity pairs in each local pilot to address energy poverty for people with functional diversity.
• Evaluate the effectiveness of this support program in combating energy poverty affecting this group.

• EACs Energy Advisory Centers
• Sun4All
• ASSIST
• EPAH “Energy Poverty Advisory Hub”
• RENOVERTY