In March 2015, MHI started its Technical and Management Advisory Services project with Société Nationale d’Électricité (SNEL) and Comité de Pilotage de la Reforme des Entreprises du Portefeuille de l'État (COPIREP). The World Bank extended its financing and MHI’s services in DRC to implement the emergency recovery plan for SNEL. MHI and SNEL have formed an effective partnership, with both parties working together to recover the utility.
MHI is working to implement an emergency recovery plan within SNEL and strengthen its abilities in key areas. A focus of this partnership is to facilitate knowledge transfer between MHI’s international experts and SNEL’s employees. MHI is providing support and advisory services to SNEL’s directors in key areas, relating to management and technical aspects of a performing utility.
MHI is working in partnership with SNEL to achieve the following objectives:
- Commercial management to improve billing, recovery, and reduce fraud, which will ultimately lead to enhanced customer service at SNEL.
- Improve SNEL’s technical management, focusing on the rehabilitation, to increase access to electricity in the DRC and the surrounding region.
- Enhance management of investments.
- Improve financial management, which leads to secured accounting and financial operations.
- Improve the company’s human resources to sustain operations over time.
To achieve these objectives, a team of 13 MHI experts is working within the utility on a full-time basis. The team consists of highly skilled professionals who have extensive experience in their respective fields and in international best practices. MHI is working to transfer its expertise to the national utility to ensure sustainable results. MHI is also providing various short-term mission experts in the key areas of a performing utility.
“MHI is fully committed to working in partnership with SNEL,” says Normand Champoux (Human Resources Advisor). “This initiative is significant to the recovery of SNEL, and to the continued prosperity of the country, SNEL employees, and the greater population of the DRC.”
Key Achievements of SNEL and MHI
- Comprehensive audits were completed on each function of the utility. These audits were accompanied by plans to rectify identified issues and implementation is now underway.
- Developed and improved various policies and procedures within the departments, to increase effectiveness and efficiency, allowing for a better use of human resources.
- A comprehensive 5-year investment plan has been developed.
- Implementation of an enterprise resource planning system is underway.
- External and internal reporting mechanisms have been significantly improved.
- Formal and informal training has been a key focus throughout the project
- A change management unit has been implemented, which will facilitate necessary changes within SNEL. In addition, the development of a communication plan regarding change management is in progress.