Sustainable implementation of solar energy in rural schools and communities to mitigate climate change to create educational & economic perspectives for rural Kenyan communities
This projects aims to demonstrate the community development impact of the sustainable implementation of solar solutions in rural schools and communities, and the potential of a wider implementation of solar solutions in farming and in local SME?s. S3C does so by combining community commitment, high quality installation and distribution work, capacity building in solar technology and local business development, in instituting local solar businesses. These provide the infrastructure for maintenance and for continued implementation of solar appliances after project completion.
Project Snapshot
Grantee:
Solar for sub Saharan Schools and Communities Kenya Foundation
Country:
Kenya
Area Of Work:
Climate Change Mitigation
Grant Amount:
US$ 50,000.00
Co-Financing Cash:
Co-Financing in-Kind:
Project Number:
KEN/SGP/OP5/FSP/CC/13/022
Status:
Satisfactorily Completed
Project Characteristics and Results
Emphasis on Sustainable Livelihoods
? Local maintenance capacity and remote monitoring: one of the pitfalls of most solar projects is lack of accessible maintenance. S3C invests in this local capacity. Remote monitoring technology will be introduced also to assist the local solar service point to monitor solar systems performance. This will avoid unnecessary maintenance visits and will boost preventive interventions; as soon as the system shows diverging solar system performance, a phone call can be made to find out the reasons and suggest changes.
? Business start-up: the drive to get a sound income from a newly set up solar business will induce the entrepreneurs to foster and expand their business. The community sensitization needed to reach out to communities is part of their marketing and promotion policies and budgets.
? Boosting psychological and legal ownership: by requiring chipping in from all stakeholders (cost sharing from local governments, own contributions from NGO and school, selling of solar lights in stead of donating) boosts the sense of ownership of the project and the solar equipments. By transparent contracting the legal ownership is also clear.
Gender Focus
In rural communities, the role of women in household management is extensive and crucial. Providing households with easy to use solar lights saves a lot of time and trouble; the household chores become easier to do, walking outside in the dark becomes safer, and small home production,
mostly done by women, is facilitated with better light and therefore less harmful and dangerous to the health of the women.
In selecting the sales and solar technical trainees a specific focus will be on girls/young women participation. And solar distribution will also be done through selected women groups that receive specific training; their networks are influential in raising awareness and stimulating uptake.
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SGP Country office contact
Ms. Nancy Chege
Phone:
(254-20) 7624473
Fax:
(254-20) 621076
Email:
Ms. Eunice Mwaura
Email:
Address
UNDP, P.O. Box 30218
Nairobi, 00100
Nairobi, 00100
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