Powering Jobs
The Powering Jobs 2021-2022 survey will run until the first week of April 2022 across five countries (India, Ethiopia, Kenya, Uganda, and Nigeria). As a part of this campaign, steering committees encompassing stakeholders at the global and country levels have been convened. The role of the steering committees is to validate the research findings and provide inputs to Power for All to craft the campaign narrative and arrive at advocacy themes for an impactful launch of the Powering Jobs report and continued engagement on jobs in DRE at both global and in-country levels.
The global steering committee convened its first meeting on the 28th of February 2022. Members include John Van Zuylen, Chief Executive Officer (CEO), African Solar Industry Association (AFSIA); Jessica Stephens, Chief Operating Officer (COO), Africa Minigrid Developers Association (AMDA); Giles Bristow, Director of Programmes, Ashden; Sam Grant, Senior Director, Collaborative Labeling and Appliance Standards Program (CLASP); Radhika Thakkar, Vice President, Corporate Affairs, Greenlight Planet; Susie Wheeldon, Head of Communications & Insights, Global Off-Grid Lighting Association (GOGLA); Austen Stranahan: Director, Product & Innovation, Shortlist; Thomas Andre, Operations Director, REN21 and Debra Rowe Ph.D., U.S. Partnership for Education for Sustainable Development and Co-organizer, United Nations Education Programme -Youth and Education Alliance.
The steering committee for India also convened its first meeting on February 28, 2022, with members Rekha Krishnan, CEO, Clean Energy Access Network (CLEAN); Neeraj Kuldeep, Program Lead, Council on Energy, Environment and Water (CEEW); Vaishali Misra, Associate Director, Smart Power India; Bharath Jairaj, Lead Energy Program, World Resources Institute (WRI) India; Aarti Khosla, Founder, and Director, Climate Trends; Surabhi Rajagopal, Senior Program Manager, Solar Electric Light Company(SELCO) Foundation; and Sweta Singh, Program Manager, Husk Power Systems.
Uganda convened its first meeting on March 2, 2022 along with our country partner Uganda National Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Alliance (UNREEEA), with steering committee members - Gloria Namande, Program Manager – Energy and Climate Change, United Nations Development Programme (UNDP); Peace Kansiime, Program Manager, SNV; Andrew Kyamagero, Senior Journalist, National Media Group; Loy Florence Kyozeire, CEO, Solar Entepreneurs Network for Decentralized Energy Access (SENDEA); Kenneth Muhwezi, VC,Uganda National Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Alliance (UNREEEA); Justine Akumu, Senior Energy Officer, Ministry of Energy; Paul Odong, Director of Energy Programs, Equity Bank.
The steering committee for Kenya convened its first meeting on March 3, 2022, with members Emmanuella Ngororano, Communications Associate, African Minigrid Developers Association (AMDA); Professor Da Silva, Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Strathmore University; Mathilde Brix Pedersen, Project manager, United Nations Education Programme (UNEP); Matthews Wafula, Green specialist, Don Bosco Development Outreach Network; Andrew Amadi, Chief Executive Officer, Kenya Renewable Energy Association (KEREA); Dwayne Asembo, Project Manager, Shortlist; Isaac Kiema, National Programme Coordinator, International Labour Organization (ILO); Dan Marangu, Director Renewable Energy, Ministry of Energy; Jussi Hinkkanen, CEO, FUZU; George Theuri, Senior Energy Advisor, Practical Action and Ngigi Ashington, Development Consultant, SNV.
The first Nigeria steering committee meeting was held on March 7, 2022 with our partner Cleantech Hub. Members include Dr. Segun Adaju, President, Renewable Energy Association of Nigeria (REAN); Eme Kponu, Off-grid Energy Advisor, Nigeria Power Sector Program (NPSP-PA); Engr. Barka Sajou Executive Director, Technical Services, Rural Electrification Agency (REA); Anita Okuribido, President, Women In Renewable Energy (WIRE) Network; Shehu Ibrahim, Principal Electrical Engineer, RRD, RMP, Ministry of Power; Kunle Oyenusi, Legal Executive, National Power Training Institute of Nigeria; Dr Temilade Sesan Energy Consultant, Centre for Petroleum, Energy Economics and Law, University of Ibadan (CPEEL, UI); Aishatu Ella John, Human Resource Consultant; Terrence Lawani, HR and Admin Manager, Husk Power Systems; Damilola Asaleye COO, Ashdam Solar.
We also held the Powering Jobs Focus Group Discussions (FGDs) starting in Kampala, Uganda, on March 4, 2022. The event was moderated by our CEO, Kristina Skierka with 20 companies in attendance. This was followed by India with a virtual event held on March 29, 2022, with 15 companies in attendance. The Kenyan FGD was held in person in Nairobi on March 31, 2022, with 15 companies in attendance and moderated by our Global Director of Communications, Catherine Njuguna. Nigeria’s FGD was held on April 5, 2022, in Abuja with 12 companies in attendance, facilitated by our in-country partner, Clean Technology Hub.
India 25x25
To mark International Women's Day, the Power for All team curated quotes from partners- Smart Power India and CLEAN Network. The team was also part of the Switch ON Foundation's webinar on women-led policies on March 9, 2022.
As part of the Powering Health campaign, we have commenced the research in Jharkhand to understand the solarizing needs of 4000 rural healthcare facilities in Jharkhand. The districts selected for the survey are Ranchi, Gumla, West SInghbhum, Sahebganj, Dumka, and Palamu. These are some of the most underserved districts in Jharkhand. The team is executing this research with the help of the Jharkhand Renewable Energy Development agency and state partner, the Centre for Environment and Energy Development (CEED). Power for All also hosted a webinar to release the state health factsheet that was attended by over 70 participants. The webinar had eminent speakers from CREDA, Jharkhand Renewable Energy Development Agency (JREDA), SELCO Foundation, WRI-India, CEED, and Asar Social Impact. The agriculture task force has also been constituted in Jharkhand and the outcomes of this task force are in the discussion phase.
Utilities 2.0
The U2.0 Twaake pilot project held a briefing session with key project partners and stakeholders on 9th March (in Nairobi) and 15th March 2022 (in Kampala). This learning and information session was an opportunity to present the findings and insights aimed at answering the U.2.0 pilot research questions that include:
-
What is the value-added by Mini-grid integration (mini-grid partnering with utility)
-
How much do (financed) appliances increase household and business electricity consumption? Is appliance finance economically feasible?
-
Will delivering energy access with various integrated technologies lower the cost to Uganda and its lenders/donors compared to a stand-alone grid extension?
A comprehensive set of data across the U.2.0 pilot sites have been collected for analysis with insights for the first six months the Mini-grid started operations (June - December 2021) to justify the premise that this Twaake (U.2.0) aims to achieve.
Some key findings include the following:
• Pace of access is accelerated by 5 years (v. Business as Usual)
– 380 connections @ integrated site v. 3 in the control site
• Demand is accelerated
– 3000% greater demand (3,125kWh IE site v. 102kWh BAU) in year 1
– IE sites achieve the same consumption of BAU site infraction (1/8) time
• IE approach is the least cost
– 11% cheaper than BAU (at pilot level)
– Customer lifetime value (CLV) is 4x higher than BAU
Powering Agriculture
Power for All hosted a Productive Use of Renewable Energy for Agriculture Action Plan meeting on March 16, 2022, in Kampala, Uganda. Our CEO, Kristina Skierka facilitated this meeting with the key partners. The meeting aimed to create a cohesive, stakeholder-driven action plan to accelerate the adoption of decentralized renewable energy for agricultural productive use in Uganda. The Hon. Commissioner of Renewable Energy, Ministry of Energy, Mr. Brain Isabirye quoted “ This is a landmark meeting and first of its kind that has brought together key players in the Agriculture and Energy Nexus”. Participants included the Government of Uganda Ministries (Agriculture, Energy, and Water), Development Partners, Civil society, SMEs, and other stakeholders in the Agriculture and Energy Nexus. A synthesis report of the meeting will be developed to inform the drafting of an Action Plan on Productive Use of Energy In Uganda's Agriculture sector.
Powering Health
In Zambia, Power for All along with our strategic partner, Africa Clean Energy (ACE) Technical Assistance Facility (TAF), a program funded by the UK Government Foreign, Commonwealth, and Development Office (FCDO), have finalized the Open Letter and the Action Plan at the final coalition meeting held on March 9, 2022, in Lusaka, Zambia. The Action Plan is part of an initiative that the Ministry of Health, in collaboration with the Ministry of Energy, is undertaking to help bring electricity to the country’s unelectrified rural healthcare facilities. It identifies barriers and challenges to the universal electrification of health facilities in Zambia and proposes solutions. The next step in this initiative is the Ministerial High-level Dialogue that is planned for early April 2022, where the two documents will be officiated by both the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Energy to provide a spotlight on the issues facing the electrification of rural health facilities and outline the way forward for implementation. This Action Plan and the High-Level Dialogue are also meant to drive investors’ and funders' attention to this initiative.