Power Up coalition partners took part in a discussion at COP28 on how smart funding from wealthy nations and government support can help sub-Saharan Africa’s energy access pioneers tackle the many challenges facing off-grid and marginalised communities.
The panel, chaired by Ashok Sinha, CEO of Ashden, discussed the need to create an enabling environment to attract investment, in the form of grants rather than loans, as well as tax incentives for clean energy providers. Currently, African countries are forced to service debts which further impacts on the funding to ramp up energy access for off-grid communities.
The Climate Action Stage audience heard how increased COP climate finance would boost incomes as people could take steps to adapt to changing weather patterns. In one example, the use of innovative technologies, such as solar powered irrigation and drying, can increase and protect crop yields of smallholder farmers.
Because global south governments are focused on policy processes, rather than implementation, there is a gap in skills development focus which Power Up members have been trying to close.
A Power Up campaign
Brian Omenyi, Coordinator, Sustainable Energy Access Forum Kenya, said 43% of Africans still don’t have access to electricity, a major barrier to socio-economic development.
He told the audience that to drive change the Power Up campaign has developed a series of policy asks for the Kenyan government and other stakeholders so funding can reach grassroots organisations.
He said: “We have been advocating for clean energy access so that the government, and others, can create a stable policy environment to attract investment. We also need to capacity build within communities, so people have the right skills for the future green jobs to bridge the gap. We need access to finance for the micro, as well as the macro, projects which are going to have greater impact for communities.
“We also need to create an environment in which we can develop technologies that meet our immediate needs rather than using those from developed countries. This can be achieved through investment in Research and Development. We understand our problems and can find the solutions.
“The Power Up campaign is trying to develop an enabling environment to influence policies at national and regional levels so we can increase investment from MDBs and IFIs and bring marginalised communities on board, so their voices are also heard.”
Energy as an enabler
Florence Gichoya, Communications Manager – ACCESS Coalition called for increased commitment to provide climate finance for energy access that reaches the communities that need it most.
She said: “The money, which is provided at a national level, rarely trickles down to meet community needs. That finance should be channeled to the right people to meet their needs on adaptation and energy access.
“We also need to see more money for clean, off-grid, energy from the MDBs, and the private sector, that actually reaches decentralised renewable energy systems, such as mini grids. Energy is an enabler for development but just focusing on the big energy projects is going to leave those most in need behind.”
Brian Onyango, Founder and CEO of Ashden Award winner USAFI Green Energy, works in Kenya’s Kakuma refugee camp, one of the largest in the world, making use of people’s existing skills and helping them learn new ones.
He said: “We don’t just want to be like the private sector. In a place where we have people from different countries it is essential that local people feel that they are part of the solution. Some were lawyers, doctors or electricians so rather than seeing them as a refugees and having the attitude of ‘we need to help you’, we want to use their skills for the benefit of the community.
“We have created employment and are decarbonising through practical action – trying to help meet climate targets – but to do this we need capital injection, skill development, capacity building – these are what we need to reach marginalised communities.”
