USAID De-Risking Pay-As-You-Go Solar Home Systems in Uganda Refugee Settlements Grants Program.

Photo Credit: Power Africa- M-POWER-9704

3

Grants Awarded

$145,000-$175,000

Each

2

Refugee Settlements & Host Communities

12 months

Period of Performance

 
 


Grant Winners Announced

On May 31, 2019, the United States Agency for International Development(USAID) and Green Powered Technology, in partnership with Energy 4 Impact, awarded $465,000 in grants to Fenix International, BrightLife, and SolarNow. Over the next twelve months, these companies will work to expand access to pay-as-you-go solar home systems in Kiryandongo and Rwamwanja refugee settlements and host communities in Uganda.

For further information, please see this press release


About USAID De-Risking Pay As You Go Solar Home Systems in Uganda Refugee Settlements.

The USAID Power Africa’s De-Risking Pay-As-You-Go (PAYGO) Solar Home Systems (SHS) in Uganda Refugee Settlement Project builds upon USAID’s recent and ongoing work in Uganda. It seeks to showcase Power Africa’s key contributions to the Smart Communities Coalition (SCC) as a Co-Chair, along with Mastercard and over 30 SCC members. The SCC is working to improve the delivery of essential services to refugees and host communities through enhanced coordination between public and private entities and the strategic introduction of technology, in accordance with three foundational pillars – connectivity, digital tools and energy access.

The project aims to accelerate off-grid investment and energy access by incentivizing private sector companies to recognize the market and business development potential in refugee settlements and host communities. This Grants Program will provide funding support to selected PAYGO SHS companies to de-risk potential investments for market entry into Kiryandongo and Rwamwanja refugee settlements and their host communities. Lessons and experiences gained through this project may provide a catalyst for future private sector energy access interventions. Grant awards will further innovation, and reduce the knowledge, product, financial, and risk barriers to serving refugee communities and host communities.

About Power Africa.

In 2013, Power Africa was launched to bring together technical and legal experts, the private sector, and governments from around the world to work in partnership to increase the number of people with access to power in Africa. Power Africa is among the largest public-private partnerships for development in history with over 160 public and private sector partners, 12 U.S. Government agencies and 18 bilateral and multi-lateral development partners to achieve its goals. It aims to achieve 60 million new connections and 30,000 MW of new generated power, reaching 300 million Africa people by 2030. 

Uganda— due to its low electrification rate, favorable enabling environment, strong private sector participation and financially viable energy market — presents a promising environment to deliver results towards Power Africa’s objectives.  Power Africa’s engagement in Uganda has included transaction advisory services for generation projects, master planning, accelerating off-grid energy access through supporting off-grid firms and the Government of Uganda, and working with financial institutions and concessionaires to mobilize finance, enabling financing across the value chain. 

Links.

USAID’s Energy Sector Work in Uganda

Power Africa

Smart Communities Coalition

 

Inquiries.

grants@greenpwrd.com