Energy for all 2030

This project is funded by The European Union

Preliminary Analysis and Partner Dialogue on the

Impacts of the First EU Energy Facility Projects in
Sub Saharan Africa.
Initial Key Findings

Despite many challenges, the First EU Energy Facility (EUEF 1) projects analyzed here

are successfully delivering energy access to the poor in Sub Saharan Africa.

In terms of data availability, there appear to be issues of transparency with some
of the larger projects.

This initial analysis demonstrates that smaller scale projects (EUR 300 000

EUR 4 000 000) have had the most far reaching impact in terms of poverty reduc-

tion and are contributing to achieving the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).

Smaller projects tend to be extremely cost effective in terms of cost per beneficiary/

household and in terms of delivering a basket of technologies/ initiatives when

compared with larger projects.

The study has prompted a dialogue with the projects analyzed and implementers are

keen to continue this exchange in the future.

Background and methods

To date, there has been no in depth, independent

development and environmental impact of these

review of the first ACP EU Energy Facility (EUEF

initiatives and to learn about the challenges faced

1) Projects. As a part of the ongoing Energy for all

by the project implementers. A combined approach

2030 project the Stockholm Environment Institute

incorporating structured questionnaires, semi-

is conducting a study to acquire an understand-

structured interviews and secondary data analysis

ing of the impacts of these projects from the per-

(project implementers own reports, EUEF monitor-

spectives of the final beneficiaries and the project

ing reports and web based research) was applied

implementers. The main objectives are to map the

to allow for an initial rapid appraisal of a sample

EUEF 1 projects being implemented in Sub Saha-

of EUEF projects implemented under the first call.

ran Africa (SSA) in terms of project type, size, and

The study divided Sub Saharan Africa into four sub

technology; to review the projects performance in

regions; West Africa, East Africa, Central Africa and

terms of their ability to provide access to energy ser-

Southern Africa and projects from each region in

vices for the final beneficiaries; to understand the

SSA were included in the initial review.

Development Impacts

Wajir district in North Eastern Kenya by local NGO

The stated aim of the EUEF is to address the energy

ALDEF. The project is promoting the use of alterna-

access gap in ACP countries to reverse the inter-

tive and sustainable energy for rural households

twined problems of poverty, underproduction and

and institutions. The technology selected is solar

environmental degradation. Therefore, it was logi-

PV and as of March 2011, 17 solar units had been

cal to view and assess the impacts through the lens

installed. As well as providing access to water for

of the Millennium Development Framework. Of the

more than 7000 households in the area, the project

10 projects reviewed so far, all appear to be having

has brought about an improvement in the quality

a positive impact in terms of contributing to the

of education in the target area. So far, more than

achievement of the following MDGs: Goal 1: Eradi-

600 students in 15 schools are benefiting by having

cate extreme poverty and hunger; Goal 2: Achieve

access to lighting through the solar project which

universal primary education; Goal 3: Promote gen-

enables them to study after dusk.

der equality and empower women; Goal 4: Reduce

child mortality; Goal 5: Improve maternal health
and Goal 7: Ensure environmental sustainability.
Concrete examples are provided in the following
section to illustrate this.
Meeting the MDGs
Goal 1: Eradicate extreme poverty and hunger
In Tanzania, the International NGO HIVOS, in
partnership with local NGO TaTEDO is implementing a five year project financed by EUEF to provide integrated modern energy services for rural

Woman using sewing machine driven by solar energy (Plan International)

Tanzanians. The project, which is introducing a

diverse bundle of technologies and approaches

Goal 3: Promote gender equality and empower

including efficient wood burning stoves, improved

women

charcoal kilns, the commercial use of solar dryers

In Southern Ethiopia, the NGO LVIA is implement-

and liquid biofuels, has already covered 11 out of

ing a project to provide poor rural households with

20 districts in Tanzania. The project has led to the

access to energy services through the installation of

employment of 3500 small holder farmers who

biogas for cooking. This initiative has had a particu-

are now engaged in jatropha curcas production. In

larly positive impact on the quality of life of women

addition, the production, sale and maintenance

and girls. Prior to the implementation of the project,

of stoves has provided more than 2000 jobs across

women in the project communities typically spent

the districts covered. The Percentage of the

more than 8 hours per day cooking on inefficient,

rural population in Action areas living in poverty

smoky stoves and gathering fuelwood. The introduc-

line has reduced from the 2003/04 baseline data

tion of biogas for household cooking has resulted in

(UNDP report) of 39% to 32% in year 5 of the ac-

women and their daughters having more time avail-

tion. Since the project began the daily income of

able to engage in other activities such as the produc-

beneficiaries has moved from less than 1$ a day to

tion and sale of handicrafts.

more than 1.5$ a day and it is expected to continue. (Interview with TaTEDO project implementer)

Goal 4: Reduce child mortality & Goal 5: Improve

maternal health

Goal 2: Achieve universal primary education

In the Bayelsa State of Nigeria, local NGO Develop-

One of the smallest projects in terms of total fund-

ment Outreach has used solar energy to pump water

ing received is currently being implemented in the

for distribution to rural communities, resulting in

improvements in the quality of life of the beneficiar-

cover that would otherwise be felled for firewood

ies, particularly in terms of health. The project has

and charcoal is now being conserved and the

enabled 9000 people, who formally depended on

project has reduced local annual deforestation by

stream water for drinking and cooking to access reli-

half (from 400 000 to 200 000 ha).

able, clean and potable water. Prior to the project being implemented, the presence of human and animal

Cost and Benefit

waste in the stream meant that water borne diseases

One of the reasons that the smaller projects are

such as river blindness and bilharzias were prevelant

having such a broad development impact in their

in the communities. Now, with more than 90% of

communities is that they tend to deliver a tailor

households in the community using pumped water

made package in terms of approaches and tech-

for drinking, cooking and bathing, the incidences

nologies for addressing energy poverty. In the

of water borne diseases have decreased dramatically.

projects analyzed here, this nuanced approach

This has led to improved health for mothers and

to energy access was frequently noted in various

children.

forms whether addressing both fuel supply and

demand side constraints simultaneously (e.g. by

Goal 7: Ensure environmental sustainability

implementing efficient cooking stove projects

In 2007, Concern Universal began implement-

side by side with participatory approaches to

ing the Msamala Sustainable Energy Project in the

community forest conservation), or providing

Balaka district of Malawi with the overall aim of

training and capacity building for entrepreneurs

reducing poverty and extreme hunger in the area

and small businesses to design and deliver par-

through the introduction of fuel efficient cooking

ticular technologies and services to their commu-

stoves. To date, more than 9 000 households (25 785

nities. In every case, the starting point was a local

people) are benefitting directly through use of the

problem analysis and design of targeted interven-

new stoves. The use of wood saving stoves is easing

tion together with all stakeholders. Where electric-

pressure on forests. Approximately 40% of the forest

ity grid extension projects are implemented,

the benefits are rarely as diverse1. Given the broad

In such cases, projects need to make a special request

development impacts in terms of the numbers of

to the EC for derogation which entails a lengthy pro-

beneficiaries reached and the diverse and targeted

cess, often incurring delays to the project.

solutions offered, it is suggested here that investment

in small scale energy access projects represents real

Next Steps

value for money (see Box 1 on previous page for costs

The Stockholm Environment Institute will continue

per final beneficiary of the small scale EUEF 1 projects

to review EUEF 1 projects implemented in Africa us-

reviewed as compared with that of larger EUEF grid

ing the same methodology with the aim of providing

extension projects).

a more comprehensive understanding of the impacts

and perspectives of both the implementers and final

Challenges experienced by project implementers

beneficiaries. Our intention is to provide a more

Securing and administering EUEF financing is often

critical review of the various categories of projects

challenging, particularly for the smaller organizations

and, to this end, particular attention will be given to

interviewed. It was noted by the project implement-

examining the progress and impact of the larger scale

ers that raising the co financing required for EUEF

projects in meeting the stated objectives of the EUEF.

grants can pose problems, particularly given the cur-

A very positive outcome of this initial study phase

rent global financial landscape. In addition, the pro-

has been the creation of a platform for dialogue with

cess of procurement of goods and equipment appears

the project implementers and SEI intends to engage

to be a major constraint for some projects, particu-

with this important network of African civil society

larly in terms of the complexity of preparing tender

actors as the project develops.

documents and the tender and awarding process.

Components for energy systems are non-convention-

Authors

al goods, often unavailable in local markets and not

Fiona Lambe: fiona.lambe@sei.se

manufactured in the countries listed in the EC rules.

Lord Adusei: lord.adusei@sei.se

Brew-Hammond, A, (2010) Energy Access in Africa, Challenges Ahead, Energy Policy 38, 2291-2301

Key Recommendations

The EUEF as a financing mechanism is delivering energy access to some of the

most marginalized sections of African society and should, therefore, be maintained

and scaled up.

Any future monitoring and evaluation of the EUEF should focus on the impacts in

terms of poverty reduction and should select appropriate indicators and methods for

this; absolute figures in terms of final beneficiaries reached tell only part of the

story.
EU Funding
for and include direct

Such assessments
should aim for a disaggregated
approach
Energy for All 2030 project partners:
EU Funding
for
Access in

interviews with the final beneficiaries andEnergy
other stakeholders.
Energy
Access
in
Sub-Saharan
Further research is needed to understand the comparative cost effectiveness of
Africa
Sub-Saharan

the various types of energy access projects.
Africa
SEI, through the Energy for All 2030 Project, is well positioned to contribute to

future work in this area.
Energy for All 2030 project partners:

Energy for All 2030 project partners:

Energy for All 2030 project partners:

EU Funding for
Energy Access in
Sub-Saharan
Africa

Energy for All 2030 project partners:

1. Energy Access for the Poor and