Efficiency for Access

We are thrilled to announce the eleven grantees awarded a share of $1.7M from our recent Agritech Call. This funding will support innovators in developing clean energy technologies for agricultural value chains in Sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia.     Eleven organisations will use this support to implement solutions such as evaporative cooling chambers, solar-powered dryers, and low-cost refrigerated systems. The advancement of technologies like these are crucial for reducing food loss and improving market access for smallholder farmers.    Read more about the technologies and organisations awarded funding here: https://lnkd.in/ecG69Wus 

As our #PoweringInclusion campaign wraps up today, we want to reflect on the themes we've explored together over the past six weeks. We've shared content from ourselves and our partners, showcasing vital projects that have greatly improved the lives and livelihoods of those in off- and weak-grid communities. It's crucial that everyone benefits from such projects, regardless of their circumstances. We wanted to shine a light on the importance of: - Promoting gender equality in the clean energy sector - Green technologies to foster sustainable development and create green jobs - Projects which are bringing sustainable food and farming solutions to those living in frontline communities or are displaced through no fault of their own. Let us know what you enjoyed most and stay tuned to the Efficiency for Access website, as well as our social feeds, as we continue to share success stories of funded projects that aim to accelerate access to clean energy through cost-effective, efficient, and universally accessible appliances. We'd also like to thank many of our partners for their participation and contributions to this campaign! 60 Decibels Acumen Ashden EEP Africa GOGLA Global Platform for Action (GPA) IKEA Foundation Power Africa Power for All United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR) USAID Sustainable Energy for All (SEforALL) Transforming Energy Access

By 2030, an estimated 660 million people will still lack access to electricity. Off-grid energy solutions hold the key to bridging this energy gap and creating an inclusive future across the Global South. Explore the latest insights from 60 Decibels' groundbreaking report, 'Why Off-Grid Energy Matters', based on interviews with 79,000 off-grid energy customers in over 30 countries. This comprehensive assessment reveals significant improvements in livelihoods, with over half of the customers surveyed experiencing positive changes and 9 in 10 reporting enhanced wellbeing. As we strive to empower all communities, equally and inclusively, this report offers practical insights and actionable steps to ensure no one is left behind. Together, we can alleviate poverty, eliminate gender disparity, create green jobs and uplift displaced people. Dive into the full report for illuminating insights: https://lnkd.in/eMB8kDPP Join the conversation and share your thoughts on the report's key findings – what resonates with you the most? #PoweringInclusion #SDG7 #offgridenergy

We've reached the final week of our #PoweringInclusion campaign - your last chance to join the conversation in advocating for a more sustainable, inclusive and equitable energy future for all. First off, we'd like to shine a light on Ener-G-Africa's ambitious efforts to meet Africa’s growing clean energy needs, creating numerous green jobs for women. Ener-G-Africa, a Power Africa partner, is revolutionising the traditionally male-dominated solar industry, with their all-women team focused on efficient and innovative technologies to reach underserved communities. Rene Salmon, production manager at Ener-G-Africa, says “I want us to be known as the very best, a world-class manufacturing facility for solar that’s run by women.” Discover how Ener-G-Africa’s initiatives empower women and build a greener future in Africa. Read Power Africa’s full story: https://lnkd.in/dBDygJac How can we further support the creation of green jobs for women in the Global South? Share your thoughts below! #GreenJobs #GenderAndWomen

In global displacement crises, access to reliable energy emerges as a critical yet often overlooked need. Refugee communities, typically isolated from national grids, face daily challenges in powering homes, schools, and health clinics. This impacts their quality of life and hinders their ability to engage in income-generating activities. Off-grid appliances offer a sustainable alternative to address this issue. Practical Action's Renewable Energy for Refugees (RE4R) project is #PoweringInclusion and transforming lives for displaced communities in Rwanda 🇷🇼. Watch to learn how this initiative is making a difference: https://bit.ly/3RICBUz

🚨 Tune in Tomorrow! 🚨    Join us on Wednesday, 3 July, for our second Research Expo! This interactive event promises an insightful tour of our latest research across multiple areas of clean energy access in the Global South.     This is your chance to engage directly in discourse with authors and project managers in your field of interest.     📅 Schedule & Topics:    Life Cycle Assessment of Low-Carbon Walk-In Cold Rooms  🕐 3:00 - 3:30pm EAT  👉 https://lnkd.in/epBt2Pim    Energy Access and Appliances in Humanitarian Settings  🕜 3:30 - 4:00pm EAT  👉 https://lnkd.in/e_bdm9n9    Tech Trends in Solar Dryers  🕑 4:00 - 4:30pm EAT  👉 https://lnkd.in/eAbe5dpS    Powering Jobs Phase II: How DRE Technologies can unlock on-Farm and Off-Farm Employment   🕝 4:30 - 5:00pm EAT  👉 https://lnkd.in/eXWdHM5s    Don't miss this opportunity to be part of the conversation shaping the future of sustainable energy and technology. Mark your calendars and join us for this engaging event. See you there!    #CleanEnergyAccess  #ResearchExpo  #SustainableDevelopment Solar Cooling Engineering GmbH  Global Platform for Action (GPA)  African Centre for Technology Studies (ACTS)  Power for All  CLASP  Energy Saving Trust 

Climate change is wreaking havoc in East Africa, causing severe droughts, floods, and food insecurity. This is the great cost of inaction from developed economies most responsible for climate change. The least responsible, that is the 570 million small-scale farmers, who produce 30% of the world’s food, are seeing their agricultural productivity plummeting. Millions are being displaced, losing their homes and access to essentials. Jacqueline Novogratz from Acumen stresses the urgency of our task in her article, “The cost of inaction: How climate chaos in East Africa devastates the most vulnerable”, published in May 2024. She calls for investments in resilient infrastructure, renewable energy, and sustainable agricultural practices to support affected communities, emphasising collaboration between governments, NGOs, and the private sector is crucial to addressing this humanitarian crisis. Together, let's empower communities and secure a sustainable future. Dive into the full article now: https://lnkd.in/ewrbwuHU #PoweringInclusion

Get ready, our second Research Expo is just around the corner!    Don't miss out on a virtual event packed with interactive learning, and a chance to engage directly with the minds behind the research.     Date: 3 July 2024    📅 Schedule & Topics:    Life Cycle Assessment of Low-Carbon Walk-In Cold Rooms  🕐 3:00 - 3:30pm EAT  👉 https://lnkd.in/epBt2Pim    Energy Access and Appliances in Humanitarian Settings  🕜 3:30 - 4:00pm EAT  👉 https://lnkd.in/e_bdm9n9    Tech Trends in Solar Dryers  🕑 4:00 - 4:30pm EAT  👉 https://lnkd.in/eAbe5dpS    Powering Jobs Phase II: How DRE Technologies can unlock on-Farm and Off-Farm Employment   🕝 4:30 - 5:00pm EAT  👉 https://lnkd.in/eXWdHM5s    Make sure to mark your calendar and be part of the conversation shaping the future of sustainable energy and technology. See you there!    #ResearchExpo Solar Cooling Engineering GmbH  Global Platform for Action (GPA)  African Centre for Technology Studies (ACTS)  Power for All  CLASP  Energy Saving Trust 

Did you know - nearly 3.5 billion people worldwide experience energy poverty, lacking access to electricity and basic energy services? This stifles productivity and limits economic growth in countless communities. Productive-use appliances like solar-powered refrigerators, water pumps, and milling machines offer a transformative solution. In Nigeria, CLASP’s financing facility is supporting Koolboks to provide affordable, reliable cooling solutions to small businesses, demonstrating the real-world impact of these innovations: https://bit.ly/4cFHhlY These appliances are powered by renewable energy sources, making them better for the environment, unlike traditional, polluting fuels. The appliances also result in energy savings for consumers. #PoweringInclusion

In 2017, Hilaria Paschal, a farmer and basket weaver from Northern Tanzania, spoke at the Sustainable Energy for All (SEforALL) Forum in New York – a far cry from the days when she lacked basic access to electricity. Off-grid solar energy transformed Hilaria’s life, enabling her to become an entrepreneur and helped impact her community positively. Hilaria’s journey highlights the untapped potential of women in the energy sector, amplifying the idea that investing in women entrepreneurs can significantly benefit off-grid communities and the local economy. You can read more about Hilaria’s journey in this GOGLA article: https://lnkd.in/dyWxHytH