
Guinea-Bissau
Rural Electrification through Solar-energy Systems
Overview
This initiative focused on bringing solar energy to 20 villages and expanded the solar-energy component of a previous IBSA Fund project in Guinea-Bissau, incorporating lessons from the five pilot villages that had initially received and had been using solar equipment. It supported all villages to develop effective and sustainable management of solar equipment.
Beneficiaries
Communities in 20 village
Partners
25 villages, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, UNDP Guinea-Bissau, Central Electronics Limited
Budget
$596,305
Duration
July 2011–May 2015
Key Results
20,000 community members benefited from solar energy provided in their homes, schools and community centres, and for street lights and solar water pumps.
120 beneficiaries (62 per cent female) participated in workshops on village mobilization regarding the management of solar-energy systems. Other community members volunteered for the work supporting the installation of solar equipment.
The solar energy in youth centres and schools helped women to learn to read and write in the evenings.