Page 52 - DHCI Magazine

‘What I really appreciated was the fact that it is quite systematic. We have tackled the initial challenge in quite a formal way’
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With 272,000 inhabitants there are more people living in Bidibidi, a refugee settlement and its surrounding communities in north western Uganda, than in the Dutch city
of Eindhoven. Despite these impressive population figures, access to clean, affordable and reliable energy is restricted due to the weakness of the existing market in the Bidibidi camp. A weak market means that
the choice of products is limited and that the products available are either too expensive,
of low quality or lack simple post-sales services. Mercy Corps joined the Access to Modern Energy accelerator programme with the objective of finding the best solutions that would ultimately stimulate and de-risk the private sector entry into displacement settings such as the Bidibidi refugee settlement.
Diversified and sustainable
Mercy Corps was looking for partners that could help them set up sustainable and functioning markets for refugees and host community members, whilst also guaranteeing that these markets are accessible to all segments. Ultimately, the energy products available to the communities should be diversified and the energy solutions should be sustainable and affordable. Cecilia Ragazzi, Senior Advisor on Access to Energy at Mercy Corps: “We can see that communities in displacement settings are struggling to get quality energy products and services that could really fulfil their energy needs that are required to develop themselves and live more productive and qualitatively better lives.”
Partners that fit the profile
Mercy Corps found three partners that fit
the profile: The Foundation Rural Energy Services (FRES), ENVenture, and Green Innovation Ventures. These three partners offer tailored energy solutions, such as multifunctional platforms but also products such as solar home systems, solar lanterns, and television sets, training and acceleration programmes for energy cooperatives, as well as payment solutions. The DCHI accelerator
Humanitarian Impact Re-imagined