Rural African Economic Development
Donation protected
Sustainable Off-grid Solutions for African Economic Development
More than 1 billion people across the globe live without access to electric power. Two thirds of these people live in Sub-Saharan Africa, where grid-supplied electric power is generally unavailable in rural areas and often unreliable elsewhere. In Kenya, for example, urban centers are currently about 60% electrified, whereas in rural areas, such as Turkana County, electrification rates are typically 2% - 6%. Connected to this broad lack of access to electric power in Turkana County are concerns about access to clean water, health, education and connectivity, components of infrastructural and economic development that constitute some of the most central challenges faced throughout rural Sub-Saharan Africa today.
Electric power is the key to economic development, and in rural Sub-Saharan Africa the best near-term option is solar-based local power generation. It relies on a plentiful natural resource and the cost of the associated equipment is steadily falling.
Access to power will also enable or enhance other requirements of a developing community, i.e. lighting for homes, businesses, schools and clinics, water pumping and purification, refrigeration and improved wireless connectivity, all of which contribute to improved education, healthcare, sanitation, security and above all community resilience and individual empowerment.
In order for off-grid solar power to be the basis of sustainable local economic development, there must be local availability of trained solar technicians, funds for equipment expansion/maintenance/replacement and community involvement.
A common motif that runs through a variety of past and present solar-energy related projects implemented across Africa is the deterioration and gradual abandonment of solar equipment installed in rural areas. Such occurrences point to serious shortfalls in basic training programs, continued operational support and close community involvement.
For a productive use of electric power (power used to create a product or service) to successfully create or expand local businesses, all of these aspects must be central concerns from the outset, proactively pursued at all stages of the project’s development. Moreover, training in entrepreneurship and business management must necessarily be provided to many of those from local communities who seek to become involved.
Sustainable Off-grid Solutions for African Economic Development (SOSAED) is a new project involving Kenyan and US businesses and educational institutions. It is led by Stony Brook University in New York and the Turkana Basin Institute in Kenya (www.turkanabasin.org).
SOSAED’s goal is to help rural African communities develop the tools for economic development based on locally generated solar power, local training and community participation. The community’s women and youth groups, as well as local financial institutions will play key roles.
SOSAED will pilot test this approach to sustainable development in northwestern Kenya, using the Turkana Basin Institute’s research and residence facilities around Lake Turkana as a test bed and base of operations. A dialogue has been established between SOSAED, Turkana County government officials and a number of local communities to ensure alignment with local government development priorities, as well as those of the communities themselves.
SOSAED has hired young Kenyan Engineers who are stationed in Nairobi and Turkana County. The funds requested will support them to do the research necessary to turn these goals into a detailed project plan and budget.
More than 1 billion people across the globe live without access to electric power. Two thirds of these people live in Sub-Saharan Africa, where grid-supplied electric power is generally unavailable in rural areas and often unreliable elsewhere. In Kenya, for example, urban centers are currently about 60% electrified, whereas in rural areas, such as Turkana County, electrification rates are typically 2% - 6%. Connected to this broad lack of access to electric power in Turkana County are concerns about access to clean water, health, education and connectivity, components of infrastructural and economic development that constitute some of the most central challenges faced throughout rural Sub-Saharan Africa today.
Electric power is the key to economic development, and in rural Sub-Saharan Africa the best near-term option is solar-based local power generation. It relies on a plentiful natural resource and the cost of the associated equipment is steadily falling.
Access to power will also enable or enhance other requirements of a developing community, i.e. lighting for homes, businesses, schools and clinics, water pumping and purification, refrigeration and improved wireless connectivity, all of which contribute to improved education, healthcare, sanitation, security and above all community resilience and individual empowerment.
In order for off-grid solar power to be the basis of sustainable local economic development, there must be local availability of trained solar technicians, funds for equipment expansion/maintenance/replacement and community involvement.
A common motif that runs through a variety of past and present solar-energy related projects implemented across Africa is the deterioration and gradual abandonment of solar equipment installed in rural areas. Such occurrences point to serious shortfalls in basic training programs, continued operational support and close community involvement.
For a productive use of electric power (power used to create a product or service) to successfully create or expand local businesses, all of these aspects must be central concerns from the outset, proactively pursued at all stages of the project’s development. Moreover, training in entrepreneurship and business management must necessarily be provided to many of those from local communities who seek to become involved.
Sustainable Off-grid Solutions for African Economic Development (SOSAED) is a new project involving Kenyan and US businesses and educational institutions. It is led by Stony Brook University in New York and the Turkana Basin Institute in Kenya (www.turkanabasin.org).
SOSAED’s goal is to help rural African communities develop the tools for economic development based on locally generated solar power, local training and community participation. The community’s women and youth groups, as well as local financial institutions will play key roles.
SOSAED will pilot test this approach to sustainable development in northwestern Kenya, using the Turkana Basin Institute’s research and residence facilities around Lake Turkana as a test bed and base of operations. A dialogue has been established between SOSAED, Turkana County government officials and a number of local communities to ensure alignment with local government development priorities, as well as those of the communities themselves.
SOSAED has hired young Kenyan Engineers who are stationed in Nairobi and Turkana County. The funds requested will support them to do the research necessary to turn these goals into a detailed project plan and budget.
Organizer
Samuel Aronson
Organizer
East Setauket, NY
