Photo: Magdalena Frank and Edmond Buigut
The program aligns with the SDG 7 which aims to ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all, and SDG 13 which aims to take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts. Additionally, it also aligns with the principles of Laudato Si', a papal encyclical letter by Pope Francis, which calls for a shift towards renewable energy sources as a way to combat climate change and protect “our common home”.
Dioceses of Gulu (UGA) and Lodwar (KEN): Directly involved are 537 people, indirectly about 500.000.
Despite ongoing efforts to increase access to energy in Africa, a significant portion of the population, particularly in rural and remote areas, still lacks access to affordable and reliable energy services. According to data from the World Bank and the International Energy Agency (IEA) in 2020, only 42 % of the population in Uganda and 71 % of the population in Kenya had access to electricity, with even lower access in rural areas at 33 % and 63 % respectively. This lack of access to energy hinders economic development and exacerbates poverty, as access to electricity is a prerequisite for many socio-economic activities such as education, health care and economic development. The lack of energy access and energy planning over proportionally affects women and girls.
The programme encompasses three key areas: Raising awareness on climate action and the energy/development nexus, building capacity for dioceses in renewable energy planning and, providing direct support for solar system rapair, upscaling, and installation.
