An impressive new wave of African climate innovators are revealed today at the Humanitarian Energy Conference (HEC) 2022, ahead of the opening of the Sustainable Energy for All Forum this week in Kigali, Rwanda.
Eight African low carbon enterprises are among eleven organisations from across the world showing how clean energy can power up entrepreneurship and inclusive development, as well as tackling the climate crisis and creating opportunities even in the most marginalised communities.
The organisations shortlisted for the prestigious 2022 international Ashden Awards, now in its 21st year are from Kenya, Togo, Zimbabwe, Malawi and Uganda.
The initiatives range from solar-powered hubs where refugees can launch businesses in Uganda, to pay-per-use cold storage for smallholder farmers in Kenya, to training programmes helping women launch clean energy companies and careers in Togo.
Each are thriving examples of the innovation needed to spearhead rapid decarbonisation, meet national climate targets, and create long-lasting, local employment opportunities. All the organisations identified are training up new green workforces.
The organisations, chosen to go through to the final stages of the Awards by international panels of low carbon experts, have demonstrated their performance in either energising agriculture, energy access in humanitarian environments, or energy access skills.
Ashden’s analysis of 148 international award applicants reveals effective public-private collaboration; community ownership and involvement; and enabling access to markets and finance, as hallmarks of pioneering work.
Ashden CEO Harriet Lamb said: “Supercharging economies and raising people’s incomes are just two of the many reasons for investing in energy access. But with 940 million people worldwide and around 570 million people in Africa living without electricity, it’s clear support for frontline innovators is falling short. A skills and training drought is one major obstacle to progress, alongside a lack of finance flowing to the frontline innovators.
In Sub-Saharan Africa the number of people without access to electricity increased in 2020 for the first time since 2013 (both stats IEA). A shortage of practical and effective training in the clean energy sector is a key factor in this, says Ms Lamb.
“A new global effort for low carbon energy access is urgently needed and African innovators have shown exemplary leadership in this global challenge. Ashden, along with partners in Africa, are calling for November’s COP27 climate talks in Egypt to focus on boosting energy access. Many of these organisations are showing exactly how that can be done – and how with the right support they could go much further.
“Universal access to clean, affordable energy is fundamental to climate justice. Donors and policymakers should act now to get funds flowing to energy access projects.”
Organisations shortlisted for the Ashden Awards international categories also came from India and Turkey. Ashden is also running three awards focused on climate innovation in the UK. The 2022 international Ashden Award winners will be announced in Nairobi in October.
Winners receive grants and business support – while all shortlisted organisations benefit from publicity and connection to investment and partnership opportunities.
Trailblazing organisations shortlisted for the Ashden Awards 2022
Ashden Award for Energising Refugee Livelihoods (Kenya, Uganda, Turkey)
Kakuma Ventures, Kenya
Creating clean energy, internet connections and new jobs for refugee camp residents
Solar-powered business hubs energise refugee entrepreneurs
Imece Initiative (Imece Insiyatifi Centre), Turkey
Training refugee women in Turkey for a future as solar engineers
Ashden Award for Energising Agriculture (Uganda, Kenya, 2 India)
Mandulis Energy, Uganda
Turning agricultural waste into electricity and clean cooking fuels and organic biofertilisers – the circular economy in action
SokoFresh, Kenya
Sustainable cold storage for smallholders, matched with help getting products to market.
Collectives for Integrated Livelihoods Initiative India
Community-led production hubs in India’s tribal areas.
Oorja Development Solutions, India
Bringing pay-per-use irrigation, milling and cooling to farmers.
Ashden Award for Energy Access Skills (Uganda, Malawi, Zimbabwe, Togo)
Energrow, Uganda
Microfinance and micro business training for productive uses of energy helps communities earn more money and helps rural energy companies be more financially sustainable through increased sales.
A rural mini-grid creates training opportunities for local people, backed by academic partners inside and outside the country.
Zonful Energy, Zimbabwe
Training in the solar sector for rural young people, through collaboration with colleges and NGOs, alongside connections to jobs.
Energy Generation, Togo
A ground-breaking entrepreneurial training centre empowering entrepreneurs to create solutions for Africans by Africans – sparking opportunities for women.
Since launching in 2001, the annual Ashden Awards have boosted 245 outstanding organisations in the UK and around the world.
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