SNV and partners results-based finance webinar draws almost 200 attendees
SNV hosted a successful webinar focusing on Results-based Finance (RBF) projects in Kenya on 9 June. The event surpassed expectations with almost 200 attendees from across the private sector, government, academia and the donor community.
During the webinar, partners SNV, Energising Development (EnDev), CLASP, GIZ and Hivos shared experience and lessons learnt from the EnDev funded interventions on clean cooking and lighting implemented in Kenya.
EnDev implements RBF schemes offering incentive payments to private sector market actors in the low-carbon off-grid energy sector in developing countries. Payments are made against pre-specified results achieved in delivery and sustainable operation of modern energy technologies and or services.
Susanne Hounsell, SNV’s Sector Lead for Energy in Kenya & Burundi introduced the session and gave background information on the Kenya based projects. A short poll was taken to determine the demographic of the audience which uncovered that most of the participants came from the private sector. In addition, 68% of the attendees had a focus on off-grid solar.
Following on from Susanne, Walter Kipruto the Component Leader for Solar for GIZ Kenya illustrated the RBF model further in terms of the structure and set up of a project, the objective for EnDev of such projects and the implemention process.
Next, two sustainable energy experts from SNV Irene Mutisya and Saada Mohamed Sala discussed a cookstove and solar project and the results achieved between 2016 – 2019. At a household level, 1.8M people are now able to access energy services and 4,678 jobs were created. 40% of those jobs created have female employees. On an environmental level, since the projects commenced, 90,605 tC02 equivalent has been avoided. From a market transformation perspective the project saw the expansion of distribution networks and growth in the sale of quality products. The experts went on to discuss the lessons learnt from this project and recommendations for future initiatives.
Next on the agenda was a presentation looking at RBFs from a Biodigester perspective from Jean-Marc Sika from Hivos. Jean was unfortunately, unable to join in person due to technical difficulties however his presentation covered The Africa Biogas Partnership Programme (ABPP) which aims to establish a market-oriented sector in 6 Africa countries (Burkina Faso, Ethiopia, Kenya, Tanzania, Senegal & Uganda). His presentation was shared after the event.
Nyamolo Abagi, Clean Energy Access, Manager, CLASP explained her organisations role in the Efficiency for Access Donor Coalition whose members include leading aid agencies and foundations committed to accelerating universal access to modern energy services. She also gave feedback on the experience of using RBF as a tool for the Global LEAP Awards winners. These awards are an international competition to identify and promote the world’s best off-grid appliances, accelerating market development and innovation.
Jackson Mutonga, Senior Advisor at GIZ discussed the RBF mini-grids project approach in Kenya which aims to contribute to an affordable, clean and sustainable power supply in off-grid areas in line with Kenya's target of universal electricity access by 2022.
Next Ashington Ngigi, the SNV Team Leader managing Kenya Off-grid Solar programme (KOSAP) RBF and debt facilities explained how the KOSAP team manage the RBF component for 3 distinct facilities in this project. His presentation concluded that RBF cannot replace working capital and that collaboration at all levels is needed for a successful programme.
Following the presentations, there were many questions from the audiences which covered themes such as beneficiary recruitment, community engagement, data issues and the sustainability and project legacy and questions related the specific technologies incorporated into the projects.
About the Endev programme
The Energising Development (EnDev) programme is a multi-donor partnership, currently financed and governed by the governments of the Netherlands, Germany, Norway, the United Kingdom, Switzerland, and Sweden. EnDev promotes sustainable access to modern energy services for households, social institutions and small to medium-sized enterprises in developing countries in Africa, Asia and Latin America.