She Shapes Solar: A partnership between She Shapes The City & GIZ

She Shapes The City is excited to be partnering with GIZ for She Shapes Solar! With this campaign we are shining a spotlight on the opportunities of solar energy and generating discussion on how to sustainably electrify Kenya by empowering women.

 

 GIZ

The Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) mbH is a global service provider in the field of international cooperation for sustainable development. GIZ has over 50 years of experience in a wide variety of areas, including economic development and employment, energy and the environment, and peace and security. As a public-benefit federal enterprise, GIZ supports the German Government – in particular the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) – and public and private sector clients in around 130 countries in achieving their objectives in international cooperation.

With this aim, GIZ works together with its partners to develop effective solutions that offer people better prospects and sustainably improve their living conditions.

 

 Promotion of Solar Hybrid Mini-grids in Kenya Project

Improving the access to modern energy services in rural areas in developing countries remains a major development priority. There is increasing interest in complementary solutions to grid extensions such as solar mini-grids that have the potential to quickly improve access to electricity in remote areas.

The GIZ project, Promotion of Solar-Hybrid Mini-Grids (ProSolar), in collaboration with the Ministry of Energy and Petroleum and its institutions – the Electricity Regulatory Commission, the Rural Electrification Authority, and Kenya Power and Lighting Company -aims at improving the electrification of remote areas in Kenya through mini and micro-grids. The project supports development of policy and practical implementation of mechanisms that harness the efficiency and effectiveness of the private sector in bringing access to cost effective and sustainable power supply in rural areas. Target areas include Turkana, Marsabit and Narok counties.

ProSolar is implemented by GIZ on behalf of the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ). The project is part of the German Climate Technology Initiative (DKTI). The project intends to transform the social, economic and environmental conditions of various target groups, with a special focus on private and small-business power consumers in localities where the extension of the national power grid is not economically feasible.

 

Pro Solar and Women 

The general trend in the energy sector is that women are less engaged in solar policy, generation, distribution and commercial services. Considering women make up over half of the population of Kenya ensuring that women have access to solar energy will support a future for sustainable energy in the country.

ProSolar seeks to contribute to changing the current trend by increasing the number of women:

• in funding mechanisms such as licensing procedures, tendering, etc
• accessing power supplied by solar hybrid mini-grids in underserved regions
• and female led households in rural Kenya accessing or purchasing solar home systems (ie solar lanterns and mobile phone chargers)

ProSolar is also supports women:

– disseminating, gaining and using technical skills in solar installation, operation and maintenance

– using solar systems to enhance productivity

– in policy making towards uptake of renewable energy