- Rwanda’s Development Bank (BRD) has launched an initiative to provide SHS to about 10,000 households.
- Organisations can make an Rwf15,000 ($14.4) contribution, topped to Rwf115,000 by an SHS.
Rwanda Development Bank (BRD) has launched an initiative, #canachallenge, to provide solar home systems (SHS) to about 10,000 households in the country. The families under the first Ubudehe category (Ubudehe 1) constitute the most vulnerable Rwandans. The initiative has raised funding to provide energy to 3,120 families. A solar home system under this initiative will comprise a minimum of three lights, one radio, one torch lamp, and a USB plug to charge mobile phones.
The #canachallenge is a campaign where organisations and individuals can make a voluntary pledge and contribution to “Light up a Rwandan Family” not connected to the grid. The BRD has indicated that with only Rwf15,000 ($14.4) contribution, one can help provide solar energy to one household. For every contribution, the BRD will provide the remaining Rwf100,000 ($96) to fully finance the cost of a Solar Home System for one household.
Currently, over 850,000 households in Rwanda is yet to be connected to solar power, including 87,000 households in Ubudehe category 1. Liliane Igihozo Uwera, Special Project Implementation Unit (SPIU) Coordinator at BRD, noted that this initiative would also help improve the adoption of renewable energy in the country. Rwanda aims to increase access to 100 per cent of households by 2024, with 69.1 per cent connected to the grid and 30.9 per cent powered by off-grid power.