ChildFund, Schneider Electric partner to expand clean energy access in Kenya and Africa

ChildFund International and Schneider Electric have entered a four-year partnership to expand access to renewable energy in underserved communities across Africa and Asia, with projects targeting schools, health facilities, farmers and small businesses.

The initiative will see the two organisations co-design and implement clean energy projects aimed at improving access to essential services and strengthening community resilience.

In Africa, the programme will focus on Kenya, Uganda, Ethiopia, Zambia, Mozambique, Sierra Leone, Senegal, Guinea and The Gambia, while Indonesia, the Philippines, Sri Lanka and India will be covered in Asia.

The projects will address energy needs in education, healthcare, agriculture and livelihoods, as well as youth skills development, entrepreneurship and emergency response.

ChildFund Chief Impact and Innovation Officer Karen Hanrahan said reliable energy was critical to the delivery of basic services affecting children and families.

"We rarely talk about energy as a children's issue, but it should be one of the first things we discuss," Hanrahan said. "A clinic without reliable power cannot safely refrigerate vaccines."

The partnership will also support the use of electricity in schools for evening classes and digital learning, while farmers could benefit from power for irrigation and agricultural processing equipment.

Schneider Electric's Access to Energy team will provide technical support, renewable energy equipment and training in electrical skills, as well as system operation and maintenance.

ChildFund will conduct community needs assessments and consultations with young people and residents to identify priority projects, while also working with local authorities and community institutions.

The partnership builds on Schneider Electric's Access to Energy programme, which was launched in 2009 and has supported energy access initiatives in more than 50 countries.

Schneider Electric Global Vice President for Access to Energy Jamal Safiulla said the partnership would link renewable energy solutions with community-level development needs.

"Access to reliable electricity is a catalyst for better education, healthcare, livelihoods, and improved socio-economic conditions," Safiulla said.

The agreement was signed by Hanrahan and Safiulla.