Sahel - Renewable Energy Sahel - Renewable Energy Insatsen ska genomföras av UNOPS i samarbete med UNDP och koordineras av ALG (Integrated Development Authority of the Liptako-Gourma Region), en mellanstatlig organisation med uppdraget att främja gränsöverskridande utveckling inom sektorerna energi, gruvnäring, vatten, jordbruk och fiske i Liptako Gourma-regionen som ligger i gränstrakten mellan Mali, Niger och Burkina Faso.

Insatsen är nära planerad med en annan insats som även den är en följd av regeringens Sahel-satsning; Cross-border cooperation in Liptako-Gourma vars syfte är utveckling och stabilisering i Liptako Gourma. Syftet med denna koordinering är att få större utväxling i båda initiativen genom geografisk koordinering och samarbete insatserna emellan. 

Insatsen ska medverka till att öka tillgången på förnybar energi i Liptako Gourma-regionen. Den ska också bidra till den socioekonomiska utvecklingen i berörda samhällen. Vidare ska insatsen bidra till att utveckla de lagar och regelverk som påverkar tillhandahållandet av energitjänster off-grid av privata aktörer i de tre länderna. Slutligen ska insatsen stödja den ALG i dess ansträngningar för att främja förnybar energi och hållbar rural elektrifiering.

Den totala budgeten för insatsen är 76 550 000 SEK och implementeras genom ett upplägg med fem komponenter.

1. Institutionellt stöd för att skapa nationella plattformar för koordinering av initiativ inom förnybar energi samt utveckling av systemstöd för att kartlägga och övervaka energitillgången.

2. Upphandling, installation och driftsättning av två mini-grids i respektive land.

3. Stöd för att förbättra regelverk och policies rörande energisektorn i de tre länderna

4. Stöd till de lokala privata aktörerna inom den förnybara energisektorn samt utveckling av modeller för att driva mini-grids på ett ekonomiskt hållbart sätt.

5. Lokal utveckling av inkomstbringande verksamheter som följd av den åkade tillgången på energi. Initialt kommer en satsning att ske inom Clean-Cooking-sektorn (ren matlagning).

Insatsen är en utforskande första fas i ett tänkt större program, den sträcker sig över tre år. I det efterföljande programmet ska andra givare och finansiärer bjudas in för att skala upp effekterna i hela regionen genom att bygga vidare på den av Sverige finansierade första fasen. Tanken är att man inom ramen för den här beskrivna insatsen ska lära sig, till exempel vilka affärsmodeller som fungerar för att sedan kunna applicera dessa i större skala. Vidare kommer förbättrade regelverk inom energisektorn i regionen att vara en förutsättning för att man ska kunna gå in den efterföljande fasen. UNOPS kommer under genomförandet av insatsen även att arbeta för att attrahera finansiärer till den efterföljande fasen. The project will be implemented by UNOPS in collaboration with UNDP and coordinated by ALG (Integrated Development Authority of the Liptako-Gourma Region), an intergovernmental organization with the mission of promoting cross-border development in the energy, mining, water, agriculture and fisheries sectors of the Liptako Gourma region located in the border lands between Mali, Niger and Burkina Faso.

The project is part of the Swedish Government's special security and climate initiative in the Sahel region, which was announced in 2018. The region is one of the most affected when it comes to climate change. Drought, deforestation and desertification intensify ongoing conflicts and contribute to new ones. This project is based on the experience gained by UNOPS following the implementation of a similar program (RREP) in Sierra Leone. Following the Government's Sahel initiative, Sida analyzed various energy projects in West Africa to assess alternatives for the project. The above-mentioned RREP project was deemed particularly relevant and a dialogue was therefore initiated with UNOPS to develop a similar project in Liptako Gourma, of which this project is the result.

The project will be coordinated with another program which is also a result of the Government's Sahel initiative; Cross-border cooperation in Liptako-Gourma, the purpose of this program is development and stabilization in Liptako Gourma. Through geographical coordination and cooperation, Sida expects greater impact for both contributions through.

The project will help increase the supply of renewable energy in the Liptako Gourma region. It will also contribute to the socio-economic development of the targeted communities. Furthermore, the project will contribute to the development of the legislation and regulations that affect the provision of off-grid energy services by private actors in the three countries. Finally, the effort will support the ALG in its efforts to promote renewable energy and sustainable rural electrification.

The total project budget is 76 550 000 SEK.

The project has a transformative approach and is structured around five components.

1. Institutional support for the creation of national platforms for the coordination of renewable energy initiatives and the development of system support for the mapping and monitoring of energy resources.

2. Procurement, installation and commissioning of two mini-grids in each country.

3. Support for improving regulations and policies concerning the energy sector in the three countries

4. Support for local private actors in the renewable energy sector and the development of models for operating mini-grids in an economically sustainable way.

5. Local development of income-generating activities as a result of the increased supply of energy. Initially, an investment will be made in the Clean-Cooking sector.

The project constitutes an exploratory first phase in planned larger program, it extends over three years. In the subsequent program, other donors and financiers will be invited to help scale up the effects in the entire region by building on the first phase financed by Sweden. The idea is that within the framework of the initiative described here, one should learn, for example, which business models work in order to then be able to apply these on a larger scale. Furthermore, improved regulations in the energy sector in the region will be a prerequisite for entering the subsequent phase. During the implementation of the initiative, UNOPS will also work to attract financiers to the subsequent phase. The overall objective of this contribution is to contribute to the economic and social development of communities in the Liptako-Gourma region through reliable and sustainable access to clean energy in rural areas.
The specific objectives are:
1. Provide clean, reliable and sustainable rural off-grid electrification solutions in targeted rural areas of the Liptako-Gourma region
2. Participate in the socio-economic development of local communities through the development of productive activities supported by the energy infrastructures
3. Support the establishment of an enabling environment, including regulatory and legislative environment, conducive to the development of renewable energy, mini-grids and private sector investment in this domain in all three countries
4. Support ALG in coordinating the efforts of the three countries to promote renewable energy and sustainable rural electrification.
 
The follow up of the project will be tied to a results framework consisting of a set of indicators presented in the project document, this is in turn foreseen to contribute to progress within the following areas: 
1. Poverty reduction and improvement of the quality of life in rural areas
2. Reduction of CO2 emissions
3. Improvement of women's living and working conditions
4. Reduction of the potential for conflict
5. Job creation and development of economic opportunities for communities in the targeted areas
6. Improved sanitary conditions
7. Improved conditions for education and learning
8. Improved regulatory and legislative environment across all three countries, opening further opportunities for investment in energy infrastructures
9. Increased involvement of the private sector in rural electrification in the three countries
10. Strengthened national, regional and local institutional capacities