Solar Works Community Based Green Energy Project (CB-GEP) Solar Works Community Based Green Energy Project (CB-GEP) is a 4 year project whose overall aim is to contribute towards increasing access to modern, affordable and sustainable energy services for 407,792 households through 138 schools and health centres and 69 rural community based groups in rural and peri-urban areas in Kenya. The programme will be implemented in the Eastern and Rift Valley Provinces in Kenya specifically in the districts of Kyuso, Mwingi, Mutomo, Kitui, Garbatulla, Isiolo, Kajiado North and Kajiado Central. The programme will be implemented in partnership with Dupoto-E-Maa, Catholic Dioceses of Isiolo and Kitui and Solar Works East Africa Limited which is a private Sector Company focusing on Solar Energy Technology and operating in East Africa region. 

The programme plans to address the problem of poor and inadequate access to energy in target areas by offering solar energy solutions for over 407,792 households, 138 school and health institutions, and 69 rural community based groups within 4 years. 

The programme has 4 key specific and closely interrelated objectives that include: 
1. To improve provision of energy services for schools and health centres in rural and peri-urban areas in target districts. Energy services for rural and peri-urban poor by focusing on renewable energy solutions as well as on energy efficiency measures through directly providing energy services in rural and per-urban areas in target districts. This will be achieved through installation of solar photovoltaic (PV) systems, solar water heating systems, solar water purification plants and energy saving jikos (stoves) for rural and peri-urban institutions.
2. To increase local incomes for rural and peri-urban youth and women groups through installation of off-grid information and communication technology (ICT) centres in rural townships that will be incorporate cyber cafes, computer training and related services. The project will install solar computers, printers and photocopiers and establish solar commercial kiosks for mobile charging and barber services at strategic centres. The ICT centres and commercial kiosks will be owned and managed by selected and trained youth groups.
3. To improve management of natural resources by target rural and peri-urban communities through providing alternatives to crude sources of energy such as wood fuel, kerosene and charcoal through installation of solar water pumping systems at existing water structures, support for solar lighting systems for schools and health centres, use of energy saving jikos and community awareness raising on environmental protection.
4. To build local capacities of partners and target communities for implementing and managing modern energy systems. Solar Works E.A Limited will work in partnership with CAFOD and CAFOD Implementing partners including the dioceses of Kitui, Isiolo and Dupoto-e-Maa to train local partner staff, students and staff at target schools and health centres as well as community groups members on maintenance of energy systems and creation of awareness of the target beneficiaries on how to maintain and ensure safety of the energy systems as well as understand the benefits of sustainable environmental management. This will lead to technology transfer in rural and peri-urban areas and hence create a conducive environment for replication of the proposed actions as well as reinforced capacities at target areas.
The programme is specifically designed to offer renewable energy and sustainable decentralised solutions, giving priority to energy efficiency through use of solar for household and institutional use. The programme further offers an innovative approach to ongoing development initiatives through the inclusion of private sector in providing technical support and capacity strengthening for greater sustainability and replication.

The expected programme results include:
1. Improved school performance for marginalized children in 90 rural schools
2. Improved drug storage for 48 health institutions in rural and peri-urban areas through installation of solar refrigeration systems.
3. Increased rural incomes for 69 women and youth groups through energy systems investments.
4. Improved communication for target rural communities.
5. Reduced environmental degradation and enhanced environmental protection.
6. Reinforced capacities of key stakeholders and the development of an enabling environment for private sector investment.
7. Improved partner and community capacity in handling and maintaining energy projects through technology transfer in target areas.

Further, the action plans to replicate relevant renewable energy projects to the neighbouring regions through technology transfer and finally, the action will provide off grid power generation through renewable sources. The proposed sources of energy will supplement other major sources of energy and have high potential to contribute to social, economic and environmental dimensions of sustainable development in target areas.