ENERGISING DEVELOPMENT KENYA COUNTRY PROGRAMME
BY JULIA MAKOKHA AND ANNA INGWE
Energising Development (EnDev) is an energy access partnership currently financed by six
donor countries – the Netherlands, Germany, Norway, Australia, the United Kingdom and
Switzerland.
The Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH acts as lead
agency for the implementation of the programme and cooperates closely with the
Netherlands Enterprise Agency (RVO) on the global level as well as other implementation
partners on the country level.
EnDev promotes sustainable access to modern energy services that meet the needs of the
poor. Development of skills at the local level to offer energy access services, create positive
economic, social and environmental impacts. Since its initiation in 2005, EnDev has attained
a prominent position in the international energy access debate. EnDev is one of the first
outcome-based and performance-based programmes in the energy sector; as such EnDev
pioneers innovative approaches, develops new markets for pro-poor energy access and
scales up successful interventions. Currently, EnDev works in 24 globally in Africa, Asia and
Latin America. Approximately 50% of the funds are targeting the least developed countries. A
broad spectrum of technologies and a variety of project concepts and instruments are
applied, corresponding to individual country situations. A thorough monitoring system
measures the results on a permanent basis.
Since 2005, EnDev globally had reached 13.9 million people, more than 16,000 social institutions and
over 30,500 small and medium enterprises with access to energy services. The programme has also
helped train over 35,000 stove builders, craftsmen, vendors and solar technicians.
Energising Development Kenya Country Programme (EnDev Kenya) commenced in 2006 and covers
20 counties. The programme promotes sustainable access to modern and clean energy. EnDev Kenya
is composed of three components i.e. stoves, solar and biogas. The stoves and solar components
focus on small scale energy technologies (i.e. improved cook stoves and plug-and-play small solar
systems) targeting households, institutions and small businesses, particularly in rural areas. The
biogas component is supported and co-funded by the “Powering Agriculture”, a global programme
and focuses on medium scale biogas technologies targeting agro-industry SMEs for power
generation. The stove component is implemented by GIZ whereas the solar and biogas component is
implemented in cooperation with SNV. EnDev Kenya is also implementing the DFID funded RBF
initiative with three RBF projects on picoPV, solar-hybrid minigrids and cook stoves. The picoPV,
solar-hybrid minigrids and cook stoves RBF projects are implemented by GIZ EnDev Kenya, GIZ
ProSolar and SNV respectively.
Enhancement of gender equality and HIV mainstreaming.
EnDev Kenya facilitates access to sustainable clean energy to rural communities through promotion.
EnDev Programme has a national office lead by a Programme Manager assisted by ten technical staff
5 male and 5 female. The programme is grouped into three clusters each run by three technical
officers, below the cluster the programme works closely with collaborators and private
entreprenuers.The objective of programme is to increase production and use of improved cook
stove, solar and medium scale biogas for agro-industry. EnDev Kenya is blessed to have the only
male administrative assistant. GIZ EnDev Kenya ensures that there is equal opportunity for men,
women and youths in its programme activities.HIV mainstreaming is also priority both for internal
staff and for stoves, solar entrepreneurs. The stoves and solar improve livelihoods through the
businesses created. These improved cook stoves and solar lanterns promote cleaner environment
thus lessen respiratory infections. Since the stoves use less firewood, women girls save time that was
used in looking for fuels in the forests for other constructive activities. The programme has trained
more than 4000 entrepreneurs in stoves and more than 500 solar entrepreneurs who are doing this
business fulltime. The programme has also ensured that effective participation of women in trainings
as they fulfil their family obligation through non-residential training. The programme ensures that
crosscutting issues like HIV mainstreaming also takes place during trainings, meetings by ensuring
that a facilitator talks to the stoves and solar entrepreneurs on healthy living. Male and female
condoms are also distributed.
A monitoring tool on gender and HIV mainstreaming has also been established where by the number
of condoms female, male are distributed to the entrepreneurs and their source.
Cooperation
Many partners and collaborators have entered into MOU with EnDev Kenya to replicate this
successful approach for their clients e.g. Kenya Forest, KTDA, WWF, BAT, PALWECO, Catholic diocese
of Kitui, UBBINK and MESPT.EnDev has also developed county stoves implementation strategies with
other stakeholders. This are implemented by all stakeholders each taking responsibilities where they
have comparative advantage in a win-win arrangement where everybody achieves. This enabled
EnDev K to leverage on existing structures for greater achievement.
Gender and RBM
EnDev Kenya Programme together with the stakeholders has ensured by more than 1.5million stoves
are constructed thus more than 7million households covered. These ensures reduced costs on fuel,
no respiratory infections, money save from purchase of firewood is used in buying nutritional food
for the family.
The project develops promotional with consultants, consumers, government, and partner. It also
plans with marketing agencies to implement promotion campaigns for consumers, producers and
actors.