In Windhoek, using solar energy to electrify informal settlements
Approved in June 2023 by the UMDF Oversight Committee, the "Informal Settlement Renewable Electrification and Upgrading Program" will facilitate electrification of 50,000 households (around 200,000 people) in the capital of Namibia.
In Windhoek, around 20% of the population is suffering from lack of electrification, a consequence of the rapid and uncontrolled urbanization that resulted in informal settlements. As a result, the living conditions in the non-electrified neighborhoods are harsh and economic activities are underdeveloped, severely hindering quality of life for residents.
Upgrading services in those informal neighborhoods is tagged as a priority in the Strategic Plan established by the Municipal Council of Windhoek. In this context, the city requested the support of the African Development Bank’s Urban and Municipal Development Fund to boost this process. Installing electricity in informal settlements is considered as a key investment to unlock the economic potential of these areas, and substantially improve the living condition of the people living there.
Called "Informal Settlement Renewable Electrification and Upgrading Program," the project is expected to start in 2023. The AfDB’s Urban and Municipal Development Fund unlocked a 485.000 USD grant to prepare detailed project documents (feasibility and tender documents). For the UMDF and its partners, the electrification process is seen as an opportunity to engage in an improvement process of informal settlements’ living conditions: the detailed plans for peri-urban electrification will be used to guide investments and formalization of these communities.
The project includes three main components :
- The preparation of the electrification itself, which represents the installation of 60 MW Solar PV and related batteries.
- The development of an overall and coherent Structural Plan for the rehabilitation of the informal settlements, involving a participatory process to identify and prioritize investment opportunities unlocked by electrification, e.g., water, roads and mobility, green areas, market opportunities, etc.
- Institutional support to the Municipal Council of Windhoek, reviewing the existing rules and regulations and bringing legal support to accelerate its green plans and electrification.
The impact is expected to be enormous. The presence of electricity services will support the development of household activities, but also small and medium size companies, as seen in the neighboring (already) electrified communities, resulting in jobs creation and important socioeconomic impact.
Having electricity at home will also change the daily life of thousands of people: women and girls will not have to walk longer distances to buy/fetch wood, the communities will benefit from public lighting, including in sport areas, while academic performance of the students living in the informal settlements will improve. In addition, these areas will also benefit from indirect positive impacts on health, safety, and quality of life.
The implementation of solar energy will also contribute to mitigation of GHG emissions of firewood, kerosene, reduce deforestation and improve air quality.
The project is helping Namibia to pursue the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), contributing to more sustainable cities and communities and ensuring access to affordable, reliable, sustainable, and modern energy for all. The project is also aligned with the African Development Bank top five priorities (“ High 5s”) and more specifically: Light up Africa and Power Africa, Improve the quality of Life for the people of Africa and Industrialize Africa.
With this new project, the UMDF is also expanding its support for southern African countries and diversifying the supported sectors, and including electrification in its portfolio of more than 20 urban development projects.