The first successful solar power grid project in Yemen
English - Monday 21 October 2019 الساعة 04:43 pm
The United Nations Development Program (UNDP) announced the success of the first solar-powered private power grid project in Yemen, run by women in Abs District, Hajjah Governorate.
Ten women entrepreneurs in the Abs area have been supported to create a private solar power grid, pointing out that this $ 37,000 project will be a clean source of energy and provide electricity to subscribers at 80 percent less power than diesel.
According to the United Nations Development Program, this type of project is new for Yemen and empowers rural women to start their businesses - a remarkably rare project in the country.
Project leader Iman Hadi said: "The project was not easy on the ground. We have gone through a lot of trouble in setting up this project because of the Yemeni view of working women."
"We launched our service only a month ago, and we now have 20 subscribers," she said. "With our current solar system, we can serve 44 families, and we hope to expand soon.
The proceeds of the project would be allocated for the purchase of food and access to the basic needs of the 10 women and their families.
According to the statement, the UNDP partner, the Sustainable Development Foundation (SDF), provided the ten women entrepreneurs with training in project implementation and management and instructed them on how to use their grant funds efficiently - which was primarily geared towards the purchase of 36 solar panels, 16 batteries and 2 reflectors.
The implementation of this innovative initiative builds on the UNDP approach, called the 3x6 methodology, designed to create sustainable livelihoods to build resilience of crisis-affected communities, helping to facilitate a faster return to sustainable development, noting that this approach includes the implementation of development-oriented activities as soon as possible after a crisis is over.
It is predicted that this initiative will reduce more than five tons of carbon dioxide, which contributes to a safer environment and reduce pollution.
The three-year rural resilience program, funded by the European Union and implemented by UN organizations, aims to improve resilience and self-reliance of war-affected rural communities in four Yemeni governorates, including Abyan, Hodeidah, Hajjah and Lahj.
