SNV launches sustainable energy pilot to improve the livelihoods of farmers

Addis Ababa, 5 April 2023: SNV and partners launch a new pilot in Ethiopia to trial sustainable energy technology in the dairy and poultry sector, improving local smallholder farmers' livelihoods. The pilot is supported by the IKEA Foundation.

The Sustainable Energy for Productive Use in Dairy and Poultry Value Chains in Ethiopia Micro-Pilot (SEDP) will run until the end of 2023. The project is being implemented in Oromia and Sidama regions by SNV with technical advisory support from the Global SDG7 Hubs, an affiliate of the SELCO Foundation.

The project will pilot three technologies in the dairy and poultry sector: solar-powered houses, cream separators, and butter churners. These technologies will address some of the challenges that dairy and poultry smallholder farmers face in building productive livelihoods caused by a lack of efficient means to heat and light their poultry houses and the lack of productivity in processing dairy due to their reliance on intense manual labour. These technologies can improve production and product quality to increase smallholder farmers' incomes by 10-50% and create a model to scale up Ethiopia's Productive Use of Renewable Energy (PURE) technologies.

Commenting on the pilot launch, Julie Graham, Country Director, Ethiopia SNV, said, 'We are pleased to launch this collaboration with Global SDG7 Hubs and the IKEA Foundation. Productive use of renewable energy technology can contribute significantly to increased incomes and improved livelihood conditions. It is a natural expansion of the traditional off-grid solar market.

'In addition, incorporating PURE in agriculture value chains supports adaptation to climate change, helping communities be more resilient. We look forward to working together to create an initiative that can grow and ultimately deliver impact that matters in Ethiopia,' she continued.

About SNV

SNV is a mission-driven global development partner working in more than 20 countries across Africa and Asia. Building on 60 years of experience and grounded in the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, we work on the core themes of gender equality and social inclusion, climate adaptation and mitigation, and strong institutions and effective governance. Together with our team of over 1,600 people, our mission is to strengthen capacities and catalyse partnerships that transform the agri-food, energy, and water systems, which enable sustainable and more equitable lives for all.

About Global SDG7 Hubs

Global SDG7 Hubs, an initiative of SELCO Foundation, aims to be an implementation-driven global sustainable energy Innovation platform for underserved populations. It is a learning exchange and implementation-oriented platform for sustainable energy and development agendas among locally-led voices in communities and regions of distinct climatic, geographic, political, and socio-economic features.

About the IKEA Foundation

The IKEA Foundation is a strategic philanthropy that focuses its grant-making efforts on tackling the two biggest threats to children’s futures: poverty and climate change. It currently grants more than €200 million per year to help improve family incomes and quality of life while protecting the planet from climate change. Since 2009, the IKEA Foundation has granted more than €1.5 billion to create a better future for children and their families. In 2021 the Board of the IKEA Foundation decided to make an additional €1 billion available over the next five years to accelerate the reduction of Greenhouse Gas emissions. Learn more at: www.ikeafoundation.org or by following them on LinkedIn or Twitter.

For more information, contact Messele Kada at mkada@snv.org