PROJECT SUMMARY

PROJECT DESCRIPTION

This project aims to deliver basic household electricity access to 100 returnee households in Gelabo Kebele, Karat Zuria Woreda, Konso Zone, South Ethiopia Region, where families are resettling in an area without access to the national electricity grid. Although the construction of the houses is currently supported through external funding by the Gerda Henkel Foundation, the settlement has no electricity infrastructure, leaving households without safe lighting and the ability to charge mobile phones.

A feasibility study and community consultations were conducted with returnee households, community organizers, and village-level officials to assess energy needs, settlement layout, and implementation options. The study confirmed that households require basic lighting for evening safety, daily activities including education of children and phone charging for communication and access to services, while demand for higher-power appliances is minimal. The consultations also identified a cluster-based settlement pattern, making centralized solar PV systems per cluster technically feasible and socially acceptable.

Based on these findings, the project will implement a cluster-based solar electrification approach to serve all 100 households. The settlement will be divided into three clusters: Cluster 1 (35 households), Cluster 2 (35 households), and Cluster 3 (30 households). Each cluster will be powered by a dedicated centralized solar PV system, strategically located to minimize distribution distance and improve reliability. Electricity will be distributed to households through low-voltage overhead lines mounted on wooden poles.

The systems will provide essential electricity services only, namely LED lighting for safe evening use and mobile phone charging. Reliable lighting will also increase evening study time for school students, enabling children to complete homework after dark, improve school readiness, and support education continuity during and after resettlement. The technical design prioritizes simplicity, safety, and reliability, with controlled loads to prevent overuse and ensure long-term performance. Community members were consulted on system use, location of equipment, and operation rules, supporting local ownership and acceptance.

The project will be implemented by the Renewable Energy Center of Arba Minch University, which has extensive experience in rural electrification and solar PV deployment. The Center will lead system design, procurement quality assurance, installation supervision, beneficiary training (including safe battery handling), and post-installation monitoring. Beneficiary selection will follow a transparent, vulnerability-based approach-aligned with our earlier approach of selection of these vulnerable 100 households for the construction of houses, and in coordination with local authorities, community structures with a community led feedback and complaints mechanism.

The total requested budget is EUR 20,343, covering equipment, transport and logistics, installation, community and technician training, and monitoring. By providing reliable solar lighting and phone charging, the project will significantly improve safety, dignity, and basic living conditions, strengthen communication and emergency access, and enhance educational outcomes by extending study hours for students in Gelabo Kebele.