Case study #1: Enhancing access to renewable energy for women and girls
Energy Saving Trust manages the Efficiency for Access Research and Development Fund, which provides funding for research and development projects with the aim of accelerating the availability, affordability, efficiency and performance of a range of low energy inclusive appliances that are particularly suited to developing country contexts and promote social inclusion.
In October 2020, the Efficiency for Access Research and Development Fund awarded 20 organisations a total of £2.9 million in funding for innovative, solar-powered technology projects.
These projects will help level the playing field while addressing the climate emergency, and enhance access to renewable energy for women, girls and other vulnerable groups.
One of the recipients is Neopenda. The company’s project, ‘A wireless vital signs monitor for newborn babies’, will pilot an affordable and wireless vital signs technology in low-resource health facilities in East Africa. The neoGuard technology will monitor essential body functions of critically ill newborns, such as temperature and pulse rate. This will help increase the survival rate of newborn babies.
Neopenda aims to make this technology affordable, wireless and energy efficient, making it accessible for rural health facilities.
Malawi-based, locally owned business Wala also received funding from the Efficiency for Access Research and Development Fund. Wala’s project will pilot a holistic support solution that will distribute high-quality solar irrigation equipment to smallholder farmers in Malawi. It will also help the farmers access soft loans from local cooperatives for farm inputs and the solar irrigation equipment.
Wala will provide training to ensure farmers are confident in using and maintaining the irrigation system. The organisation will also teach good agricultural practice and new business skills, helping farmers increase their crop yields and increase their income.