Niël Terblanché
The African Development Bank’s (AFDB) Urban and Municipal Development Fund (UMDF) approved a grant of N$9.7 million for an urban solar electricity project that will eventually power 50 000 households in the informal settlements of the City of Windhoek (CoW).
The AFDB in a statement said that the Informal Settlement Renewable Electrification and Upgrading Programme will directly benefit around 200 000 residents of the Namibian capital once completed.
The Municipal Council of Windhoek requested the AFDB’s support to upgrade services in informal settlements.
The delivery of services is a key priority under the CoW’s Strategic Plan and the provision of electricity supply in informal settlements is considered a crucial investment to unlock the economic potential of such areas and substantially improve the living condition of the residents.
The project is expected to start this year with the preparation of feasibility and tender documents covering its three main components which are the installation of 60 MW Solar panels and batteries, the development of an overall structural plan for the rehabilitation of the informal settlements, which must involve a participatory process to identify and prioritize investment opportunities unlocked by electrification.
Investment opportunities can include water supply, roads, transport, green areas, market opportunities and institutional support to the CoW.
Another component involves the review of existing rules and regulations and legal support to accelerate the CoW’s green plans and electrification goals.
The AFDB said that the impact is expected to be enormous because the availability of electricity will not only support the development of household activities but also small and medium-sized enterprises, as seen in adjacent areas that are already receiving electricity. The use of solar energy will also contribute to mitigating harmful emissions of firewood and kerosene, reducing deforestation, and improving air quality for residents of the targeted urbanised areas.
Mike Salawou, the CoW’s Director of Infrastructure and Urban Development Department said that the project is strongly aligned with the African Development Bank’s top five priorities, in particular, to light up and power Africa, improve the quality of life for the people and industrialise the continent.
With this new project, the African Development Bank’s Urban and Municipal Development Fund is expanding its support to southern African countries and diversifying the range of supported sectors.
According to the AFDB statement, electrification will now be included in its portfolio of more than 20 urban development projects.
One of the consequences of rapid and uncontrolled urbanization is an increase in the number of informal settlements which creates a dire need for electricity and structured economic activity.
According to the statement, the lack of essential services hampers the socio-economic development of residents which leads to a decrease in their quality of life.
The UMDF helps governments to invest in sustainable urban development for more climate resilience in liveable and productive cities, underpinning national socio-economic development and poverty reduction.
