WWF EU own contribution Uganda 2019-2020

Världsnaturfonden WWF has applied to Sida for funding of 2 570 000 SEK to carry out the EU-project "Scaling-up rural electrification using innovative solar photovoltaic distribution models" during the period 2019-2020 in Uganda. The contribution has the EU commission reference number Europe Aid/133481/C/ACT/Multi. The project officially started on 16th December 2014, after WWF International signed the grant contract agreement of total eligible costs estimated at EUR 5,737,539.73 with the European Union (EU). The EU grant was limited to 74.71% of the estimated total eligible costs of the project, that is, EUR 4,286,248.73 and 25.29% of the total grant amount, that is, EUR 1,451,023.8 was to be covered from co-financing. Due to unforeseen start-up delays (due to challenges in secruing the co-financing of the project) the actual implementation of project activities commenced in December 2015, a year after the signature of the Grant Contract. This impacted timely delivery of all planned project activities within the original project time frame. In addition, once the implementation of the project started, the project encountered a number of challenges resulting in further delays. Therefore, in order to address the challenges encountered, there was need for extension of time of implementation of the action by 18 months. This no cost extension of 18 months was approved by the EU by grant contract addendum 2. In addition, the project is still facing co-financing challenges that have created the need for additional grant co-funding in order to meet EU requirements. Världsnaturfonden WWF therefore seeks Sida funding of 2 570 000 SEK to achieve the EU requirement of raising co-financing of 25.29% of the project costs. Meeting this co-financing target will enable the project to procure the remaining 10,000 solar home systems for distribution to households and ensure the project achieves its targets of improving livelihoods, health and education facilities for rural communities in Uganda. The project will contribute to improving access to modern, affordable and sustainable energy via the replacement of kerosene lamps with solar PV systems for the benefit of the rural women, men and youth in the Albertine Graben. The project will reduce the amount of black carbon generated which is a key contributor to climate change and which adversely impacts on human health. The project has also installed larger solar PV systems in 51 social institutions such as health centres and schools and thereby contributing to improving key services provided by these institutions and also contributing to reducing child mortality and maternal health problems and improving education services. The project aims at achieving the following targets: Strengthen capacity of 62 community-based organisations (CBOs) to distribute, install and manage solar PV technology; Distribute 15,000 solar PV home systems (SHS) to rural households in 20 districts of the Albertine Graben; Install institutional PV solar systems in 31 schools and 20 health centres in Kasese, Arua and Masindi Districts; Install solar mini-grids for communities with capacity to connect up to 1,800 households and 200 small businesses (bars, restaurants, hair salons, phone charging booths etc.). The contribution's total budget is 5 737 539 EUR, corresponding to approximately 60 429 299 SEK. The requested support from Sida is 2 570 000 SEK, which corresponds to 4,25 per cent of the total budget.