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The electricity crisis is denying Africa’s children a brighter future

The lack of reliable and affordable electricity in many parts of Sub-Saharan Africa is an enormous barrier to community economic, social and educational development.

“This is particularly detrimental to children, affecting their chances at a wholesome and healthy future.”

This is according to a report by UNICEF, which aims to inform decision-making processes for the organisation, its partners and donors by identifying funding gaps and implementation challenges in renewable energy programmes.

The report further aims to advance UNICEF’s agenda in supporting children in the East and Southern Africa (ESA) region by providing comprehensive, up-to-date information on the electrification of health and education facilities in the region.

According to the report, ESA alone requires more than $5 billion in funding to install over 700MWp of solar projects, including water pumps that will power more than 130,000 schools and 16,000 health facilities, thereby providing reliable electricity and access to clean water.

“The countries in ESA with the highest potential for further interventions in RE for health and education facilities include Ethiopia, Madagascar, South Sudan, Tanzania, and Uganda. These countries have ranked highly in terms of the Children’s Climate Risk Index (CCRI) and additionally have high market gaps, conducive regulatory frameworks for Renewable Energy (RE) low accessibility of health and education facilities, a low number of ongoing initiatives in the energy sector, as well as high diesel costs,” the report said.

Electricity in health and education facilities can improve lives of many African children and communities

The report noted that the introduction of renewable energy for the electrification of health and education facilities, including water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH), can help to improve services provided, thereby positively impacting children’s lives.

“The integration of renewable energy technologies in WASH facilities can dramatically improve service delivery. Solar-powered water pumps, for example, can provide reliable water supply in remote areas where grid electricity is unavailable. Similarly, renewable energy can power treatment plants that ensure the safe processing of wastewater, reducing health risks and improving overall community well-being.”

It states that renewable energy sources in the health and education sector help reduce reliance on conventional energy, “thus helping to reduce the level of CO₂ emitted from the use of diesel generators for lighting in classrooms and powering medical equipment.

“RE interventions can, therefore, help contribute to climate change mitigation and build more resilient communities.”

The report highlights that ESA incorporates just morethan 200,000 primary schools and 50,000 secondary schools, and it points out that rural and remote areas tend to have a higher number of primary school facilities, which lack access to electricity.

“The absence of reliable electricity in schools directly affects educational quality and student outcomes. Without power, essential educational tools such as computers, projectors, and lighting for classrooms are unavailable, limiting both teaching and learning experiences.

“This technological gap disproportionately affects students in disadvantaged districts, exacerbating educational inequalities and contributing to lower test scores and reduced literacy rates.

Image Source: Pexels

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ESI Africa
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ESI Africa

ESI Africa is the global leader in disseminating African utility, energy, power, mobility and water market news and insights. We provide over 50,000 professionals with renowned high quality and insightful editorial, equipping them with essential information to drive their own businesses.