The New Energy Nexus Uganda program, ENVenture, has been recognized by the Ashden Awards amongst some of the world’s most practical and scalable low carbon innovators in last-mile distribution. The ENVenture program is a runner up of the Ashden Award for System Innovation for Energy Access.
ENVenture, a flagship program of New Energy Nexus Uganda, has played a big role in not only bridging the energy access challenge for off-grid communities, but also in empowering over 100 Community Based Organisations with financing, capacity building, and mobile technology solutions. This growing community of energy entrepreneurs is part of a global network of entrepreneurs that New Energy Nexus is supporting, as it strives towards an abundant world with 100% clean energy for 100% of the population in the shortest time possible.
Ashden spotlights and supports climate and energy innovators around the world – including businesses, non-profits, and public sector organizations that are delivering proven ready-to-scale climate solutions.
New Energy Nexus Uganda was among 22 finalists at the annual Ashden Awards, all of whom were chosen from over 200 applicants for their work creating resilience, green growth, and fairer societies.
Harriet Lamb, CEO of UK-based Ashden said: “Battling with Covid-19 as well as climate change, these pioneers have shown huge resilience and inventiveness. The Ashden Awards celebrate organizations for their work tackling climate change, but this year there is an extra dimension and we have been humbled to see how organizations have responded – pivoting their businesses to support the most vulnerable communities and customers and entrepreneurs through the epidemic and into the future.”
As well as being recognized for their innovative climate solutions many of the finalists and winners were also applauded for their quick and effective responses to the Covid-19 pandemic, supporting businesses, and communities, including ENVenture.
With the globe grappling with the pandemic, the energy entrepreneurs are no exception to the negative consequences, as seen by the declining purchasing power for their customers. To navigate this, we are shifting our capacity building mentorships to become virtual as we continue onboarding more entrepreneurs. The program has also rescheduled loan repayments during the lockdown.
“The ENVenture model has proven that you can scale clean energy distribution through Community-Based Organizations, who not only increase access to clean energy in their localities but create jobs too. We are thrilled that Ashden has recognized that empowering grassroots networks are key for increasing access to energy in impoverished areas,” says Aneri Pradhan, founder of ENVenture and Board Director of New Energy Nexus.
Source: New Energy Nexus