22/05/2025
Community-led Energy Transitions in Nakivale Refugee settlement.
In communities where access to clean energy is often limited and unsustainable, the need for innovative, community-led solutions is urgent and clear. Through the Flexible Mechanism Project, under the Communal Efficient Energy Hubs component, RGF is delivering integrated, scalable systems that address energy access with a lens on health, equity, and local ownership.
From the bustling stalls of New Congo Market to the healing spaces of Rubondo Health Centre, communal cooking infrastructure is being transformed to meet both immediate and long-term needs. These systems are locally built, managed by the community, and designed to support safe, energy-efficient cooking for schools, markets, and health centres.
The initiative actively centres women, youth, and persons with disabilities ensuring solutions are not only effective, but inclusive. By promoting clean and efficient cooking models tailored to local preferences, the project supports better health outcomes, reduces environmental degradation, and fosters resilience.
To date, the project has reached:
• 1 health centre
• 1 market
• 3 host community schools
• 3 schools in the refugee settlement
Implemented with Funding from European Union, support from International Organization for Migration (IOM), the Office of the Prime Minister (OPM), and UNHCR, this work exemplifies a coordinated approach to climate-smart infrastructure and sustainable energy transition in displacement settings.
Initial results from the schools show a measurable reduction in firewood use, faster cooking times, and strong community buy-in—early indicators of lasting change.
These hubs are more than just physical infrastructure they represent a model for co-creation, community leadership, and climate resilience.
