About

The Powering Renewable Energy Opportunities (PREO) Programme, supported by the IKEA Foundation and UK Aid, and delivered by the Carbon Trust and Energy 4 Impact, stimulates energy demand in rural Africa as a way of creating sustainable jobs and reducing poverty through economic growth and empowering women.

While a reliable and affordable energy supply is vital for people living in rural Africa to power their homes and businesses, energy access alone is not enough to transform economies.

Rural energy programmes need to consider the social and economic context for each local area and build partnerships that give people access to finance, technology and markets.

 

We support renewable energy programmes that are tailored to local contexts, and, in doing so, aim to create 3,500 jobs, empowering 1,000 women and benefiting more than 11,000 rural households.

We will support well-designed programmes to succeed, encourage partnership working and unlock more investment in energy access.

The PREO Programme will provide several core offerings including to:

  1. provide grant support to 20 – 30 Action Learning Projects;
  2. provide partnership building services to bring various actors together for specific projects and programmes;
  3. provide enabling support to actors executing PUE-related initiatives and enterprise development in the form of a Technical Assistance facility;
  4. undertake a series of strategic market intelligence activities; and
  5. function as a Knowledge Hub that will act as a knowledge repository and promoter.

FUNDERS

UK AID

The PREO Programme is co-funded by UK aid from the UK Government, through the UK Department for International Development Transforming Energy Access (TEA) programme.

Transforming Energy Access (TEA) programme is supporting the development of innovative technologies, business models, partnerships and skills that will accelerate access to affordable, clean energy services for households and enterprises in developing countries. UK aid is providing up to £100 million ($130 million) through the TEA programme until 2024.

IKEA FOUNDATION

The IKEA Foundation works with strong strategic partners applying innovative approaches to achieve large-scale results. We are committed to helping families living in poverty afford a better everyday life while protecting the planet. We support programmes that promote new and unprecedented collaboration between businesses, civil society, governments and the many people.

The IKEA Foundation is co-funding the PREO Programme.

DELIVERY PARTNERS

CARBON TRUST

Founded in 2001, the Carbon Trust’s mission is to accelerate the delivery of a sustainable, low carbon economy by helping businesses, governments and organisations across the globe to reduce carbon emissions and increase resource efficiency.

ENERGY 4 IMPACT

Energy 4 Impact works with local businesses to extend access to energy in Africa, impacting the quality of life for millions of people. Growing sustainable clean energy markets improves livelihoods and accelerates economic growth.