Ethiopia's Ministry of Water and Energy is working to increase solar electricity access for farmers in rural areas.
The Ministry of Water and Energy stated it is committed to raising farmers' use of solar electricity.
Project coordinator Ato Yimeslal Tefera noted that electricity access remains low in many rural areas. The UNDP Africa Mini Grid Project is installing solar mini-grids in Oromia, Somali and Tigray regions to expand access, with plans to scale up after assessing results.
The initiative involves the private sector, unlike earlier government-only projects. Investors are invited to participate, with calls for banks and financial institutions to provide loans. Capacity-building training for stakeholders has been provided to address key challenges in mini-grid development.
