Brussels, 16 Apr 2020 - The global spread of COVID-19 has caused thousands of deaths and alarmed individuals, communities, businesses and society around the world. The decentralised renewable energy sector is no exception.

The current crisis triggered by COVID-19 has put in peril both decentralised renewable energy (DRE) projects that currently power essential services to millions of people, as well as the future of the sector, endangering the achievement of not just SDG7 but all of the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals.

That is why the DRE sector cannot be allowed to fail.

The question then becomes: how to move forward? What to do, so that the DRE sector not only survives the next few months, but flourishes once the crisis fades? How do we turn this crisis of dramatic proportions into an opportunity to actually achieve sustainable universal electrification by 2030?

 

With this Call to Action, ARE and its public, civil society and private sector Partners strive to provide an answer, by putting forward actionable recommendations for governments, funders and philanthropies to act decisively, to do their part and to make sure that this historic opportunity is grasped.

 

The five recommendations are:

  1. Creation of a ‘Global DRE Relief Fund’
  2. Fast-tracking of existing procurement and funding procedures for DRE projects
  3. Pooling of resources for a 'Rural Electrification Stimulus Plan' to achieve the SDGs
  4. Recognition of DRE sector as an ‘essential service’
  5. Step up technical assistance for DRE companies
Download the Call to Action

 

Join the Call to Action

 

 

Contact: David Lecoque (ARE Lead for COVID-19 response)