Investing in clean, reliable energy for refugees

Result Based Financing for Refugees (RBF4R) is helping people living in Rwanda’s refugee camps access cleaner, more reliable energy for their homes and businesses.

The work takes place in five refugee camps: Kigeme, Nyabiheke, Mahama, Mugombwa and Kiziba. It focuses on two main goals: improving access to clean cooking for households and supporting women entrepreneurs with energy solutions that help their businesses grow.

The project uses a results-based financing approach. In practice, this means energy suppliers receive payments once clean cooking technologies have been successfully delivered and verified in households. This model helps suppliers reach vulnerable households while supporting the growth of sustainable local energy markets.

RBF4R is making clean energy more accessible, especially for those who need it most.

The power of markets to deliver change

Result Based Financing for Refugees makes the market for higher-tier cooking stoves more inclusive, better serving Rwanda’s refugee camps. It also seeks to increase access to energy for women living in the camps, who want to build better businesses.

Key to the approach is providing women entrepreneurs with access to renewable energy technologies such as refrigeration and other energy-powered equipment that allow them to expand their businesses. These women also benefit from interventions to improve the business and financial skills that can make their enterprises more successful.

The project uses market-based approaches to support entrepreneurs, businesses, and livelihoods, and enhance private-sector involvement. This ensures the long-term financial and environmental sustainability of the work, long after the project finishes.

The work builds on Practical Action’s considerable experience gained in our Renewable Energy for Refugees project. Here, we’ve seen the power of working directly with communities to understand which energy services and products can best serve their needs.