UNICEF
Save environment – For every child

Photocredit: © UNICEF/UN024088/Rich

Water & energy for children

UNICEF is bringing together the private and public sectors to improve the sustainability of energy sources and the services that enable children to survive and thrive in Eastern and Southern Africa. Providing clean, efficient electricity generation in health facilities, schools and water systems across this diverse region, therefore, is not only needed, but now more than ever possible, affordable and impactful. Climate forecasts indicate that climate change will bring a decrease in annual rainfall of up to 30 per cent to already arid regions, as well as sea-level rises and increased flooding, particularly in coastal areas and in areas of Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda surrounding Lake Victoria. This situation threatens decades of investment and to reverse hard-won progress on several SDGs. These challenges are compounded by a lack of clean, affordable and reliable access to energy, affecting water systems, health facilities and schools.

Photocredit: © UNICEF/UN0153304

Opportunities

Solar-reticulated water systems

UNICEF is deploying solar-powered, climate-resilient water systems in schools and health facilities that remain functional throughout the year and can withstand extreme weather events. These systems are extremely cost-effective compared to all other alternatives powered by fossil fuel. It is foreseen that they also will be used by communities, thus increasing ownership and sustainability.

Opportunities

Solar-reticulated water systems

UNICEF is deploying solar-powered, climate-resilient water systems in schools and health facilities that remain functional throughout the year and can withstand extreme weather events. These systems are extremely cost-effective compared to all other alternatives powered by fossil fuel. It is foreseen that they also will be used by communities, thus increasing ownership and sustainability. With support from partners, this programme could be expanded to over 600 facilities across Malawi, Mozambique and Uganda.

Concrete project in Malawi

Malawi is among the countries in south-eastern Africa that are increasingly affected by climate change. Whole areas fall dry, people despair. Only half the population has access to basic water supply. Especially children are greatly affected. We raise money for solar-powered water pumps in Malawi. A single water system costs around € 100,000 and provides essential water supply for 10,000 people.

Together we make a difference! – Climate friendly solutions for children in Malawi. To improve access to sustainable and durable water supplies, UNICEF Malawi is introducing groundwater-fed solar-reticulated water systems.

Positive effects on children and their families:

  • Washing hands is the most effective protection against disease
  • Clean drinking water not only for schools but for the whole community
  • More children attending school instead of fetching water every day 

Photocredit: © UNICEF/UN0119447

Photocredit: © UNICEF Austria

What UNICEF does worldwide is easily explained:
We are working hard for all children across the globe, always with one leg in the minister's office and with the other in the rubber boot on the ground. For every child.

Christoph Jünger

Managing Director UNICEF Austria

Core values

Sustainability:

UNICEF’s priority is to ensure that solar-powered systems remain operational in the long term. UNICEF works with its partners on sustainability plans that provide employment opportunities to young people and women as well as innovative solutions such as remote monitoring systems.

Photocredit: © UNICEF/UN0372120

Innovative solutions and field testing:

By working with field partners and programmatic experts, UNICEF can identify, develop and scale together with private-sector partners fit-for-purpose and value-for-money solutions for renewable energy that respond to the unmet energy needs of health-care facilities and schools across Eastern and Southern Africa

Photocredit: © UNICEF/UN0153307

Scale-up:

Bringing to scale existing pilot programmes supported by UNICEF and allowing their replication across countries

Photocredit: © UNICEF/UN0153294

The sustainability of this initiative is supported by

• Targeting based on analysis of needs and demand assessment

• Community participation and ownership in the design, delivery and sustainability of services, providing options that meet the demand of communities

• Solutions that are environmentally sustainable and undergo rigorous climate and resilience assessments

• Technical support on the services provided, including quality assurance

• Support to private-sector organizations to manage and operate services

• The development of local and national capacity to support and monitor sustainable outcomes

• Monitoring of long-term performance and impact

Characteristics

70

per cent of the rural population does not have access to electricity

2 million

children and families, with renewable energy solutions will reduce poverty and improve health, education and access to water

690

hours of power outages every year in the broader sub-Saharan Africa