The Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) has officially launched a new renewable energy project in Sierra Leone aimed at improving electricity access, supporting rural businesses and creating more economic opportunities for women.
The project, known as Sustainable Rural Development through Renewable Energy (SURE) , places special emphasis on helping women-led enterprises use renewable energy to expand their businesses, increase income and improve livelihoods in rural communities.
The launch brought together government ministers and representatives from the Ministry of Energy, Ministry of Technical and Higher Education, and the Presidential Initiative on Climate Change, Renewable Energy and Food Security (PI-CREF).
Representatives from Germany’s Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), the German Embassy in Freetown, the European Union, development partners and private sector institutions also attended the event.
Co-funded by the German Government through BMZ and the European Union, the SURE project builds on previous GIZ initiatives aimed at improving rural electricity access in Sierra Leone.
These include the Energising Development (EnDev) programme and Transformational Energy Use for Sierra Leone I (TEUSL I), which have supported efforts to expand renewable energy solutions in underserved communities.
Unlike initiatives that focus mainly on providing electricity, SURE seeks to ensure that renewable energy becomes affordable, sustainable and economically beneficial to rural communities.
The project will focus on strengthening institutions, attracting investment, developing technical skills, improving access to finance and encouraging businesses to use renewable energy for productive activities.
A major priority is supporting women entrepreneurs, particularly those operating small businesses in rural areas where limited access to reliable electricity continues to affect economic activities.
Through the initiative, women-led businesses are expected to benefit from opportunities to adopt renewable energy technologies, improve productivity, increase earnings and expand their operations.
The project also seeks to strengthen women’s participation in Sierra Leone’s transition towards cleaner and more sustainable energy sources.
GIZ emphasised that expanding electricity access alone is not enough to transform rural communities unless businesses can afford the energy and use it to generate income.
The organisation expressed appreciation to the Government of Sierra Leone, development partners, private sector representatives and other stakeholders for supporting the project’s launch.
The SURE initiative forms part of broader efforts to promote sustainable rural development, strengthen economic opportunities and ensure that women play a central role in Sierra Leone’s renewable energy transition.
