EmPower Bidibidi FINAL Report - SIPA...Using data from Mercy Corp’s Access to Modern Energy in...

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Acknowledgements This practicum has been one of the most rewarding experiences of our time at Columbia University School of International and Public Affairs (SIPA). It is with immense gratitude that we would like to acknowledge the following individuals and organizations, without whom this project would not have been possible: Our faculty advisors, Wolfram Schlenker, Ellen Morris, and Elora Ditton for their continuous support and advice. Thank you for trusting our judgement and questioning us when you thought we could push ourselves further.

Emmanuel Azibor (Mercy Corps Uganda) who gave us our initial project idea and continued to be our champion at Mercy Corps. We give a special thanks for his immense guidance, knowledge, and warmth.

John Ochiti (Mercy Corps Uganda), for being a key supporter of our research, especially once our project expectations changed due to the COVID-19 crisis. Thank you for ensuring that we had the data to successfully complete the practicum. Sumaya Kiwanuka (Village Power), Allan Okello (Village Power), Nicholas Mpanga (d.light), and Peace Kansiime (SNV Netherlands Development Organisation), for giving us their key insights on the AMPERE project.

We are immensely grateful to the Energy and Environment Department at SIPA, the Center on Global Energy Policy (CGEP) at Columbia University, the Women in Energy program at CGEP, and The Earth Institute at Columbia University for providing us with the funding needed to conduct our research.

Lastly, we would like to acknowledge the refugees living in the Bidibidi refugee settlement in Northern Uganda. Without their tenacity to keep on improving their own lives, despite being in a tremendously challenging situation, we would not be able to understand how energy access can be improved in humanitarian settings. Thank you for your continuous courage and will to thrive.

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Executive Summary

The growing number of poor and disenfranchised people living in refugee settlements lack reliable access to basic services such as energy, clean water, sanitation, heath services and education. About 2.6 million people currently live in refugee settlements around the world and the average length of time that refugees spend in settlements is between 10-17 years—necessitating long-term, holistic solutions. Many humanitarian aid organizations and government entities fund temporary, small-scale energy options in refugee settlements. However, such projects often fail to develop sustainable long-term access to energy, with benefits including electricity and clean cooking options. Additionally, private-sector companies do not typically sell energy products and services in refugee settlements due to the perceived investment risks and market uncertainty. Pay-As-You-Go (PAYGO) solar is being considered as one possible solution to address the financing gap required to provide sustainable and high-quality energy resources in refugee settlements. PAYGO technology allows off-grid solar companies to sell their products on credit to consumers who are unable to afford the upfront cost. The initial cost barrier is reduced by spreading payments over a period of time with an affordable deposit and monthly installments. This model makes the technology more financially accessible to those with lower incomes. Despite the extensive literature supporting PAYGO’s success in low-income communities in Sub-Saharan Africa, there exists very limited research on the model’s application in refugee settlements. Using data from Mercy Corp’s Access to Modern Energy in Humanitarian Settings (AMPERE) pilot project, we assessed whether the PAYGO solar model is a viable way to provide clean energy options in humanitarian settings, specifically focusing on the Bidibidi refugee settlement in Northern Uganda. The team had two goals: 1) understand whether the model addressed the specific energy needs of women living in refugee settlements; and 2) provide scalable best practices for the PAYGO model that can be adapted for refugee settlements around the world. The Bidibidi refugee settlement is the world’s second largest refugee settlement, hosting more than 270,000 South Sudanese refugees—mostly women and children. Uganda is also one of the most successful countries globally in creating a viable market for PAYGO solar energy systems in low-income settings. Mercy Corps wanted to adapt and test PAYGO in humanitarian settings by targeting potential new clients in the Bidibidi refugee settlement. Our research confirmed that while there is a demand for solar products in Bidibidi, the subsidy was more effective at increasing access than PAYGO. This could either be explained by the fact that only 4 out of 8 products were offered as PAYGO or by the fact that monthly payments for PAYGO are too high for most of the participants. Additionally, as women make up 53 percent of the population in the camp and have low mobile access PAYGO does not solve their energy and financing needs. Both the refugees and the PAYGO providers stated that they cannot participate in the program if it were not for the subsidy provided by Mercy Corps. This led to the conclusion that scaling up PAYGO programs in refugee settlements will require major adjustments to the original model. Our study concludes by recommending that a program that builds a partnership with UNHCR or another governmental agency in order to sustain the subsidy would be better suited for the market expansion and increasing accessibility. Furthermore, another model that could be a good fit for Bidibidi would be one that combines mini or micro grids subscription model with financing accessible through village savings and loans associations (VSLAs) that are primarily targeted towards women.

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Introduction Energy Access in Refugee Settlements Globally, refugee settlements are viewed as temporary settlements. However, the average lifetime of refugee settlements has grown to be 10-17 years1. Despite multiple international agencies and governments providing aid to these communities, there are gaps in how the refugees are supported. Such models of assistance and aid have proven weak for sustaining life and providing basic needs for the refugees. This is particularly applicable to the issue of energy access. In 2014, approximately 11% of forcibly displaced people (FDPs) in settlements had access to “reliable energy sources for lighting” and the annual energy expenditure of a displaced five-person household was $200.2 The energy options currently provided in settlement settings for the majority of refugees globally meet only Tier 0 (no access/receives less than four hours of electricity) level cooking and lighting standards, leaving ample opportunity for improvement.3 Pay-As-You-GO (PAYGO) Uganda possesses a successful PAYGO solar energy market environment. However, the presence of PAYGO companies in Uganda’s West Nile region is limited. Many refugee settlements including Bidibidi, are located within the West Nile region.4 Initial research from Mercy Corps into why PAYGO is absent in refugee settlement markets and how introducing off-grid solar (OGS) to increase energy access options for refugees has revealed several market constraints. The first constraint was product appropriateness and availability. Previous PAYGO energy products from companies did not align with refugee community budgets and timelines for repayment.5 Further complicating this was the low awareness and availability of low-priced OGS products. The second constraint was misaligned demand perception. PAYGO providers did not send sales representatives into the Bidibidi settlement to gauge community purchasing power. They were primarily worried about the financial risk of lending to refugees.6 The third constraint was market linkages and infrastructure. Because the potential client communities within the settlements were dispersed and often hard to reach, OGS companies would charge high prices for services.7 The fourth constraint was appropriate finances. While residents of refugee settlements expressed ability and interest in purchasing the lowest tier of PAYGO deposits and smallest OGS products, this still required them to save on average three months to prepare funds.8 The final constraint was quality assurance and trust. Because of limited knowledge amongst refugees about PAYGO and OGS product quality standards, companies found it difficult to build relationships with clients in the settlements through customer service. 9 These market constraints have stimulated a last mile PAYGO low-tiered OGS market to provide refugee settlements with quality, affordable, and diverse options for energy. Particularly, using a market-based approach where humanitarian organizations are working with local supplies to purchase products, and

1 “Protracted Refugee Situations: the Search for Practical Solutions.” UNHCR. UNHCR, 2010. Protracted refugee situations: the search for practical solutions. 2Whitehouse, Katie. Adopting a market-based approach to boost energy access in displaced contexts. Moving Energy Initiative, March 2019. Retrieved on October 16, 2019 from https://www.chathamhouse.org/sites/default/files/publications/research/2019-03-25-MEIWhitehouse.pdf 3 Bhatia, M. and Angelou, N. (2015), Beyond Connections: Energy Access Redefined, Energy Sector Management Assistance Program, Washington, DC: World Bank, https://openknowledge.worldbank.org/handle/10986/24368 (accessed 31 Jan. 2019) 4 PAYING FOR DARKNESS Strengthening Solar Markets for Refugees in Uganda. Mercy Corps. , Nov. 2019. , www.mercycorps.org/sites/default/files/2020-01/Paying_for_Darkness_Uganda_FINAL.pdf 5 PAYING FOR DARKNESS Strengthening Solar Markets for Refugees in Uganda. Mercy Corps. , Nov. 2019. 6 PAYING FOR DARKNESS Strengthening Solar Markets for Refugees in Uganda. Mercy Corps. , Nov. 2019. 7PAYING FOR DARKNESS Strengthening Solar Markets for Refugees in Uganda. Mercy Corps. , Nov. 2019. 8PAYING FOR DARKNESS Strengthening Solar Markets for Refugees in Uganda. Mercy Corps. , Nov. 2019 9 PAYING FOR DARKNESS Strengthening Solar Markets for Refugees in Uganda. Mercy Corps. , Nov. 2019

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identifying market constraints, and strategizing about scalability prove more impactful than simply delivering products or providing in-kind distributing.10 The PAYGO companies can now directly sell their products to refugees on a credit system. This reduces affordability barriers to energy access for those who cannot pay the upfront costs or prefer to split payments over longer periods.11 Thus PAYGO financing addresses concerns from both the refugee and humanitarian organizations’ needs; refugees have access to quality, affordable, and reliable OGS products and humanitarian organizations can address the main barrier of reducing accessibility. Motivation for the AMPERE Pilot Project

Mercy Corps conducted the Access to Modern Energy in Humanitarian Setting (AMPERE) pilot from November 2019 to March 2020 which involved subsidy payments to private PAYGO companies to expand operations into Bidibidi. The South Sudanese Civil War and violence in the Democratic Republic of the Congo led to refugee populations in Uganda exceeding 1.4 million by April 2018.12 The large influx of refugees in humanitarian settings prompted Mercy Corps to conduct AMPERE and provide a way for companies to enter and meet refugee energy needs

The Bidibidi refugee settlement, located in the Northern Ugandan district of Yumbe, has a population of over 270,000 South Sudanese refugees and is the world’s second largest refugee settlement. As of December 2016, 86% of the settlement’s residents are women and children13 and 89% of them have unmet energy needs.14 The Ugandan government and United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) urge development approaches that transition refugee populations towards self-reliance. Developing self-reliance can improve refugees’ access to energy while decreasing the strain on limited aid dollars. Despite such settlements frequently serving as near-permanent housing, the perception of refugee settlements as temporary makes private firms reluctant to make long-term investments, such as accessible sustainable energy infrastructure. To address access to quality, reliable, affordable, and clean energy sources in humanitarian settings, Mercy Corps saw an opportunity to strengthen market systems in the refugee settlements by bringing quality energy and financial services to the Bidibidi refugee settlement through the AMPERE pilot project.

10 PAYING FOR DARKNESS Strengthening Solar Markets for Refugees in Uganda. Mercy Corps. , Nov. 2019, www.mercycorps.org/sites/default/files/2020-01/Paying_for_Darkness_Uganda_FINAL.pdf 11 PAYING FOR DARKNESS Strengthening Solar Markets for Refugees in Uganda. Mercy Corps. , Nov. 2019, www.mercycorps.org/sites/default/files/2020-01/Paying_for_Darkness_Uganda_FINAL.pdf 12 “Uganda.” OCHA, 1 Mar. 2019, https://www.unocha.org/southern-and-eastern-africa-rosea/uganda. 13 Getting It Right: Protection of South Sudanese Refugees in Uganda. Retrieved on October 15, 2018 from https://reliefweb.int/sites/reliefweb.int/files/resources/2017.3.10%2BUganda.pdf. 14 UNHCR. Figures at a Glance, and UNHCR and Uganda Joint Multisectoral Needs Assessment, 2018

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EmPower Bidibidi Project Goals

Objectives The EmPower Bidibidi practicum project intends to provide an objective and detailed assessment of Mercy Corp’s AMPERE pilot project and its effectiveness in providing a sustainable source of clean energy access to the Bidibidi refugee settlement located in Northern Uganda. Our objectives are twofold:

1) Provide insights into whether the PAYGO model addressed the specific energy-related concerns of different demographic groups in the settlement, particularly women.

2) Provide scalable best practices for the PAYGO model that can then be leveraged as solutions for refugee settlements around the world.

Addressing Literature Gap While there is extensive literature supporting the success of the PAYGO model in low-income communities in the countries across Sub Saharan Africa, there is limited research on the model’s applicability in humanitarian settings. EmPower Bidibidi aims to address this gap and provide an insight into whether other aid organizations and government institutes should promote the PAYGO model as a viable approach to improve energy access in humanitarian settings.

Methodology

The project was conducted in two distinct phases:

1) Data Collection (Jan - March 2020): We collected data through three primary methods: (1) Literature review of the PAYGO model and energy access in humanitarian settings, (2) Field data from Mercy Corps consultants, (3) Stakeholder interviews with funders and operational partners of the AMPERE pilot.

2) Data Analysis (April 2020): Field data and interviews were conducted and analyzed from the first phase. The report makes conclusions and additional recommendations based on the data.

More information on the methodology of the report can be found in Appendix 1.

COVID-19 Crisis

The original methodology intended for the EmPower Bidibidi team to conduct in-person interviews at the Bidibidi refugee settlement. However, due to the COVID-19 crisis, all Columbia University sponsored travel was cancelled. Instead, the team relied on data and surveys collected by Mercy Corps’ hired consultants. The quality control issues the team faced due to this will be addressed later in the report.

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Refugee Rights and Humanitarian Settlements in Uganda

Uganda’s Refugee Framework

Uganda is home to roughly 1.4 million refugees primarily from South Sudan, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), and Burundi.15 Uganda’s refugee policy is often regarded as one of the most progressive in the world.16 The official refugee policies date back to the 1955 Control of Refugees from the Sudan Ordinance and was replaced with the restrictive Control of Alien Refugees Act (CARA) in 1960.17 Similar to contemporaneous refugee policies, CARA granted sweeping discretionary power to legal authorities and confined refugee populations to settlements. However, the large influx of refugee movement both into and out of Uganda over the next few decades spurred political instability, regional regime change, and stoked conflict.18

While the legal framework for refugees was modified slightly, its biggest adjustment came in 1999 with the Self-Reliance Model, implemented jointly by the government and the UNHCR, which was ostensibly meant to transform the refugee model into one that promoted self-sufficiency.19 Uganda’s commitment to providing refugees with freedom of movement and their own plots of land for subsistence farming date back to its first refugee settlement, Nakivale, in 1958.20 These policies were formalized with donor support in 1999 as part of the Self-Reliance Strategy.21 This was followed by the 2006 Refugee Act and the Refugee Regulations of 2010, which ensured the right to work, freedom of movement within the country, and right to formally register new businesses.22

The next large adjustment in Uganda’s refugee framework came in response to the rapid and massive influx of South Sudanese refugees from failed South Sudanese peace accords. In 2017, Uganda hosted over one million South Sudanese refugees.23 Simultaneously, instability in Syria had caused a rapid increase in global refugees, and in response, the UN General Assembly adopted the New York Declaration for Refugees and Migrants. The Ugandan government updated their refugee regulations into the Refugee and Host Population Empowerment (ReHoPE) strategy, which focused on developing a mutualistic relationship between refugee settlement and host community development.24 Additionally, unlike the policies developed in surrounding countries, Uganda ensures that refugees are included in the nation’s social services programs.25

15 “Uganda- Refugee Statistics January 2020,” (UNHCR and Uganda OPM, January 2020), https://reliefweb.int/sites/reliefweb.int/files/resources/73914.pdf;

Betts, A., et al. Refugee Economies in Uganda: What Difference Does the Self-Reliance Model Make? Refugee Studies Centre, 2019. 16 “Uganda- Refugee Statistics January 2020,” (UNHCR and Uganda OPM, January 2020), https://reliefweb.int/sites/reliefweb.int/files/resources/73914.pdf;

Betts, A., et al. Refugee Economies in Uganda: What Difference Does the Self-Reliance Model Make? Refugee Studies Centre, 2019. 17 Havil, Lucy. Uganda’s refugee policies: The history, the politics, the way forward. PDF file. October, 2018. https://reliefweb.int/sites/reliefweb.int/files/resources/IRRI-Uganda-policy-paper-October-2018-Paper.pdf 18 Havil, Lucy. Uganda’s refugee policies: The history, the politics, the way forward. PDF file. October, 2018. https://reliefweb.int/sites/reliefweb.int/files/resources/IRRI-Uganda-policy-paper-October-2018-Paper.pdf 19 Havil, Lucy. Uganda’s refugee policies: The history, the politics, the way forward. PDF file. October, 2018. https://reliefweb.int/sites/reliefweb.int/files/resources/IRRI-Uganda-policy-paper-October-2018-Paper.pdf 20 Betts, A., et al. Refugee Economies in Uganda: What Difference Does the Self-Reliance Model Make? Refugee Studies Centre, 2019. 21 Havil, Lucy. Uganda’s refugee policies: The history, the politics, the way forward. PDF file. October, 2018. https://reliefweb.int/sites/reliefweb.int/files/resources/IRRI-Uganda-policy-paper-October-2018-Paper.pdf. 22 Betts, A., et al. Refugee Economies in Uganda: What Difference Does the Self-Reliance Model Make? Refugee Studies Centre, 2019. 23 Havil, Lucy. Uganda’s refugee policies: The history, the politics, the way forward. PDF file. October, 2018. https://reliefweb.int/sites/reliefweb.int/files/resources/IRRI-Uganda-policy-paper-October-2018-Paper.pdf 24 Havil, Lucy. Uganda’s refugee policies: The history, the politics, the way forward. PDF file. October, 2018. https://reliefweb.int/sites/reliefweb.int/files/resources/IRRI-Uganda-policy-paper-October-2018-Paper.pdf 25 Betts, A., et al. Refugee Economies in Uganda: What Difference Does the Self-Reliance Model Make? Refugee Studies Centre, 2019.

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The right to work and freedom of movement afforded to refugees in Uganda appears to be correlated with increased mobility, greater incomes, and more reliable sources of income. Uganda’s refugee-friendly policies, especially when compared to those of its neighboring Kenya, are the source of significant movement from Kenya to Uganda. 80% of the Somali refugees in Uganda came from Kenya after experiencing hardship due to Kenya’s stricter refugee policies. Additionally, settling in Uganda offers refugees the ability to engage in economic strategies, like the split-family strategy, which allows maximization of financial opportunities.26

However, the recent and dramatic influx of South Sudanese refugees has put into question the sustainability of this policy, particularly the land allotment strategy. Only 17% of Congolese refugees who arrived in Uganda after 2012 have access to land, while 80% of those who arrived before do.27 Furthermore, the UNDP reported that increases in refugees since 2016 have negatively affected the plot size allocated to those in Bidibidi; while residents were provided with different plots for agricultural and residential purposes prior to 2016, they have only been provided a plot for residential purposes since 2016.28 With much of the Ugandan refugee population relying on subsistence farming, the reduction in plot size is concerning. While Ugandan refugees have access to the same social services as Ugandan citizens, data shows that this may actually be correlated to fewer years of education than refugees in neighboring Kenya. Kenya developed parallel service provisions for refugees; education is run by organizations such as the UNHCR. In Uganda, refugees are more likely to face geographical and financial constraints by being integrated into the host communities’ social service provisions.29

Furthermore, Uganda’s refugee policy cannot be viewed separately from the political context in which it was created. Since the conclusion of the Cold War, Uganda has been engaging with Western governments on a variety of issues with the intent of improving its standing on the international stage. The development of Uganda’s refugee framework in the early 21st century occurred while political instability within the country created thousands of internally displaced persons (IDPs). Many of these IDPs claimed that the existing laws failed to provide adequate protection. Additionally, international conflicts erupting since the 1990s has sustained an increase in the world’s refugee population. Western nations therefore have a vested interest in creating models that keep refugees from seeking out asylum on their shores.30 Uganda consequently gained access to international funding through the success of their refugee model.31 The ReHoPE strategy is run in collaboration with the United Nations and receives funding from a complex web of humanitarian organizations, private donors, and federal governments.32 However, accusations of federal mismanagement have resulted in decreased funding from key donors, which is only further imperiling a program struggling to adapt its capacity to both the population and the longevity of stay.33 Therefore, while the refugee policies remain commendable on paper and there has been evidence of success—especially when compared to other

26

Betts, A., et al. Refugee Economies in Uganda: What Difference Does the Self-Reliance Model Make? Refugee Studies Centre, 2019. 27

“Understanding Land Dynamics and Livelihood in Refugee Hosting Districts of Northern Uganda,” (Uganda: UNDP, 2018), https://www.undp.org/content/dam/uganda/docs/UNDPUg18%20-%20Understanding%20Land%20Dynamics.pdf. 28

“Understanding Land Dynamics and Livelihood in Refugee Hosting Districts of Northern Uganda,” (Uganda: UNDP, 2018), https://www.undp.org/content/dam/uganda/docs/UNDPUg18%20-%20Understanding%20Land%20Dynamics.pdf 29 Betts, A., et al. Refugee Economies in Uganda: What Difference Does the Self-Reliance Model Make? Refugee Studies Centre, 2019. 30

Havil, Lucy. Uganda’s refugee policies: The history, the politics, the way forward. PDF file. October, 2018. https://reliefweb.int/sites/reliefweb.int/files/resources/IRRI-Uganda-policy-paper-October-2018-Paper.pdf 31 Havil, Lucy. Uganda’s refugee policies: The history, the politics, the way forward. PDF file. October, 2018. https://reliefweb.int/sites/reliefweb.int/files/resources/IRRI-Uganda-policy-paper-October-2018-Paper.pdf 32 “REHOPE- Refugee and Host Population Empowerment: Strategic Framework- Uganda,” (UNHCE, June 2017). https://data2.unhcr.org/en/documents/download/64166. 33 Hoff, Kelsey. "The Ugandan Refugee Model Under Pressure: Protection and Justice in Refugee Settlements." (2019).

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surrounding nations—there are growing concerns about the effectiveness and sustainability of this internationally lauded program.34

Bidibidi Refugee Settlement

Bidibidi has over 270,000 residents and is considered the largest refugee settlement in Uganda and the second-largest refugee settlement in the world behind the Rohingya settlement in Bangladesh.35 The settlement is located in the Yumbe district in the northwestern corner of Uganda and the vast majority of its residents fled South Sudan. South Sudan has been engulfed in a brutal civil war since 2013 that has claimed an estimated 400,000 lives and created roughly 3.5 million refugees.36 Many of those refugees have escaped south to Uganda, which offers a unique and internationally-lauded refugee policy. While most refugee settlements are built on the idea that refugees will only stay temporarily, research has shown that refugees are in exile for 10-17 years on average,37 and Uganda has invested in infrastructure and policies that reflect this reality. Through the Refugee Act of 2006, the supplemental Refugee Regulations of 2010, and the ReHoPE strategy, refugees are guaranteed freedom of movement, the right to an education, and a dedicated plot of land to use as they please.38 Consequently, schools and health clinics are being converted into permanent buildings and the government has installed a water system.39 The goal according to government and non-governmental organization (NGO) officials is to use the power of private industry to maximize the economic potential of Bidibidi and transform it from a settlement into a city; the area encompassed by Bidibidi is already twice the size of Paris.40 Residents of the Bidibidi settlement speak a variety of languages which creates communication challenges for NGO workers and members of the surrounding community. The most recent statistics from the settlement suggest that the majority of the refugees speak Kakwa and different Bari languages,41 while the residents of the Yumbe district mostly speak Aringa.42 While disagreements between the refugee and host populations are relatively rare, language is cited as a main driver of interpersonal discord.43 Female refugees, for example, often fear that Aringa men are threatening assault while the men claim that they are simply trying to communicate information.44

34 Havil, Lucy. Uganda’s refugee policies: The history, the politics, the way forward. PDF file. October, 2018. https://reliefweb.int/sites/reliefweb.int/files/resources/IRRI-Uganda-policy-paper-October-2018-Paper.pdf 35 Uganda- Refugee Statistics May 2019- Bidibidi,” (UNHCR and Uganda OPM, May 2019), https://reliefweb.int/sites/reliefweb.int/files/resources/70050.pdf; “Uganda- Refugee Statistics January 2020,” (UNHCR and Uganda OPM, January 2020), https://reliefweb.int/sites/reliefweb.int/files/resources/ 73914.pdf; Strochlic, Nina, and Nora Lorek. "A City Rises." National Geographic Magazine, Apr. 2019, p. [105]+. National Geographic Virtual Library, http://tinyurl.gale.com/tinyurl/CbiNE5. Accessed 20 Jan. 2020. 36 Akumu, Patience. “Inside the World's Largest Refugee Camp: 'We Just Want to Go Home'.” The Guardian, Guardian News and Media, 19 May 2018, www.theguardian.com/world/2018/may/19/inside-world-largest-refugee-camp-uganda-south -sudan-civil-war. 37 Strochlic, Nina, and Nora Lorek. "A City Rises." National Geographic Magazine, Apr. 2019, p. [105]+. National Geographic Virtual Library, http://tinyurl.gale.com/tinyurl/CbiNE5. Accessed 20 Jan. 2020. 38 Akumu, Patience. “Inside the World's Largest Refugee Camp: 'We Just Want to Go Home'.” The Guardian, Guardian News and Media, 19 May 2018, www.theguardian.com/world/2018/may/19/inside-world-largest-refugee-camp-uganda-south-sudan- civil-war. 39 Akumu, Patience. “Inside the World's Largest Refugee Camp: 'We Just Want to Go Home'.” The Guardian, Guardian News and Media, 19 May 2018, www.theguardian.com/world/2018/may/19/inside-world-largest-refugee-camp-uganda-south -sudan-civil-war. 40 Strochlic, Nina, and Nora Lorek. "A City Rises." National Geographic Magazine, Apr. 2019, p. [105]+. National Geographic Virtual 41 Uganda - Refugee Statistics October 2019 - Bidibidi. UNHCR, 1 Nov. 2019, data2.unhcr.org/en/documents/download/72277. 42 Boswell, Allan. Contested Refuge: The Political Economy and Conflict Dynamics in Uganda's Bidibidi Refugee Settlement, European Union, 2018, data2.unhcr.org/en/documents/download/66344. 43 Boswell, Allan. Contested Refuge: The Political Economy and Conflict Dynamics in Uganda's Bidibidi Refugee Settlement, European Union, 2018, data2.unhcr.org/en/documents/download/66344. 44 Boswell, Allan. Contested Refuge: The Political Economy and Conflict Dynamics in Uganda's Bidibidi Refugee Settlement, European Union, 2018, data2.unhcr.org/en/documents/download/66344.

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According to the most recent UNHCR reports, the Bidibidi settlement is made up almost entirely of South Sudanese refugees, with the largest group identifying as Kakwa.45 Women and children make up 87% of the settlement’s population, and the majority of households in the settlement are headed by women. The settlement has 26.6% employment, and farmers make up the largest category of employment.46 While exact data on the religious demographics in the settlement is unavailable, the predominant religion in South Sudan is Christianity (the surrounding Yumbe District, unlike most of Uganda, is heavily Muslim, though this has not been a major source of conflict within the settlement or with the surrounding residents).47

Overview of PAYGO Solar Financing Model

Energy challenges faced in refugee settlements and other humanitarian crisis settings reflect broader barriers to expanding and improving clean and reliable energy access. Lack of reliable access is a key contributing factor to energy poverty. Energy poverty can be defined as “the absence of sufficient choice in accessing adequate, affordable, reliable, high-quality, safe and environmentally benign energy services to support economic and human development.”48 Across Sub-Saharan Africa, only one in six people have access to electricity, an impacted population of approximately 590 million.49 Impoverished and rural communities are most affected, in part due to high infrastructure or fuel costs. For example, “a villager in rural Kenya or Rwanda… pays an equivalent cost of $8 per kWh for kerosene lighting. Often 30 or more of a family’s income is spent on lighting.”50 Yet, the Sub-Saharan African region has high photovoltaic power potential, with most of the area being able to produce between 2,000 and 3,000 kilowatt hours (kWh) per cubic meter.51 Prohibitive upfront costs for solar arrays have made capitalizing on these solar resources difficult, especially for the most energy impoverished communities. The pay-as-you-go (PAYGO, sometimes stylized as PAYG or PAY-Go) business model has emerged as a mechanism to reduce upfront cost for consumers, while maintaining minimal risk to solar manufacturers and distributors. This model aims to improve the financial accessibility of off-grid solar home systems.

Over the past decade, the PAYGO sector has expanded rapidly; in the first half of 2019 PAYGO sales surpassed one million lighting units for the first time.52 Inspired by the model popularized by mobile phones, the PAYGO model is simple: a household makes a down payment for a solar home system, and then pays off the remaining balance of the system cost in installments of regular amounts over regular intervals. The installment payment amount and interval outlined vary by company, and are in the PAYGO contract, while the solar home system serves as the sole collateral. Researchers have found that “being able to pay overtime… brought an otherwise expensive asset within reach for a much larger number of families. Many respondents reported that they would not have been able to buy the [solar home system] if they had to pay in full at once,” and that if the solar home system were a “lumpy” payment, it would be competing for other high priced commodities such as furniture or land purchases.53 The installment payment method “effectively

45 Uganda - Refugee Statistics April 2019 - Bidibidi. UNHCR, 1 Nov. 2019, https://reliefweb.int/sites/reliefweb.int/files/resources/69442.pdf 46 Uganda - Refugee Statistics October 2019 - Bidibidi. UNHCR, 1 Nov. 2019, data2.unhcr.org/en/documents/download/72277. 47 Boswell, Allan. Contested Refuge: The Political Economy and Conflict Dynamics in Uganda's Bidibidi Refugee Settlement, European Union, 2018, data2.unhcr.org/en/documents/download/66344. 48 Reedy, A. Energy and social issues. In: World Energy Council and UNEP, editors. Energy and the challenges of sustainability. New York; NY; 2000. 49 González-Eguino, M. Energy poverty: An overview. In: Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, 47. 2015. Page 380. 50 Wogan, D. “Pay-As-You-Go Solar Energy FInds Success in Africa” Scientific American. November, 2013. Accessed from: https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/pay-as-you-go-solar-energy/ 51 Global Solar Atlas. Sub-Saharan Africa. Accessed from: https://globalsolaratlas.info/download/sub-saharan-africa 52 Global Off-Grid Lighting Association (GOGLA). H1 2019 Global Off-Grid Solar Market Report. October, 2019. Accessed from: https://www.lightingglobal.org/resource/h1-2019-global-off-grid-solar-market-report/ 53 CGAP. Escaping Darkness: Understanding Consumer Value in PAYGo Solar. December, 2017. Accessed from: https://www.cgap.org/sites/default/files/researches/documents/Forum-Escaping-Darkness-Dec-2017.pdf. Page 1.

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[mimics] how customers currently purchase kerosene for lighting or mobile phone airtime top-ups… or pay for charging services.”54 The PAYGO model already reflects a payment system familiar with the target market populations, while reducing high costs often associated with new solar home systems.

The PAYGO model also allows companies a high degree of flexibility to meet customers’ needs. Product size and price, upfront payment amount, pay-back period, installment amounts, payment method, and consequences of non-payment are highly variable between companies. For example, to purchase the M-KOPA IV Solar Home System (which includes three LED lights, a radio, and a cell phone charging port), buyers make a deposit of $35 and then daily payments of approximately $0.43 for a year via a mobile money system.55 In contrast, Off Grid Electric may not require customers to make an initial deposit, allow payments to be made monthly, and the term of the plan can be as long as three years.56 Some companies such as BBOXX may lease the products to households in exchange for lower monthly payments over the course of a multi-year contract, between three and ten years.57 The flexibility of the PAYGO business model allows it to be adaptable to a wide-range of contexts, and provides consumers the opportunity to choose the company that matches their needs and available resources.

PAYGO Market Attractiveness Index

While the PAYGO business model allows for flexibility to market solar products to impoverished communities that would not historically have access to energy systems with high up-front costs, access comes at the expense of potential increased risk to companies offering PAYGO financing. Distributors take on most of the risk, with the solar home system being the primary collateral. As PAYGO reaches new customer segments, banks may be reluctant to offer credit for companies selling solar home systems.58 To minimize risk, it is important for PAYGO companies to understand the conditions most beneficial to growth of PAYGO solar, particularly when considering market expansion. To this end, Lighting Global developed the PAYGO Market Attractiveness Index (MAI).

The MAI is intended to provide information to PAYGO stakeholders such as companies, investors and policy makers on factors that influence market attractiveness.59 The MAI is broken down into three columns: demand, supply, and enabling market, with secondary columns breaking down factors such as demographic data, access to finance, and legal and regulatory frameworks (See Figure 2).

54 CGAP. Strange Beasts: Making Sense of PAYGo Solar Business Models. January, 2018. Accessed from: https://www.cgap.org/sites/default/files/publications/Forum-Strange-Beasts-Jan-2018.pdf. Page 5. 55 Shapshak, T. “How Kenya’s M-Kopa Brings Prepaid Solar Power to Rural Africa” Forbes. January, 2016. Accessed from: https://www.forbes.com/sites/tobyshapshak/2016/01/28/how-kenyas-m-kopa-brings-prepaid-solar-power-to-rural-africa/#454b998e2dbf 56 CGAP. Escaping Darkness: Understanding Consumer Value in PAYGo Solar. December, 2017. Accessed from: https://www.cgap.org/sites/default/files/researches/documents/Forum-Escaping-Darkness-Dec-2017.pdf. Page 7. 57 CGAP. Escaping Darkness: Understanding Consumer Value in PAYGo Solar. December, 2017. Accessed from: https://www.cgap.org/sites/default/files/researches/documents/Forum-Escaping-Darkness-Dec-2017.pdf. Page 7. 58 Hybrid Strategies Consulting (Hystra). “Reaching Scale in Access to Energy: Lessons from Practitioners” May 2017. Accessed from: https://static1.squarespace.com/static/51bef39fe4b010d205f84a92/t/594a8a4f86e6c05c7d651eb1/1498057514242/Energy_Report+%28ADB+excluded+%2B+license%29.pdf. Pg 41. 59 Lighting Global. PAYG Market Attractiveness Index 2019. Accessd from:https://www.lightingglobal.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/PAYGo-MAI-2019-Report.pdf , pg 1.

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Figure 2: Three Pillars of MAI, source: Lighting Global

Using the MAI, PAYGO companies can assess which countries or regions provide the best opportunity for successful market expansion. Lighting Global utilized the MAI to assess market attractiveness by country, with Uganda ranking above average of the assessed countries in the Demand and Supply categories.60 More granular information, such as regional variation, is currently unavailable. However, the MAI is a guide for assessing what factors PAYGO companies would consider when assessing the market for solar home systems in humanitarian crisis settings generally, and Bidibidi in particular.

Critiques of the PAYGO Model

While PAYGO offers the opportunity for sustainable energy access growth in low-income and impoverished communities, some research has led to critiques about the business model. In particular, about PAYGO’s affordability, access, social consequences, and ability to address the full scope of its customers’ energy needs. These may be particularly true in high-risk communities, such as those humanitarian crisis settings.

The variability of the PAYGO model across companies is one of the model’s strengths, however an initial deposit larger than the monthly installment payments is a common (though not universal) contract condition.

60 Lighting Global. PAYG Market Attractiveness Index 2019. Accessd from:https://www.lightingglobal.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/PAYGo-MAI-2019-Report.pdf , pg 9-10.

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This initial sum may sometimes be prohibitive, and some PAYGO customers surveyed describe requiring time to make the initial payment.61 The ongoing payment plan may be a deterrent for customers with low or volatile income.62 Research may indicate that these financial barriers may perpetuate existing fiscal disparities among impoverished communities. In a survey of Rwandan households that purchased the Indigo Duo solar lighting system from Azuri, it was found that the majority were those who “have a job and farmers who go beyond subsistence farming to produce a surplus which can be sold.”63 The survey concluded that “Indigo users are not from the poorest sections of the population…” and that “39.1% of Rwandan households, which are living under the poverty line, are unlikely to be able to afford Indigo.”64

Mobile money payments are a defining feature of most PAYGO company models. This allows companies to reduce costs associated with collection agents, while providing customers some flexibility with payment timing, including allowing them to make advance payments when possible. However, for a market to be attractive for PAYGO companies relying on mobile payments, there must be high levels of mobile phone accessibility. However, as of 2018, women in Bidibidi were more than 20% less likely to own a cellphone than their male counterparts were, and only 4% of women had mobile phones with internet access.65 The PAYGO model’s reliance on mobile payments may exacerbate gender inequity for energy access.

There may be social consequences for PAYGO solar customers. For PAYGO companies, the solar home system typically serves as the only collateral. To ensure payment, many installed systems are equipped with remote lockout mechanisms. These remote lockout mechanisms allow the PAYGO company to disable the solar home systems when a customer fails to make installation payments by agreed upon dates. While the remote lockout technology may be necessary to secure timely payments, there can be unintended consequences. In a survey of possible PAYGO consumers in Uganda, respondents “said that lockouts were counterproductive. Switching off their lights during hard times would force them to borrow or buy kerosene, making it more difficult to resume paying off a solar loan.”66 Remote lockout may also be a sign to neighbors of the customer’s poor financial condition, and harm the customer’s social standing in the community. These potential fiscal and social burdens may act as a barrier for PAYGO adoption.

Women in PAYGO Solar

Women makeup roughly 53% of Bidibidi’s population and head a majority of the households in the settlement.67 Male residents are more likely to take advantage of the freedom to seek employment outside of the settlement, a unique component of Uganda’s refugee policies, meaning that their presence is more sporadic; in fact, most residents perceive the gender breakdown to be skewed towards women.68 Despite this, most leadership is male, which often leaves the concerns of women unheard.69 Women and their children are

61 CGAP. Escaping Darkness. January 2018. Accessed from:https://www.cgap.org/sites/default/files/researches/documents/Forum-Escaping-Darkness-Dec-2017.pdf, pg 13. 62 CGAP. Escaping Darkness. January 2018. Accessed from:https://www.cgap.org/sites/default/files/researches/documents/Forum-Escaping-Darkness-Dec-2017.pdf, pg 13. 63 Collins, Simon and Anicet Munyehirwe. “Pay-As-You-Go Solar PV In Rwanda: Evidence of benefits to users and issues of affordability” Field Actions Science Reports. 2016. Accessed from: https://www.energy4impact.org/file/1783/download?token=TA1nhUl9 pg 102. 64Collins, Simon and Anicet Munyehirwe. “Pay-As-You-Go Solar PV In Rwanda: Evidence of benefits to users and issues of affordability” Field Actions Science Reports. 2016. Accessed from: https://www.energy4impact.org/file/1783/download?token=TA1nhUl9 pg 102. 65 GSM Association. Bridging the mobile gender gap for refugees. March 2019. Accessed from: https://reliefweb.int/sites/reliefweb.int/files/resources/m4hgendergaprefugeecontexts.pdf 66 Waldron, Daniel and Anne Marie Swinderen. “Remote Lockouts: The Dark Side of Pay-as-You-Go Solar?” CGAP. May 2019. Accessed from: https://www.cgap.org/blog/remote-lockouts-dark-side-pay-you-go-solar. 67 Boswell, Allan. Contested Refuge: The Political Economy and Conflict Dynamics in Uganda's Bidibidi Refugee Settlement, European Union, 2018, data2.unhcr.org/en/documents/download/66344. 68 European Union. Contested Refugee: The Political Economy and Conflict Dynamics in Uganda’s Bidibidi Refugee Settlements by Alan Boswell. 2018. Accessed January 12, 2020. https://data2.unhcr.org/en/documents/download/66344 69 European Union. Contested Refugee: The Political Economy and Conflict Dynamics in Uganda’s Bidibidi Refugee Settlements by Alan Boswell. 2018. Accessed January 12, 2020. https://data2.unhcr.org/en/documents/download/66344

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frequently tasked with collecting firewood for cooking, and the large influx of refugees has led to a rapid deforestation that has forced women to travel further and further to collect firewood. Traveling such distances increases the likelihood of kidnapping along with domestic and sexual violence.70 Sexual violence has been a leading, but often unaddressed, concern for female refugees, but many women have ceased reporting concerns and daily issues related to firewood collection because of the perception that their concerns would be ignored.71 Furthermore, the reliance on firewood for traditional “three-stone” cooking, often in enclosed, poorly ventilated spaces, increases risk of smoke inhalation for both women and children, since women often cook while supervising children.72 Given the outsized presence that women maintain in the Bidibidi settlement, solar providers will need to address their energy-related concerns in order to maintain a stable presence in the area. While renewable energy and PAYGO solar represent opportunities to advance gender equality, there remains a litany of research questions that must be explored before any conclusions can be drawn. Globally, the renewable energy sector has greater participation from women than the traditional energy sector, with women making up roughly 35% of the renewable energy workforce compared to less than 20% in the traditional energy workforce. Despite this, women still face financial and cultural constraints, which make it difficult for companies to retain them as customers.73 Additionally, there is a shortage of data regarding women’s involvement in the Ugandan renewables sector as a whole and within PAYGO companies. An interview conducted by the Empower Bidibidi practicum team with Village Power, one of the local PAYGO service providers and participants in Mercy Corp’s AMPERE pilot, revealed that only 2 members of their team of 9 in Bidibidi were female. Further research must be done to better understand how women are involved with the sector through formal employment.74 In addition to research regarding women’s involvement in PAYGO solar energy companies, more research needs to be completed to understand how PAYGO products are responding to women’s needs and interests. Studies conducted within refugee populations in neighboring Kenya show that PAYGO solar purchasing decisions are primarily made by men (often over-riding their wives’ protests). Purchasers often cut their wives’ budgets in order to afford the monthly payments.75 A possible barrier to women’s engagement with PAYGO products is the lack of mobile phone ownership and usage among women in refugee settlements. Data from 2018 indicates that women in Bidibidi were 23% less likely than their male counterparts to have used a cell phone in the prior 3 months, and there is a 30% gap in their cell phone ownership.76 In addition, research analyzing the effects of introducing a 60 kW solar mini-grid in Mpanta, Zambia on gendered energy culture indicates that while energy access is an opportunity for women, the magnitude of its impact is highly dependent on the products offered.77 The study noted that despite increasing the general community welfare, none of the renewable energy products offered improved the efficiency and health impacts of cooking, and thus women were not made significantly better off.78 Data gathered by Mercy Corps revealed that women are

70 European Union. Contested Refugee: The Political Economy and Conflict Dynamics in Uganda’s Bidibidi Refugee Settlements by Alan Boswell. 2018. Accessed January 12, 2020. https://data2.unhcr.org/en/documents/download/66344 71 “How SAFE Access to Energy Can Make a Difference in Refugees' Lives - World.” How SAFE Access to Energy Can Make a Difference in Refugees’ Lives, ReliefWeb, 18 Dec. 2017, reliefweb.int/report/world/how-safe-access-energy-can -make-difference-refugees-lives; Boswell, Allan. Contested Refuge: The Political Economy and Conflict Dynamics in Uganda's Bidibidi Refugee Settlement, European Union, 2018, data2.unhcr.org/en/documents/download/66344. 72 “How SAFE Access to Energy Can Make a Difference in Refugees' Lives.” : FAO in Emergencies. Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, December 18, 2017. http://www.fao.org/emergencies/fao-in-action/stories/stories-detail/en/c/1073106/. 73 ADVANCING GENDER IN THE ENVIRONMENT: MAKING THE CASE FOR WOMEN IN THE ENERGY SECTOR. USAID, 2018, www.usaid.gov/sites/default/files/documents/1865/IUCN-USAID-Making_case_women_energy_sector.pdf. 74 Okello, Allan. Personal Interview. 11 Feb 2020. 75 Zollmann, J., et al. "Escaping Darkness Understanding Consumer Value in PAYGo Solar." To connect with the Lighting Global team email: info@ lightingglobal. org www. lightingglobal. org (2017). 76 Bridging the Mobile Gender Gap for Refugees . GSM Association, Mar. 2019, www.gsma.com/mobilefordevelopment/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/M4H_GenderGapRefugeeContexts.pdf. 77 Johnson, Oliver W., Vanessa Gerber, and Cassilde Muhoza. "Gender, culture and energy transitions in rural Africa." Energy Research & Social Science 49 (2019): 169-179. 78 Johnson, Oliver W., Vanessa Gerber, and Cassilde Muhoza. "Gender, culture and energy transitions in rural Africa." Energy Research & Social Science 49 (2019): 169-179.

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more likely to prioritize purchasing smaller solar products, but more investigation into the reasoning behind the difference in product demand is required.79 Description of AMPERE Pilot

Initial Assessment by Mercy Corps and Mastercard Center

Mercy Corps partnered with the Mastercard Center for Inclusive Growth to conduct an initial assessment of the state of solar markets for refugees and host community members in Uganda. The research specifically focused on the energy needs and energy capacity of low-income and sparsely distributed refugees and host community populations in Uganda’s West Nile region. The study also assessed the potential for PAYGO solar to increase the energy accessibility for the populations being observed. The study came to the conclusion that PAYGO solar can be an excellent opportunity to cultivate an off-grid solar market in Uganda’s West Nile region. However, PAYGO operations in refugee settlements will require different strategies from the current model used across urban emerging markets in Africa.80 Three specific consumer segments were also identified: (1) vulnerable households, (2) farmers, and (3) small business owners. Each consumer segment will require tailored approaches and products that are suitable to their energy demands and income. For example, vulnerable households are able to afford Lighting-Global certified solar lamps (costing approximately $8-20 USD). Whereas, farmers and business owners are able to afford products such as larger solar lamps with mobile charging capacity and solar home systems (SHSs) that cost between $20-200 USD. The study also identified top three energy priorities for the population assessed: safety at night, communication and information, and children’s education.81 Pilot Design Mercy Corps’ goal for the AMPERE pilot was to test how market systems can be strengthened to bring quality energy and financial services to the Bidibidi refugee settlement in Northern Uganda. Mercy Corps partnered with two private solar energy providers—Village Power and d.light—to initiate the AMPERE pilot project. Mercy Corps played the coordinating role of the pilot. Village Power and d.light were tasked with managing all sales operations in the settlement. A total of 306 individuals from the Bidibidi Refugee settlement participated in the AMPERE pilot. The pilot commenced in November 2019 and concluded in March 2020. Funding Structure

79 PAYING FOR DARKNESS Strengthening Solar Markets for Refugees in Uganda. Mercy Corps. , Nov. 2019, www.mercycorps.org/sites/default/files/2020-01/Paying_for_Darkness_Uganda_FINAL.pdf; Johnson, Oliver W., Vanessa Gerber, and Cassilde Muhoza. "Gender, culture and energy transitions in rural Africa." Energy Research & Social Science 49 (2019): 169-179. 80PAYING FOR DARKNESS Strengthening Solar Markets for Refugees in Uganda. Mercy Corps. , Nov. 2019, www.mercycorps.org/sites/default/files/2020-01/Paying_for_Darkness_Uganda_FINAL.pdf; Johnson, Oliver W., Vanessa Gerber, and Cassilde Muhoza. "Gender, culture and energy transitions in rural Africa." Energy Research & Social Science 49 (2019): 169-179. 81 PAYING FOR DARKNESS Strengthening Solar Markets for Refugees in Uganda. Mercy Corps. , Nov. 2019, www.mercycorps.org/sites/default/files/2020-01/Paying_for_Darkness_Uganda_FINAL.pdf; Johnson, Oliver W., Vanessa Gerber, and Cassilde Muhoza. "Gender, culture and energy transitions in rural Africa." Energy Research & Social Science 49 (2019): 169-179.

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The pilot was funded by SNV Netherlands Development Organisation, Save the Children, and the Dutch Coalition of Humanitarian Activities (DCHI). Mercy Corps used the funding to facilitate a 60% subsidy for Village Power and d.Light’s products (Appendix 2), using a results-based financing mechanism. The subsidy was applied to allow the pilot participants to purchase the products at an affordable price. Description of Private PAYGO Companies/Providers Village Power Village Power is a SHSs provider based in Uganda. Launched in 2014, the goal of the company is to deliver reliable, affordable and accessible modern energy solutions to Sub-Saharan African families and small businesses. d.light d.light is a global leader and pioneer in delivering affordable solar-powered solutions designed for the two billion people in the developing world without access to reliable energy. d.light has hubs in Africa, China, South Asia, and the United States. The company has sold over 20 million solar energy products to date in more than 70 countries.

EmPower Bidibidi’s Assessment of AMPERE

Prior to the global outbreak of COVID-19 and its declaration as a pandemic, the EmPower Bidibidi team was planning on conducting a field research study in Bidibidi to collect quantitative and qualitative data. The section below outlines the process followed to design the study, which includes a stakeholder mapping exercise and an outline of how each research objective is accomplished. Due to travel restrictions, the team was unable to conduct the field research study. The Mercy Corps team collected key data for the team to evaluate the scalability and gender equity aspects of the pilot. The survey instruments used by the Mercy Corps team were informed by the instruments designed by our team, however, their focus was primarily on collecting quantitative data. As the data was not collected by our team first hand, there are discrepancies that cannot be elucidated upon, limiting the analysis and conclusions that can be drawn from the data provided. Therefore, descriptive data analysis was emphasized in this evaluation. Overview This field research study uses a mixed methods approach, which includes key informant interviews with implementation partners, renewable energy companies, governmental agencies, and focus group discussions and interviews with PAYGO subscribers and non-subscribers. Survey tools were carefully designed to gather

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both qualitative and quantitative data points where needed. The table below summarizes the research questions the project is focused on, and where data was collected to evaluate and answer each question.

Research Objective Tools Sampling and Method

Evaluating sustainability of the PAYGO Model in resettlement setting

● Is this model feasible without a subsidy?

● Is Bidibidi unique in its success with the PAYGO model thus far?

● Can this model be viable for other refugee settlements?

Desk Research

Survey Instruments

● Literature review of PAYGO assessments and applications

● Literature review of refugee settlements and models of energy access, and financing tools

● Map characteristics of Bidibidi during field visit

● Key informant interviews with energy providers, Mercy Corps, UNHCR, Save the Children, and Office of the Prime Minister

● Focus group discussions and key informant interviews with 30 participants and 20 non-participants in Bidibidi

Framework for inclusion of women as energy leaders

● Are women’s energy needs fulfilled by PAYGO financing model?

● Will creating a framework for women as energy leaders increase disparity?

● Do women currently play a role in last mile distribution? If yes, is the role contributing to gender equity?

Desk Research Survey Instruments

● Literature review of gender equity and energy access frameworks, programs and assessments

● Focus group discussions and key informant interviews with women participants and non-participants, including other segments

Table 1: Research objectives and sampling methods

A stakeholder mapping exercise was conducted to customize the survey instruments for each member and research question.

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Key Contributor

Government of Uganda

Implementation Partners

Industry Experts

Residents of Bidibidi

Location Yumbe, Kampala Remote Remote Bidibidi, Uganda

Stakeholders

Ministry of Disaster Preparedness and Refugees

Minister for the State of Northern Region

UNHCR Village Power d.light Office of the Prime Minister Save the Children

SE4All Lighting Global Easy Solar Solar Sister GSMA BFA Global

Men and Women Business Owners Farmers Vulnerable groups Participants and Non-Participants

Data Points

Monetary support for energy access

Strategy for increasing access

Role and work with Mercy Corps Uniqueness of Bidibidi Applicability of PAYGO

Nexus of gender equity and energy access PAYGO application and feasibility assessments

Current energy needs Changes in energy needs with solar access Role of women Willingness to pay

Table 2: Stakeholder Mapping for survey instruments

The final survey instruments designed by our team are attached in appendix 5 for review along with the survey administered by Mercy Corps.

Synopsis of survey participants

The survey administered by Mercy Corps in Bidibidi included:

● 184 participants; 107 out of 184 were female and 88 out of 184 were refugees, with the rest from the host community (Yumbe region);

● 57 out of the total identified themselves as farmers and 37 identified themselves as aid dependent; this was a multiple-choice question, so there were participants who chose more than one option, however, farmers were the one group with high representation;

● Average household size was approximately 7 members; ● The average age of the participants was approximately 37 years old.

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Research Objective: Scalability and Sustainability

To evaluate the questions of scalability and sustainability of the pilot project beyond Bidibidi refugee settlement and without the subsidy available to d.light and Village Power, specific questions from the survey were chosen. Furthermore, a comparison of host community versus refugee settlement participants was conducted to understand if expansion of PAYGO into non-resettlement settings is a viable option for expansion.

Chart 1: Motivations for Purchasing Solar

Mercy Corps conducted a survey to map the energy expenditures and needs of refugees in Bidibidi and host community members prior to launching the AMPERE program. Through this evaluation, they found that “for host and refugee subsistence farmers, energy is a high priority for quality of life and performing basic household tasks at night, facilitating children’s education and night time safety.”82 Additionally, they reported that there was a willingness and ability to pay the cost of the lowest tier PAYGO deposits and smallest Off Grid Solar lanterns. “However, they would require three months’ lead time to save the deposit or purchase amount, and shorter payment periods and flexibility to accommodate inconsistent income streams (particularly for farmers or businesses dependent on farmers’ income due to seasonal harvest periods)”.83

82 PAYING FOR DARKNESS Strengthening Solar Markets for Refugees in Uganda. Mercy Corps. , Nov. 2019, www.mercycorps.org/sites/default/files/2020-01/Paying_for_Darkness_Uganda_FINAL.pdf; Johnson, Oliver W., Vanessa Gerber, and Cassilde Muhoza. "Gender, culture and energy transitions in rural Africa." Energy Research & Social Science 49 (2019): 169-179. 83 PAYING FOR DARKNESS Strengthening Solar Markets for Refugees in Uganda. Mercy Corps. , Nov. 2019, www.mercycorps.org/sites/default/files/2020-01/Paying_for_Darkness_Uganda_FINAL.pdf; Johnson, Oliver W., Vanessa Gerber, and Cassilde Muhoza. "Gender, culture and energy transitions in rural Africa." Energy Research & Social Science 49 (2019): 169-179.

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Chart 1: These findings were corroborated in the post pilot survey where 90% of the refugees reported that one of their motivations for purchasing solar was to provide lighting for their children to read at night. Furthermore, refugee research participants reported at 68 % the readiness to fulfill the deposit required to subscribe to PAYGO in comparison to host community respondents. Interestingly, 8 out of 135 respondents relied upon village savings and loans association (VSLAs) to fulfill the deposit for PAYGO. 25 participants responded that they needed within the range of 1 day to 3 months to save for the deposit needed. (The rest of the participants shared a range that fell outside of the timeline of the pilot; therefore, the records were considered erroneous). Ultimately, the pilot matched the needs of the participants with the provision of specific solar products.

Chart 2: Marketing Activation Effectiveness

Chart 2: One of the primary purposes of the pilot was to activate the market in Bidibidi and test the viability of PAYGO resettlement settings, so the data was analyzed to uncover whether PAYGO was successful at making solar products affordable and accessible. Firstly, the results from the survey showcase that the market activation efforts implemented by Mercy Corps were successful because 60% of the participants shared that they learned about solar products through the “Mercy Corps campaign”, with 68% of those being refugees and 32% host community members. The second option with the highest overall results is “walking sales agent” at 12 %.

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Chart 3: Monthly Payments for PAYGO Chart 3: Evaluating affordability from the lens of monthly payments, 70 % of the respondents said that they could afford their payments, however, 85 % of the ones who could not afford the monthly payments were refugees. To further evaluate affordability, the average household data was utilized to find a positive correlation between affordability and income. Within each income bracket, there are more refugees who conveyed difficulty in affording monthly payments than host community participants. For example, in the income bracket of 10,000 to 40,000 Ugandan Shillings (approximately $2.63 to $10.53 USD) there are 24 refugee participants who have an inability to afford monthly payments, as compared to 3 host participants. An important stipulation to consider here is that monthly payments are only applicable to subscribers of PAYGO solar products. This specific question on the survey had 138 responses, which included 81 respondents who said that they paid cash in full for their solar product. So, there is a major discrepancy in the data collected for this question, which could not be deciphered by our team, therefore, the analysis should be considered limited. Research Objective: Gender Access For the research objective of evaluating effectiveness of increasing energy access for women, the descriptive analytics are summarized below:

● 56% of the 75 respondents who own solar lamps were female. 34 of those respondents paid cash in

full and 8 used PAYGO. ● Firewood and torches are still a popular option for females.

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○ 60.9% of 69 respondents being female reporting firewood was another source of energy in their households;

○ 59.8% of 92 respondents being female who used torches as another source of energy; ○ Primary research carried out by Mercy Corps reinforces findings from this survey.

■ “67% of farmers and MSME owners reported using dry cell torches, while only 15% reported using the light on their mobile phone, despite 50% of refugees in Bidibidi owning a phone. A substantial percentage of respondents reported burning grass or just living in darkness at night. No one reported using paraffin nor was it sold in any of the markets.”84

Chart 4: Purchasing Decisions

Chart 4: As Mercy Corps was the intermediary party that coordinated and marketed the pilot, the majority of respondents, 56% stated that they purchased directly from the Mercy Corps team. The respondents either directly purchased from a Mercy Corps team member or from one of the PAYGO providers (d.light or Village Power), but mistakenly identified them as Mercy Corps. Additionally, while more participants identified d.light as their source than Village Power, the number of these respondents was low compared to the number of people who identified Mercy Corps as their purchase source. Participants who stated that they purchased from a local vendor or a walking agent did not identify Mercy Corps, Village Power, or d.light as their solar product providers. This allowed us to infer that Village Power and d.light’s brand recognition or brand awareness in the settlements was low. Participants were not aware of how these companies played a role in buying solar products. As one of the goals of the pilot was to increase private sector penetration in Bidibidi and decrease

84 PAYING FOR DARKNESS Strengthening Solar Markets for Refugees in Uganda. Mercy Corps. , Nov. 2019, www.mercycorps.org/sites/default/files/2020-01/Paying_for_Darkness_Uganda_FINAL.pdf; Johnson, Oliver W., Vanessa Gerber, and Cassilde Muhoza. "Gender, culture and energy transitions in rural Africa." Energy Research & Social Science 49 (2019): 169-179.

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reliance on aid groups, it is important that the PAYGO providers have a strong marketing and sales presence in the settlement. The biggest difference in gender response can be seen with Village Savings and Loan Association (VSLA) and ENventure Community Shop as a purchase source. These programs are specifically created to cultivate a network of women entrepreneurs. As a result, it is expected that more women would hear about solar products from these programs. Therefore, for energy access projects that want to increase engagement with women, programs such as VSLA and ENventure are great avenues to achieve that goal.

Chart 5: Payment for PAYGO Installments

Chart 5: The survey participants were asked to identify the method of payment they used to pay for their installments. A majority of the respondents stated that they used service centers to pay an agent either from Village Power or d.light. The second most common response was local sales agents that collect the installments door-to-door. Mobile agents and payment methods was third in this category. Therefore, the AMPERE pilot relied heavily on door-to-door sales agents or service centers around the settlement. There was comparatively low use of mobile money used in the pilot. This is clearly something that should be improved for future PAYGO pilots in humanitarian settings, especially considering the COVID-19 crisis where we go towards a more contactless future.

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Chart 6: Product Satisfaction

Chart 6: There was a high satisfaction level amongst consumers of the solar products, that used either PAYGO or direct cash to purchase the products. There could be some bias with this data as the data collection was conducted by Mercy Corps. To learn more about the specific products that were available to the refugees, please refer to Appendix 2 and 3.

Chart 7: Accessibility of Product Services

Chart 7: One of the goals of the AMPERE pilot was to provide sustainable and reliable energy products. In this regard, the participants were asked to state who they would go to if they had any technical difficulties with their products. The majority of the respondents stated that they would call service centers, and after that, directly go to one if needed. The most common response after that was to speak to Mercy Corps. The results show that the solar product purchasers had high awareness of the service centers, which is clearly a very positive outcome for the pilot. The fact that the purchasers had the cell phone number of the service agents is also a good use of technology in the pilot. Additionally, it is evident that many of the respondents

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were also aware that this was a Mercy Corps project. This aligns with other data collected through the survey; Mercy Corps has strong brand presence in the settlement.

Chart 8: Payment Decisions

Chart 8: Contrary to our hypothesis, the majority of the respondents decided to buy the product fully in cash as opposed to taking advantage of PAYGO. This could also be explained by the fact that out of the 8 products sold only 4 were offered packaged with PAYGO as an option, 1 by d.light and 3 by Village Power. (The 3 products offered by Village Power had the option of being bought with cash, as can be seen in the marketing materials attached in Appendix X) Furthermore, more women decided to pay cash in full, whereas more men decided to purchase solar products using PAYGO. As shown in the table below, there is a decreasing number of women purchasing with an increase of the product’s maximum output power and price. The predilection for smaller and cash only products amongst women is also confirmed by their higher representation, 58% in the buying pool for d.light products.

SEX D-Light VILLAGE POWER A2 S3 S30 S500 D150 T200 VP1 VP3 VP6

FEMALE 58% 38% 63% 57% 58% 38% 28% 43% 38% 20% 20% MALE 42% 62% 37% 43% 42% 62% 72% 57% 62% 80% 80%

TOTAL 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1

Table 3: Gender Disaggregated Sales Data Another important factor in low PAYGO participation is the mobile phone accessibility in Bidibidi, especially for women. There is not enough information on why the participants decided to do this, especially in regards to the purchasing differences amongst men and women. However, we could infer that our initial assessment was not

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accurate; refugees, particularly 53% of the female population, in Bidibidi are capable of buying solar products without the PAYGO system. Nonetheless, it is important to consider whether the subsidy provided by Mercy Corps played a factor in making the products cheaper, and thus more accessible for refugees for direct purchase. This supports the idea that direct subsidies, facilitated by aid agencies and government donors, can be the solution to make solar products more affordable and easily accessible for refugees.

Chart 9: Motivations for Buying Solar

Chart 9: The largest motivation for purchasing solar products, for both men and women, was to increase “lighting so children can read at night.” After that, both men and women stated that they used the products for extra light bulbs. Therefore, according to the survey, it can be stated that the demand for solar products is primarily to increase lighting in households. There was a distinguishable difference between men and women when it came to purchasing solar products to have “lighting to reduce risk of night time violence”. For respondents who identified this as a motivation, almost 90% were women and only 10% men. This aligns with our literature review that discovered that many women are vulnerable to violence in the refugee settlement. Additionally, as significantly more women than men said that they use solar products so that their children can have access to lighting to read at night, it can be deduced that women prioritize the needs of their family more. This information also aligns with our literature review. However, it is important to acknowledge that the results of the survey may be skewed by the fact that more women were interviewed for this survey. The majority of both male and female respondents (64%) stated that they had the deposit required to commit to the PAYGO program/AMPERE pilot. After that, approximately 30% of respondents stated that they

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needed to save, and only 6% said they used VSLA to gain readiness for the PAYGO program. According to this data, it can be inferred that most refugees in Bidibidi had the savings to invest in an energy access program, which is a positive indication of market demand in the settlement, however there was a significant subsidy being provided to the participants of the AMPERE, therefore the readiness could be due to the lowered price of products and market activation efforts that preceded the launch of the products, allowing people to save to purchase products that fulfilled their needs.

Alternative Energy Access Mechanisms/Strategies

Community solar

In contrast to the PAYGO model, where an individual purchases a small solar home system and pays off the costs over a contracted period, community solar may be a possible alternative solar financing mechanism. Community solar refers to “local solar facilities shared by multiple community subscribers.”85 In this model, subscribers contribute a portion of needed cost and receive an allocation of the produced energy. However, community solar is a relatively new model and adoption is mostly limited to communities throughout the United States, with some projects developing in the United Kingdom, European Union, and emerging economies such as China and India.86 Research should assess the ability of community solar to meet the energy needs in humanitarian crisis settings.

Conclusions and Recommendations

Conclusions

The conclusions that can be drawn from the data available are limited due to discrepancies. However, there are conclusions that we were able to extract that were in accord with our findings from the literature review.

First, sustainable and reliable energy access is not feasible without a subsidy. Through interviews conducted with community leaders by Mercy Corps, it was reported that there was a decrease in the number of people purchasing solar once the discount (subsidy for product providers) was decreased from 60 to 50 percent in Phase 2 of the AMPERE pilot. In additional interviews with d.light and Village Power managers, it was recorded that without a subsidy market expansion would not be possible and if Mercy Corps is not involved in the future a higher than 50 percent subsidy would be needed. Another key question from these interviews, “Should UNHCR successfully create banking accounts and IDs for refugees with the OPM, how will this affect perceptions on credit risk, if at all? Will refugees be able to acquire longer contracts?” revealed that both energy providers thought that refugees are high risk due to their transient lives and tendency to rely upon “handouts”. So, it may be inferred that the perception of risk of investing in building a market in

85 Solar Energy Industry Association (SEIA). “Community Solar” Accessed from: https://www.seia.org/initiatives/community-solar 86 Peters, et. al. “Community solar initiatives in the United States of America.” Energy Policy, 121. 2018. Accessed from: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0301421518304117?via%3Dihub

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Bidibidi has not lowered in its entirety and would not be eradicated without a subsidy supporting a product’s life.

Although a subsidy would create more opportunities for energy providers to establish a market in a resettlement setting, the lack of national and international policy that address the fact that the lifetime of a refugee camp has been increasing dramatically over the years. Without the option to earn a livelihood, people sequestered in these camps will need to rely upon humanitarian aid agencies for access to basic needs. Therefore, policies and programs that bridge the gap between emergency response and sustainable development are necessary, especially in light of the mass exodus that the world will be facing due to the climate crisis.

Second, PAYGO does not increase energy access unless there is high mobile phone access, especially amongst women. A study conducted by GSMA found that 49% of the respondents in Bidibidi owned mobile phones, and mobile money usage was 44 %87. However, male refugees have a higher rate of phone ownership, 67% than female refugees, 36%.88 Additionally, it was found that women are 37% less likely to use mobile money than men, which is key to accessing PAYGO.89

In interviews with community leaders, there was a key message recorded:

“Most of the community members complain about not being able to make mobile-based payment. This is due to low education and also lack of access to mobile phones and functioning lines. Since most of the refugees had their phone numbers disconnected by the government, making mobile-based payments is really difficult for most people. In addition, there are few mobile money agents in the settlement which also add to the problem. Most people would prefer cash-based payments where they could be issued with receipts when payment is made.”

Therefore, unless the accessibility of mobile phones is addressed, financing models, such as PAYGO will continue to exacerbate existing social and gender inequities.

Recommendations As outlined in the conclusions, there are two major gaps that limit the scalability and sustainability of PAYGO in Bidibidi and other resettlement camps. Therefore, our recommendations are designed to address the gaps uncovered by our analysis which was supported by quantitative and qualitative data provided by Mercy Corps and a thorough literature review.

The first recommendation tackles the reliance of energy access on the provision of a subsidy with a model that connects the contract length to the availability of a subsidy. In this iteration, a public private partnership would be developed where development agencies and the Ugandan Ministry of Disaster Preparedness and Refugees and the Office of the Prime Minister would sustain funding while the energy providers would sustain energy access. This would continue to lower the risk of creating a market in Bidibidi for energy

87 Downer, Matthew. "The digital lives of refugees: How displaced populations use mobile phones and what gets in the way." GSMA. Last modified 2019. https://www.gsma.com/mobilefordevelopment/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/The-Digital-Lives-of-Refugees.pdf. 88 Downer, Matthew. "Bridging the mobile gender gap for refugees." GSMA. Last modified March 2019. https://reliefweb.int/sites/reliefweb.int/files/resources/m4hgendergaprefugeecontexts.pdf 89Downer, Matthew. "The digital lives of refugees: How displaced populations use mobile phones and what gets in the way." GSMA. Last modified 2019. https://www.gsma.com/mobilefordevelopment/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/The-Digital-Lives-of-Refugees.pdf.

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providers, such as d.light and Village Power and keep the prices affordable for refugees. As low mobile access is another barrier to PAYGO, this partnership would include mobile providers who receive funding from the public entities and development agencies. With the COVID-19 pandemic serving as the circumstantial setting to this report, addressing energy and mobile access is even more significant. Therefore, a model that links these two characteristics of sustainable living for refugees is strategic and significant. The second recommendation confronts the future of energy access in resettlement settings beyond last mile delivery mechanisms. It extends the vision of off grid solar to a model of community-shared mini grids that rely upon financing through members of village savings and loans associations (VSLAs). In contrast to the PAYGO model, where an individual purchases a small solar home system and pays off the costs over a contracted period, community solar may be a possible alternative solar financing mechanism. Community solar refers to “local solar facilities shared by multiple community subscribers.” In this model, subscribers contribute a portion of needed cost and receive an allocation of the produced energy. As community solar relies upon a traditional grid for distribution, we recommend utilizing mini grids that rely upon battery storage for distribution. Additionally, utilizing VSLAs not only increases ability to afford monthly energy expenditures, it also opens up a reliable financing option for women to access energy reliably. Therefore, this model addresses the two gaps that were revealed through our analysis: reliance on energy access on subsidies and PAYGO not increasing energy access for women. This model will require higher fiscal investment to implement and sustain, which might deter governmental agencies, especially ones that do not have pro-refugee policies as constructing a mini-grid and improving energy access will suggest that the resettlement camp is not temporary. Furthermore, concerns of security are high with assets that are integral to mini grids, such as batteries. Therefore, a community governance structure would need to be established prior to the construction of the mini grid. Creating a strong sense of community ownership, while the management of the physical infrastructure could remain with the energy providers, will be integral to securing the assets and the ability for equitable access.

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Appendix

Appendix 1: EmPower Bidibidi’s Methodology

Appendix 2: Description of Solar Products

Company Product Description PAYGO / CASH

d.light Products

A2- Everyday Lantern Solar panel size: 0.3W Max brightness: 30 lm Max runtime: 4 hours Warranty: 1 year

CASH

S3- Learning Lantern Solar panel size: 0.3W Max brightness: 40 lm Max runtime: 12 hours Warranty: 2 years

CASH

S-30 Family Lantern Solar panel size: 0.3W Max brightness: 60 lm Max runtime: 12 hours Warranty: 2 years

CASH

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S-200 Mobile charging and light Solar panel size: 2.3W Max brightness: 200 lm Max runtime: 20 hours Warranty: 2 years

CASH

T-200 Mobile charging solar lantern

Solar panel size: 2.8W Max brightness: 180 lm Max runtime: 8 hours Mobile charging: Yes Warranty: 2 years

CASH

D150 Solar Home System 1 tube light, 2 bulbs, base unit, panel, mobile charging adapters, torch and FM radio; created specifically for PAYGO customers

PAYGO

Village Power Products

VP1 DC system; 3 bulbs 1W and 1 multiple mobile phone charger

PAYGO

VP3 DC system; 4 bulbs 1W, 2 bulbs 3W, 1 mobile phone charger

PAYGO

VP6 AC system; 12 bulbs 3W, 1 mult mobile phone charger

PAYGO

Appendix 3: Images of products sold by d.light and Village Power

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Appendix 4: Village Power’s marketing materials in Bidibidi

Appendix 5: Survey Instruments developed by EE Practicum team

Segment Vulnerable Groups

Farmers Female MSME Owner

Male MSME Owner

Profile Hosts & Refugees Hosts & Refugees Hosts & Refugees Hosts & Refugees

Male & Female Male & Female Female only Male only

Disabled / Caregivers / Elderly

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SURVEY FOR FEMALES, INCLUDING MSME OWNER AND FARMERS Color code: women SURVEY FOR MALES, INCLUDING MSME OWNER AND FARMERS

1. What best describes your gender? a. Male b. Female c. Prefer not to say

2. What is your age?: a. ________

3. What is your marital status?: a. Single b. Married c. Divorced d. Prefer not to say

4. How many children do you have in your household? a. __________

5. How many people are in your household? a. _________

6. What is your country of origin? a. _________

7. Do you speak English? a. Yes b. No

8. Do you speak Arabic? a. Yes b. No

9. Do you speak Swahili? a. Yes b. No

10. What is the highest level of education have you completed? a. No Education b. Primary c. Secondary d. d. Post secondary/Diploma/Post Vocational e. University f. _____________

11. Are you the head of the household? a. Yes b. No

12. What is the source of your household income? a.

13. Do you purchase food, clothing, lighting, water, etc.(consumables vs. non-consumables)? a. ________________

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14. Are the crops you grow for your household or do you sell them? a. Just for my family b. To sell c. Both d. N/A

15. How long have you lived in Bidibidi?

a. _________

16. Do you have access to a cell phone? a. Yes b. No

17. What are your priority energy needs? Please rank from highest priority to lowest:

a. More bulbs for more rooms b. Children’s education c. Charging my phone d. Night time safety for travel/water collection/ shopping e. Night time safety for self and business facilities f. Access to information and communication for business purposes g. More bulbs for more rooms h. Large power source i. Cooking/ stoves j. Other

i. _________

18. What has been your primary means of lighting at home before acquiring solar? a. Dry cell torch b. Dry Grass c. Parafiin d. Tadoba (Local Light) e. Kerosene f. Mobile phone light g. No source of light h. Other

19. What form of lighting did you travel with at night before buying the solar?

a. Dry cell torch b. Mobile phone light c. Solar lamp d. Kerosene e. No source of light f. Other

i. _______

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20. When travelling at night now, do you take a form of lighting with you? a. Yes

i. Solar lamp ii. Oil lantern iii. No source of light iv. Other

1. ________ b. No

21. What market do you go to? 22. Do you sell or buy at the market?

23. 24. What solar energy product did you purchase/prefer?

a. a. Solar Home systems b. b. Solar Lamps/Lanterns

i. Filter if 24= a, ii. Why did you purchase the solar home system? iii. Is it expensive? Y/N iv. Is it working?

24. Which Solar Service provider did you purchase the solar home system? a. D-light b. Village Power

25. Are you a member of a Village Savings and Loans Association? a. Yes b. No

26. How do you pay for solar energy? a. Mobile money b. Cash transfer c. VSLA d. Other_____

27. Are you familiar with the option to pay for solar in installments?

a. Yes b. No

28. If yes, how did you hear about the PAYGO model? a. PAYGO Energy Provider b. d.light sales agent c. Village Power sales agent d. Neighbor e. Village Savings and Loans Associations f. Other

29. How often do you make payments? a. Daily

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b. Monthly c. Weekly d. Other________

30. Have you been able to make all the payments?

a. Yes b. No

31. What support do you get from your sales agents?

a. Managing payments b. Repair and maintenance c. Other d. __________-

32. Do you receive technical assistance from the solar energy system provider? (Y/N)

a. Yes b. No

33. If yes, how do you receive technical assistance from the solar energy system provider?

a. ________

34. If not, why not? a. ___________

35. Are you satisfied with your service? Rate 1-5 (5 being highest)

a. 1-5

36. Are there any other energy-related issues that you face? a. _______________

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