Our Theory of Change: Partnering with landlords to develop bankable, and affordable clean utilities projects that prioritize equitable access for LMI households, will unlock climate finance, lessening economic and social inequalities in housing for a just, gender-inclusive energy transition.
Our clean utilities fund contributes to a just transition by cutting emissions while improving the quality of life for affordable housing residents and creating green jobs. Our solution also aligns with the Nationally Determined Contributions of our target countries, including South Africa’s Just Transition Framework and the ambitious USD 100 million Just Energy Transition Investment Plan.
Target UN Sustainable Development Goals
- Fund aims to enable the installation of 65 MWp of solar energyfor affordable & social housing units in its first phase.
- Over the course of 15-years, 1,352 GWh of renewable energy will be generated.
- 1,369 ktCO2e will be mitigated, thus replacing grid-tied electricity.
- 45% local procurement of goods and services as a share of total capital.
- $24m local content procurement out of $54m spent during fund’s life.
- 653 total direct jobs created.
- 437 total indirect jobs created.
- All beneficiaries are expected to have a household income below USD 1,600 (ZAR 29,500).
- Over 28000 LMI households are projected to benefit from clean energy access in Phase 1 alone.
- 15% tariff discounts provided to vulnerable households for clean utility services
- Fund expects to support 100+ female-led or -owned small- medium- or micro-sized enterprises (SMMEs).
- Female-led fund.
- 40% or 9,000 of the beneficiary households are estimated to be female headed.
Gender equity is essential to achieving inclusive and transformative impact, and our fund is committed to integrating gender considerations across its operations and programming Our gender strategy outlines our approach, objectives, and guiding principles for advancing gender equity in the affordable housing and renewable energy sectors. By addressing the specific needs of women and other underserved groups, our fund seeks to maximize its impact and support a more equitable and sustainable energy future for low-to-moderate income households.
Our Gender Action Plan Aims:
Integrating gender equity is central to both the instrument and the projects it supports; Ensuring the fund upholds global standards for gender equality, such as alignment with 2X framework.
Leverage utility data to ensure that project design and implementation are evidence-based and responsive to women’s needs; Conduct inclusive stakeholder engagements with tenants to inform delivery of services.
Provide equitable opportunities for all genders, especially women, to access affordable clean energy solutions. Expand women’s participation in the fund’s value chain as employees, entrepreneurs, and decision-makers
Share case studies on gender-responsive energy transitions in the built environment, by working with policy makers, industry partners, tenants, and landlords.
The fund enables a just transition for a share of the households at the highest risk of being left behind as businesses and market-rate residential households switch to decentralized solar to reduce their reliance on conventional and surging utilities. This contributes to decarbonizing African cities while promoting socially inclusive approaches to climate investment. Over the 15-year project lifecycle, 1,352 GWh of renewable energy will be generated, avoiding 1,4 million tons of CO₂ emissions.
Our detailed impact measurement and reporting framework ensures sustainability is embedded in our fund’s operation and governance structures.
This framework ensures the following: