Over 30 houses belonging to Shack Dwellers Federation members in Swakopmund's Mondesa suburb have been electrified with solar energy.

The houses were electrified through the Towards an Inclusive Design Renewable Energy Transition (TIDRET) project that is being implemented by the Environmental Investment Fund (EIF).

The Environmental Investment Fund (EIF) and Erongo Red signed a memorandum of understanding for the rollout of the project.

The TIDRET solar electrification project piloted in the Erongo Region is core-funded by the GIZ and the European Union.

However, beneficiaries were required to make a partial payment for the installation of the solar power system.

The initiative is expected to be rolled over to Otjozondjupa and Kunene as part of the three targeted regions.

Erongo Governor, Neville Andre, expressed gratitude to the entities for participating in the life-changing initiative.

"I applaud the efforts of GIZ, EIF, the EU, the Ministry of Environment, Forestry, and Tourism, and Erongo Red for promoting affordable access to this commodity, which is electricity. Enjoying it in the most environmentally friendly and innovative manner. Through this intervention, a grand total of N$4 million was availed for the installation of renewable energy systems for this project.

Fanuel Demas is a senior technical advisor to GIZ.

"The biggest challenge is to bring affordable electricity to remote areas and to vulnerable households; therefore, we congratulate all stakeholders for fruitful deliberations that culminated in the memorandum of understanding today.'

The project, which targets vulnerable communities, is expected to cost N$4 million.