The BRILHO programme, funded by the governments of the United Kingdom and Sweden and implemented by SNV (Dutch Development Organisation), has already provided access to clean and sustainable energy to more than three million Mozambicans, transforming rural communities with innovative solutions such as solar home systems, mini-grids and improved cookers.
According to O Económico, the impact was made possible by the implementation of more than 350,000 connections to solar home systems and mini-grids, which guaranteed energy to communities outside the national electricity grid. In addition, more than 250,000 improved cookers were distributed, reducing wood and charcoal consumption by up to 70 per cent.
The programme has also stood out as a catalyst for local entrepreneurship, attracting 39.6 million pounds (3.1 billion meticals) in private co-investment. These resources have been directed towards empowering micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs), which play a crucial role in the distribution and maintenance of clean technologies.
Another significant advance of the programme has been the reduction of more than 763,000 tonnes of carbon emissions, contributing to global efforts to mitigate climate change. At the same time, BRILHO played an essential role in creating the first regulatory framework for the off-grid energy sector in Mozambique, consolidating a more sustainable and attractive market for new investments.
The programme’s results and learnings were highlighted in the report ‘Transforming Off-Grid Energy Access in Mozambique: The BRILHO Programme Contribution’, which details the innovations and strategies adopted to expand access to sustainable energy and achieve Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 7 – Clean and Affordable Energy for All.
BRILHO is a five-year programme, 2019-2024, that seeks to catalyse Mozambique’s off-grid energy market in order to provide affordable clean energy solutions for the country’s off-grid population. The overall aim of the initiative is to improve the lives of low-income people through savings, well-being and livelihood opportunities.
