Energy is not an end in itself but is a critical means to achieve the three pillars of sustainable development: economic prosperity, social equity, and environmental sustainability."—UNDP (16)
Sustainable Power
Challenges of power supply
Unpredictable power supply is a huge problem for our beneficiaries. It is also a deterrent to communities considering developing an ICT program. CFA ensures the proper electrical environment (stabilizers and circuit breakers) is in place for our labs. But we cannot control the amount of energy actually delivered to our sites. Power comes and goes—sometimes for weeks at a time in rural areas. Load shedding is a primary reason. There is simply not enough power to go around and rural areas disproportionately lose power in order to supply the major cities. Also, cars, storms, and thieves take out power lines and power poles.
Besides disrupting the ICT program, in some districts, vast amounts of time and energy are consumed trying to deliver basic necessities: water, light and food for hundreds of students.
CFA is currently investigating solar energy, wieghing the cost, risk, and benefit of investing in this alternative source of energy.
"Energy is central to sustainable development and poverty reduction efforts. It affects all aspects of development—social, economic, and environmental—including livelihoods, access to water, agricultural productivity, health, population levels, education, and gender-related issues. None of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) can be met without major improvement in the quality and quantity of energy services in developing countries."—UNDP (17)