EnDev, a partnership of the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development aimed at expanding access to sustainable energy, has announced a €8 million ($9.47 million) grant from the IKEA Foundation in support of efforts to empower smallholder farmers in Ethiopia, Kenya, and Uganda.

According to EnDev, most food crops in sub-Saharan Africa are produced by an estimated thirty-three million smallholder farms, yet their yields are the lowest in the world and most of those farmers live on less than $1.90 per day. The grant will support a three-year project to work with smallholder farmers, agribusinesses, and solar power enterprises to demonstrate the feasibility of productive use of renewable energy. Improved access to renewable energy solutions could enable smallholder farmers and people in rural communities to afford better living standards and increase their resilience to climate change, which has had a disproportionate impact on African communities. Upcoming pilot projects include the use of solar power for milk cooling and vegetable drying, as well as the development of an energy hub.

"Investing in access to renewable energy will not only help improve livelihood opportunities and increase incomes, but also reduce [greenhouse gas] emissions, said Jeffrey Prins, head of renewable energy at the IKEA Foundation. "A lack of access to sustainable and affordable energy prevents smallholder farmers and related local businesses from achieving increased productivity, higher income, and food-secure livelihoods."

(Photo credit: EnDev)