Roadmap for the DRE sector to survive and flourish in the wake of the COVID-19 crisis

Alliance for Rural Electrification (ARE) launched a Roadmap with recommendations for governments, funders and philanthropies to act decisively, to do their part and to make sure that this historic opportunity is grasped, ALER joint this initiative as a supporting partner.

The global spread of COVID-19 has caused thousands of deaths and alarmed individuals, communities, businesses and society around the world. The decentralised renewable energy sector is no exception.

The current crisis triggered by COVID-19 has put in peril both decentralised renewable energy (DRE) projects that currently power essential services to millions of people, as well as the future of the sector, endangering the achievement of not just SDG7 but all of the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals.

This document give the DRE sector five recommendations:

Creation of a ‘Global DRE Relief Fund’
Fast-tracking of existing procurement and funding procedures for DRE projects
Pooling of resources for a 'Rural Electrification Stimulus Plan' to achieve the SDGs
Recognition of DRE sector as an ‘essential service’
Step up technical assistance for DRE companies