What is SUSTAINED?
SUSTAINED – short for SUpporting STronger Access to INnovative Energy Solutions in Displacement Settings – is a collaborative programme between CARE, Mercy Corps and Oxfam that started in October 2024. The vision for SUSTAINED is to create a sustainable marketplace for clean energy products and services for displaced people and their host communities, starting with refugee camps in Uganda.
Through SUSTAINED, we work with refugees and host communities to increase access to reliable, affordable, and clean energy for electricity, cooking, and income-generating activities. By focusing on those in the most vulnerable positions – especially women and youth – the programme promotes the adoption of clean energy solutions to raise living standards and expand livelihood opportunities. In doing so, we bridge the gap between traditional business practices and humanitarian aid.
Leveraging the combined expertise of CARE, Mercy Corps and Oxfam, we strengthen the supply and demand for affordable energy products and services. Our approach prioritises market system development, local ownership, promotes gender equality and supports more sustainable livelihoods.
Why did we start in Uganda?
We chose to launch the SUSTAINED programme in Uganda because the country faces urgent humanitarian and energy challenges – particularly in refugee and host communities – but is also ready to support scalable, sustainable access to clean energy solutions.
Uganda is currently home to over one million refugees, primarily from South Sudan and the Democratic Republic of Congo. Around 97% of displaced populations in the country rely on biomass for cooking, which poses serious health and safety risks and places immense pressure on the environment. More broadly, Uganda has one of the lowest per capita electricity consumption rates in the world, as over 90% of all households depends on biomass. In refugee settings, the need for reliable, clean, and affordable energy is especially urgent. Access to sustainable energy is not only vital for daily life – it underpins livelihoods, supports community development, and fosters self-reliance and social cohesion.
Building on the lessons and partnerships developed through earlier programmes, CARE, Mercy Corps and Oxfam are working alongside local and national government, refugee-led organisations such as CECI and ICAN South Sudan, clean energy associations such as Solar Electric Cooking Partnership, financial institutions such as Vision Fund, and private sector actors, including Dligh, Tulima solar and Pesitho, to scale up impact.
Uganda’s progressive refugee policies – focused on inclusion, governance, and sustainable economic development – foster a strong foundation for innovation in displacement settings. Coupled with a growing number of energy sector actors and a policy environment supportive of clean energy, Uganda presents fertile ground for realising lasting change for both refugees and host communities while strengthening energy markets.
What have we achieved so far?
The first phase of SUSTAINED operated thanks to a grant of 1 million euro from the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Dutch Embassy. During the first phase of the programme (October 2024 to October 2025), we focused on assessing market trends and the policy environment. At the same time, we piloted and validated interventions across demand, supply, and the enabling environment – working closely with energy service companies and financial service providers. We also developed a blueprint for collaboration with private sector actors and financial institutions.
Main outcomes of SUSTAINED include:
I: Demand Activation – Increase in access to clean cookstoves, powered by off-grid solar energy and designed for productive use of energy.
II: Supply Barriers Removed – Established a sustainable market for clean cookstoves, off-grid solar energy, and productive use of energy products in refugee-hosting areas. Among other things, this entailed financing opportunities for end-users and suppliers, as well as providing suppliers access to the settlement to establish a sales-and-repairs service.
III: Enabling Environment Established – Strengthened the policy, regulatory, and coordination frameworks supporting off-grid renewable energy solutions in refugee-hosting areas. This consisted of strengthening existing advocacy and planning networks, as well as putting a robust safeguarding system and code of conduct in place.
What have we learnt so far?
- Engaging men is essential – Increasing the adoption of clean energy solutions in households requires more male role models. In the targeted communities, women face significant gender and social barriers. When men show active support, women’s participation in activities and training sessions increases notably.
- Addressing water scarcity – Prolonged droughts and heatwaves continue to affect water sources in refugee-hosting areas. To respond, we reallocated our budget to rehabilitate shallow wells and invest in water infrastructure – enhancing water access for refugee farmer groups.
- Tackling affordability challenges – To make clean energy solutions more affordable, we have supported the energy service companies to roll out a more tailored Pay-As-You-Go model that enables users to pay in instalments aligned with seasonal income patterns.
- Reducing the impact of high import taxes – High import taxes on clean energy products, such as solar cooking appliances, continue to pose a barrier. We are actively advocating for policy changes to lower these taxes and improve affordability.
Plans for the near future
Our vision for the future includes several key areas for investment:
- Engaging more energy service companies and financial service providers to improve affordability and access to productive uses of energy services.
- Exploring climate finance opportunities, such as carbon credits, to further reduce the costs of off-grid renewable energy products.
- Investing in water infrastructure increase adoption PUE technologies such as solar water pumping. This includes investing in collaborations with WASH partners who can support the development of water infrastructure, such as boreholes and shallow wells.
- Building new partnerships, including with agro-input dealers, to promote climate-smart agriculture and strengthen market linkages for product sales.
- Further shifting social, gender, and cultural norms by working with community leaders to create space for women to adopt clean cooking practices.
We also aim to scale up proven innovations, such as:
- Expanding our work with local actors, specifically Ugandan companies.
- Investing in complementary technologies, such as e-bikes and solar refrigeration.
- Initiating additional partnerships with private sector (energy service) companies.
Join our mission!
With SUSTAINED, we create a vital link between businesses and the urgent needs of refugee communities and their hosts — driving lasting change where it’s needed most. For more information, please get in touch with CARE Nederland:
