From 16 to 19 June 2025, the partners of the SUNNY Project gathered in Rwanda for the project’s second consortium meeting. The event was hosted by the University of Rwanda and Practical Action, bringing together European and African partners for four days of discussions, workshops, and field visits aimed at reinforcing collaboration and aligning the project’s next steps with the realities on the ground.

This second consortium meeting was more than a progress review, it was a collective opportunity to connect research, innovation, and community needs in one of SUNNY’s key pilot regions.

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Day 1: Kickoff in Kigali

The week began at the University of Rwanda College of Science and Technology in Kigali, the capital of Rwanda, where we were welcomed by representatives from key national and international institutions, including:

🏛️ Ministry of Infrastructure
🌱 Rwanda Environment Management Authority (REMA)
⚡ Rwanda Energy Group
🌍 Delegation of the European Union in Rwanda

These opening exchanges set the stage for a high-level panel discussion on the theme:

From Innovation to Integration: Powering Rwanda’s Future by Bridging the Humanitarian–Development Nexus.

The debate offered a vivid reflection of Rwanda’s current energy landscape and the challenges of ensuring sustainable access to energy for all — particularly in large communities such as Mahama Refugee Camp.

Today, around 57% of Rwandans have access to the grid, and 23% benefit from off-grid solutions which is a remarkable progress compared to just 10% fifteen years ago. Yet, as several speakers noted, generation capacity and affordability remain key bottlenecks. Discussions emphasized the potential of hydrogen technologies, but also the urgent need to address clean cooking challenges, where affordability of alternatives to firewood and charcoal remains a barrier.

“Clean cooking is within our reach through technology and policy,” one participant noted, “but economic realities and implementation challenges still stand in the way, particularly for vulnerable and refugee populations.”

Speakers underlined that the main barrier is not technological, but social: how to support communities through the transition toward new energy practices. Examples included work with schools transitioning from petrol gas to biogas, and the importance of co-creating solutions with communities to ensure they fit local contexts and habits.

“Without co-creation, the green transition will not be possible,” emphasized one panelist.

The session also explored how technical partners and renewable energy providers collaborate with refugee communities. Solektra Rwanda, for instance, shared their model: combining government subsidies (in partnership with Practical Action) to make clean energy affordable, while training local men and women to operate and maintain the systems. This approach not only improves energy access but also builds local ownership and technical capacity.

From the academic perspective, the University of Rwanda highlighted its pivotal role in bridging the gap between energy potential and practical implementation across the continent.

“Africa is rich in energy resources — wind, hydropower, solar — but faces a critical gap between access and application,” a university representative explained. “Education is the key to closing that gap. By training engineers and technicians, we empower young people to lead the transition.”

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The morning continued with presentations from two sister projects:

• HEED, presented by Prof. Elena Gaura (Coventry University), which works with refugee communities in Rwandan camps, and
• SWARM-E, presented by Dr. Raluca Dumitrescu (MicroEnergy International), focusing on sustainable and affordable energy access across Sub-Saharan Africa.

These contributions helped situate SUNNY within a broader ecosystem of initiatives striving to advance inclusive and resilient energy solutions across the region.

In the afternoon, the consortium traveled east to the country in the Kirehe District, where partners would continue their work closer to the Mahama Refugee Camp, one of the project’s two pilot areas. The day concluded with a shared dinner at the East Gate Hotel, setting the tone for productive collaboration.

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Day 2: Consortium Discussions and Technology Workshops

The second day of the meeting took place at the East Gate Hotel in Kirehe, bringing together all SUNNY partners for a full day of exchanges, coordination sessions, and workshops.

We first received an in-depth briefing on the current situation in Mahama Refugee Camp, home to over 70,000 registered refugees by Mr Benon Odora Reach, Representative of UHNCR and head of south office in Mahama:

“Mahama continues to receive new arrivals, mainly from Sudan, Burundi, and the DRC,” he explained. “The population is growing, yet resources are shrinking. This creates profound challenges for energy, shelter, water, and essential services.”

He detailed how austerity measures and funding shortages have led to reductions in food assistance; down by about 50%; and cuts to health services and educational programs. Some humanitarian partners have even had to cease operations due to resource constraints, resulting in overcrowded classrooms and increased social vulnerabilities, particularly among children, the elderly, and women.

Energy Access: A Core Challenge

Energy remains one of the camp’s most pressing concerns. When Mahama opened in 2015, firewood was the only available cooking fuel. In line with Rwanda’s national policy to transition toward clean cooking solutions, UNHCR introduced briquettes and liquefied petroleum gas (LPG).
Initially, all households received LPG cylinders, but budget limitations forced a shift toward a targeted assistance model, based on vulnerability criteria:

1️⃣ Most vulnerable – full energy support
2️⃣ Moderately vulnerable – partial assistance
3️⃣ More autonomous households (with income sources or small businesses) – limited or no support

However, as resources have declined further, cash-for-energy assistance was discontinued in 2025, and UNHCR is currently exploring alternatives to LPG, which is both costly and logistically unsustainable.

“Sustainability is not just financial,” Mr. Reach noted. “It’s also about supply chains, maintenance, and building local markets. For instance, replacing or sourcing LPG cylinders locally remains a major hurdle — they often need to be imported from Asia, and service providers are limited.”

Local Partnerships and Innovation

Despite these challenges, the camp has seen encouraging initiatives from partners such as Practical Action, which implemented the RE4R (Renewable Energy for Refugees) project. This initiative provided solar-powered street lighting and promoted clean cooking solutions, greatly improving safety and energy access in the community. Other innovative approaches, like Results-Based Financing for Refugees (RB4R), have supported women entrepreneurs in the clean cooking sector — a model aligning closely with SUNNY’s goals of empowerment and sustainability.

A key takeaway from the discussion was the need for stronger private-sector engagement and more collaboration between NGOs, companies, and local authorities to build reliable, affordable, and locally owned energy systems.
As Mr. Reach emphasized:

“Energy and healthcare are our most expensive priorities. We need innovation, yes — but also partnership. Co-creating solutions with host communities is essential if we want lasting impact.”

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Then the consortium reviewed the progress of each work package (WP1, WP2, WP3) addressing both achievements and remaining challenges.

Highlights included:

• WP1: Contextual analysis and community engagement (led by TUB), refining how SUNNY aligns technological design with local socio-economic realities.
• WP2: Local value chains and capacity building (led by Hudara), presenting approaches for collaborative training and skills transfer.
• WP3: Technologies design and upgrade (led by TE), showcasing advances in the integration of sustainable technologies.

In the afternoon, partners took part in an interactive Technology Workshop, exchanging ideas on the integration of modular solar solutions, improving design resilience, and enhancing the interoperability of SUNNY’s systems. Together, participants evaluated the project’s technologies through five key lenses — economic and business models, environmental impact, regulatory context, implementation feasibility, and social considerations.

These sessions fostered dynamic cross-disciplinary dialogue, encouraging partners to connect technical innovation with the broader social and environmental objectives that define SUNNY’s mission.

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Day 3: Field visit to Mahama Refugee Camp

The third day took the consortium to Mahama Refugee Camp and Settlement, one of the largest in Rwanda, home to tens of thousands of people. This day was the highlight of the week, combining technical workshops with first-hand engagement with local actors.

Morning sessions covered:

In the afternoon, participants joined a comprehensive field visit, organised with the support of UNHCR and MINEMA.
The visit included:

• The solar minigrid powering local infrastructure,
• The water treatment and irrigation plant,
• A walkthrough of the Business Centre,
• Exchanges with the Refugee Leader Committee,
• And a visit to Solektra Rwanda Ltd, showcasing local renewable energy solutions.

These moments on the ground provided vital feedback to the consortium: a tangible understanding of the energy infrastructure’s functioning, the economic dynamics of refugee-led businesses, and the human impact of energy access initiatives.

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Day 4: Back to Kigali

The final day marked the end of an inspiring week of collaboration and exchange. After an early departure from Kirehe, the consortium made its way back to Kigali, where partners gathered for a joint lunch and final reflections on the week’s achievements.

In the afternoon, Practical Action had prepared a special group activity — a lively traditional Burundian and Rwandan dance workshop ! Guided by local performers, partners learned the rhythmic movements and cultural meanings behind the dances, which celebrate community, resilience, and togetherness. The session offered a joyful moment of cultural immersion and team-building, perfectly capturing the spirit of SUNNY’s collaboration between European and African partners.

As the meeting came to a close, participants shared key takeaways from the week: the value of grounding innovation in local realities, the importance of inclusive participation, and the strength that comes from truly transnational cooperation.

Partners left Rwanda with a renewed sense of purpose — inspired by the dedication of local actors, the resilience of refugee communities, and the potential of SUNNY’s integrated approach to energy access, entrepreneurship, and environmental sustainability.

The Kigali sessions brought the consortium meeting full circle: from discussions on innovation and integration to a lived experience of connection, culture, and shared vision for a sustainable future.

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Looking Ahead

This consortium meeting marked an important milestone in SUNNY’s journey. The exchange between research, policy, and community perspectives helped sharpen the project’s vision and ensured that technical innovation remains grounded in local ownership and social inclusion.

A heartfelt thank you to our hosts at the University of Rwanda and Practical Action, and to all partners and local stakeholders who contributed to making this meeting a success.

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