{"id":35789,"date":"2026-03-30T15:32:57","date_gmt":"2026-03-30T13:32:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.geres.eu\/nos-actions\/nos-projets\/acces-energie-developpement-bas-carbone\/"},"modified":"2026-03-30T16:15:24","modified_gmt":"2026-03-30T14:15:24","slug":"acces-energie-developpement-bas-carbone","status":"publish","type":"project","link":"https:\/\/www.geres.eu\/en\/our-actions\/our-projects\/acces-energie-developpement-bas-carbone\/","title":{"rendered":"Access to Energy and Energy Efficiency for Low-Carbon Development ("},"content":{"rendered":"

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Promoting access to energy and energy efficiency for artisans and microenterprises in rural Benin<\/strong><\/span><\/h1>\n

[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ custom_padding_last_edited=”on|tablet” _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”0px||0px|||” custom_padding_tablet=”|20px||20px” custom_padding_phone=”” locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_row module_class=”content-page-article” _builder_version=”4.16″ width=”100%” max_width=”768px” custom_padding=”5px||0px|||” saved_tabs=”all” locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.16″ global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.16″ header_font=”||||||||” header_2_font=”||||||||” header_2_line_height=”1.3em” custom_margin=”||41px|||” custom_padding=”0px|0px||0px||” custom_padding_tablet=”|0px||0px” custom_padding_phone=”” custom_padding_last_edited=”on|tablet” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n

A major development challenge in Benin is to promote stability in rural areas and equity by developing rural economies, which face the greatest difficulties: rapid demographic growth, vulnerability to climate hazards and economic fragility, as well as more limited access to basic social services. Access to clean renewable energy is a powerful driver of local development; however, rural electrification programmes based on mini-grids do not always meet the needs of productive actors.<\/p>\n

In addition, agricultural product processing still relies heavily on polluting and inefficient cooking or smoking technologies, which create health issues for women and place significant pressure on natural wood resources.<\/p>\n

[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/www.geres.eu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/12_2024_Ghana33-scaled.jpg” alt=”Women food processors in action” title_text=”12_2024_Ghana33″ _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_image][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.16″ header_font=”||||||||” header_2_font=”||||||||” header_2_line_height=”1.3em” custom_margin=”||41px|||” custom_padding=”0px|0px||0px||” custom_padding_tablet=”|0px||0px” custom_padding_phone=”” custom_padding_last_edited=”on|tablet” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n

Context<\/h2>\n

The A3E project intervention is part of a dynamic of consolidation and scaling up of the achievements of the previous CEMATEER project (2016\u20132022),<\/a><\/strong> which helped structure the first synergies between craftsmanship and renewable energy in central Benin.<\/p>\n

Implemented in the heart of the Collines department \u2014 a territory characterised by strong agri-food dynamism but facing a lack of productive energy infrastructure \u2014 as well as in parts of Donga, Borgou and Zou, the A3E project is closely aligned with the priorities of the Government Action Programme (PAG 2021\u20132026),<\/a> particularly in terms of energy transition and the promotion of rural entrepreneurship.<\/p>\n

At local level, the approach is based on deep integration into Municipal Development Plans (PDCs), aimed at strengthening municipalities\u2019 project ownership so that energy becomes a cross-cutting lever for economic development.<\/strong> The project ensures the technical consistency of its actions with the national strategy for mini-grid deployment and the modernisation of the biomass-energy sector.<\/p>\n

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Challenges<\/h2>\n

Building on Geres\u2019 experience with Electrified Activity Zones in Mali<\/a>, Senegal and Burkina Faso, on ARESS and One Power\u2019s expertise in mini-grids and solar kits, on IDID and SENS Benin\u2019s experience in supporting rural entrepreneurs, and on Geres\u2019 long-standing expertise in improved cookstove dissemination projects and carbon finance mechanisms in Africa and Asia, our ambition is to foster low-carbon development in rural areas of Benin through access to energy and energy efficiency for productive uses.<\/p>\n

[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/www.geres.eu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/IMG20230801134438-scaled.jpg” alt=”Women food processors in action” title_text=”oplus_2″ _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_image][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”24px|||||” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n

Project solution & objectives<\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n

The A3E project (\u201cAccess to Energy and Energy Efficiency for Low-Carbon Development\u201d), implemented by Geres in Benin (2023\u20132026), is based on a technical approach centred on energy as a lever for economic and social transformation.<\/p>\n

Access to electricity for productive uses (microenterprises)<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n

The approach consists in supporting rural microenterprises to turn access to electricity into economic profitability:<\/p>\n