Progress report for
Melanesia’s Million Miracle Programme (M3P)
Achievement at a glance
12 Volt off grid solar PV charging station and 200 solar pico lanterns was installed in targeted rural communities in PNG (Koukou and Gorari villages, along Kokoda track, Oro province), Solomon Islands ( Taba, Tavula, Tepazaka & Vuruvachu wards, Choiseul province), Vanuatu ( Port Resolution & White Sands, Tanna Island).1) 3,600 people now have access to solar electricity in rural of PNG, Solomon Islands and Vanuatu (1,200 people or 200 households in targeted communities).
2) 10 solar shops are now successfully established and are all operating well. (2 in PNG and Vanuatu and 6 in Solomon Islands). The solar shops are coordinated by the local women's group in the targeted villages and it operates as a charging station for the solar pico lanterns.
3) These local women's groups are empowered to engage in income generating activities.
4) A total of 147 women were trained on simple book keeping and business operational of the solar shops.
5) A total of 6 key women and 6 male youths were trained as technicians for the solar charging stations and solar pico lanterns
Challenges faced in implementation
In the Pacific islands 70% or 7 million people have no access to electricity. Out of this, 1 million people or 14% will have access through the M3P. The partnership aims to bring the miracle of electricity to 1 million people in Melanesia by 2020 that is the equivalent of 14% of the Pacific Islands people who still don’t have access to electricity.With the current funding, 3,600 people in the rural of Melanesia (PNG, Solomon Islands and Vanuatu) have now access to clean energy ( Solar electricity). The challenge is to achieve the 1 million by 2020.The remoteness of the villages and road infrastructure is a challenge in these countries.
Consistency and acquired simple technical skills for the back up maintenance service.
Next Steps
As part of the NZ funded South-South capacity building collaborations, a training of the trainers for the M3P partners will be conducted in June in Vanuatu. The training will be conducted in 2 modules: Technical skills/knowledge of the solar home systems and the simple business operations. Trainers selected are the key women and male youths that were trained as technicians and oversee the daily operations of the charging stations.Fundraising - Look for potential development Partners to extend the partnership for funding support to bring the miracle of electricity to the remaining people in the rural of Melanesia (PNG, Solomon Islands and Vanuatu). Achieve the target of 1 million people have access to electricity.
Beneficiaries
Pacific islands people (rural villages), women, men, youths, school children and women's group.
Actions
3,600 people in the rural of PNG, Solomon Islands and Vanuatu have access to clean affordable energy services, in this case solar lights.School children are able to study well in the night with good quality lights.
Safety for women and children in the night.
Local women's group are now operating the solar charging station as small micro business, engaged in income generating activities.
Households savings as they no longer rely on kerosene. Money that households spend on kerosene can be spend on children's school fees or other needs such as good food, health or build savings for the family.