Assessment Access to Energy Fund FMO

FMO wants to supply 2.1 million people in developing countries with sustainable energy. Of course, when asked to assess such a project, we didn’t decline.

Assessment Access to Energy Fund
For the Dutch Foreign Office, we carried out an interim assessment of the efficiency, effectiveness and relevance of the Access to Energy Fund (AEF). Since 2006, it is part of the Dutch funding organisation for developing countries called FinancieringsMaatschappij voor Ontwikkelingslanden (FMO), that endeavours to support developing countries, mainly in the private sector. In times of economic crisis, commercial banks withdraw from developing countries, and especially Africa is taking the brunt of this in the energy sector. However, the need for funding and energy remains, certainly to achieve the Millennium Development Goals. The Foreign Office has made 70 million Euro available to provide 2.1 million people in developing countries with sustainable energy by 2015.

Rebel researched projects in Africa
To check whether or not the available money was spent efficiently and effectively in relevant projects, we examined the books, but we also travelled to the projects in Africa. We started with a document analysis and a series of internal interviews with people at FMO. Then, we carried out an external stakeholder analysis with stakeholders in London, but also with the Foreign Office. The last stage consisted in field studies of projects in the different countries concerned. We talked to ministries and suppliers in Kenya, Uganda and Zambia.

Assessed and looked ahead
In our assessment, we absolutely wanted to look at the future, and not just at the past, in order to highlight which other opportunities still lay ahead. Therefore, we also formulated detailed recommendations for the future. The Foreign Office and FMO are now discussing the progress of AEF. Indeed, 60.8 million out of 70 have already been committed.

AEF is development aid to Rebel’s liking
We always say that we improve the world, and this project is really close to this principle. Rebel was founded by development economists who dream of this. We also want taxpayers’ money to be spent in the best possible way. This is not volunteering, and the bank also has a good return on its investment. This is about stimulating initiatives in order to improve people’s lives. It is fantastic to drive through a village where there was no light, and now there is, or to see that a child can go to school because now she has light at home to do her homework at night.

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