Energy Access Relief Fund Help Desk

A resource centre to support and provide technical assistance to beneficiaries of the Energy Access Relief Fund.

In the last decade, energy access firms have made remarkable progress in mitigating climate change and reaching people, businesses, and social institutions with low carbon energy. But, that progress is now hindered and could possibly be reversed because of COVID-19 related disruptions.

To save the gains made by the energy access sector, the Energy Access Relief Fund (EARF) was established in September 2021. EARF is a concessional fund managed by SIMA that provides subordinated, unsecured, and low-cost loans to companies that were facing liquidity challenges due to disruptions from COVID-19. The fund is providing up to 110 loans, ranging from USD $50,000 to USD $ 2.5 million.

CLASP, in partnership with SIMA and GOGLA, launched a help desk to provide support to the beneficiaries of the Energy Access Relief Fund.

The help desk provides technical assistance on seven focus areas under SIMA's Environmental Social Management Systems (ESMS) policy, including e-waste. ESMS aims to identify and mitigate environmental and social risks and provide guidance to borrowers to not only protect against these risks, but as a prerequisite to achieve long term social impact goals.

Environmental Social Management Systems

Environmental Social Management Systems (ESMS) aim to identify and mitigate environmental and social risks and impacts that arise from activities in the energy access sector. The Helpdesk will aim at building the capacity of companies to identify, manage, and mitigate against such risks and act as a prerequisite to achieving long term shared value.

E-Waste Management

The proliferation of solar e-waste in communities around the world poses a threat to the environment and to the health of the people benefiting from off-grid energy services. The imperative to act on this problem is increasingly urgent, both for the off-grid sector and for other stakeholders, including donors and governments. The Helpdesk will provide guidance and capacity building to companies to develop and maintain responsible e-waste policies and procedures based on emerging good practices.