To address the challenges in the Ugandan decentralized energy market and make use of new business/partnership opportunities and innovations emerging, UNCDF, through the global CleanStart Programme, launched the Energy Access Challenge in late 20151.

The Embassy of Sweden, with UNCDF, will launch the Renewable Energy2 Challenge Fund (RECF) in Uganda by building on the successful result of UNCDF’s first Energy Access Challenge. UNCDF, through the global CleanStart Programme, will manage RECF (2016-2020).

UNCDF is the only UN agency mandated to make catalytic investments in marketbased solutions that reduce poverty and support local economic development in least developed countries.

The CleanStart Programme supports low-income people to transition to cleaner, more efficient energy through access to finance. In Uganda, it has been in operation since 20143, and is currently partnering with four renewable energy companies and one financial institution, as well as the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Development, Rural Electrification Agency and the Uganda Credit Capitalization Company to test and scale innovations in energy financing.