New York/Ouagadougou, 14 January - The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) announces that its Burkina Faso Country Office and “GOOD ON ROOFS”, a General Incorporated Association in Japan have signed a pro-bono agreement to install a renewable energy system at the Youth Centre “Espace Rencontre Jeunesse de Dafra” in Bobo-Dioulasso, a city located about 330 km away from the country's capital, Ouagadougou. They will also work with the Ministry of Education to create a solar powered lantern charging system at an elementary school in non-electrified areas of Bobo-Dioulasso to improve the learning environment through a sustainable business model.

This new partnership comes in support of the United Nations’ and Burkina Faso’s efforts to attain the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and accelerate the nation's comprehensive recovery from the socio-economic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. The solar installation at the youth center in Bobo-Dioulasso, for example, will create an enabling environment for smooth operationalization of IT trainings targeting youth, who are critical agents promoting digital transformation and development. While Japan's blue-chip technology will be applied in the solar systems, a local company called “MIYOTA SARL” will be engaged for onsite construction, maintenance, and management. This will contribute to building a foundation for sustainable economic development by generating opportunities for local employment and technical development.

The new pro-bono partnership between GOOD ON ROOFS and UNDP aligns with the Government of Japan’s new “Green” and “Digital” growth strategy and the Green Recovery Action Plan 2021-2027 launched by the African Union Commission. Looking ahead of TICAD8, which will take place in Tunisia later this year, UNDP and GOOD ON ROOFS will promote economic and social empowerment by improving access to renewable energy in Burkina Faso and will consider more collaborative actions to contribute to providing affordable and sustainable energy access for the 700 million people across the continent who are still living without power supply.

GOOD ON ROOFS was established to promote access to renewable energy and uplift the electrification rate in remote areas in Africa where an access to energy is limited. The association has established and implemented innovative finance and business models through collaboration with domestic and international partners. More specifically, the association concludes a Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) with Japanese companies, installs solar panels on the roofs of these companies or their factories, and pays them rent fee for their roofs in return. These companies then donate a part of the rent they received to the association to allow it to promote electrification projects of schools and installation of lantern charging systems in Africa. This social contribution program has been supported by approximately 350 companies and municipalities in Japan, and in two and half years since its establishment, the program budget for electrification projects in Africa has reached US$250,000.

UNDP works in about 170 countries and territories, helping to eradicate poverty, reduce inequalities and exclusion, and build resilience so countries can sustain progress. As the UN’s development agency, UNDP plays a critical role in helping countries achieve the Sustainable Development Goals. In Africa, using its powerful local network covering the entire continent, UNDP is promoting structural transformation, peace and stability, natural resource governance, climate change, affordable and sustainable energy, and women and youth empowerment. It is also the co-organizer of the Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD) with the Government of Japan, the World Bank, the Office of the Special Adviser on Africa, and the African Union Commission. TICAD, which is being held every three years for the past 25 years, contributes to the economic and social development of the continent through promoting partnerships between Japan and Africa.

For more information and potential interview requests, please contact:

UNDP Tokyo Office: Chika Kondoh, TICAD Partnership Specialist, chika.kondoh@undp.org

UNDP Burkina Faso Office: THIOMBIANO Sylvain T, Energy program Specialist, sylvain.thiombiano@undp.org

General incorporated association GOOD ON ROOFS: Nahoko Yamana, Secretary,  yamana@gor.or.jp