DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO
Explore HETA’s Work in Other Countries
HETA’s work in DRC began with a
scoping visit in April 2023 to understand the health electrification and
digital connectivity landscape and identify potential models for USAID investment through
HETA. Our priorities through September 30 were in-country scoping and planning visits, the
launch of co-creation activities through HETA’s call for concepts, and engagement of
essential partners such as the Abt-led USAID Integrated Health Program, which works in nine
of DRC’s 26 provinces. Initially, HETA is focusing on two provinces in the Kasaï
region, Kasaï-Oriental and Kasaï-Central, which are USAID priorities. We hope to expand to
other areas as leverage and other commitments materialize from private sector partners.
USAID Mission Funding
We received $760,000 from USAID DRC (PMI
and Infrastructure budgets).
Facilities & People Reached
We identified 58 health facilities
and 182 community health worker sites to be electrified. Data on catchment areas
will be available in our second year.
Local Partners & Leverage Resources
We formalized an agreement with OffGridBox and
mobilized $78,846 in leverage commitments.
Powering Clean Water and Improved Maternal and
Child Healthcare
Through a grant from HETA,
OffGridBox is providing stand-alone solar power modules that will
deliver sustainable, 24/7 access to electricity for eight health
facilities in North Kivu and the Kasaï region, as well as a set
of biomedical equipment and water purification technology. The OffGridBox™
system fits entirely inside a shipping container and includes all the
hardware required to produce electricity and clean water.
OffGridBox is contributing an equivalent of about $79,000 in
in-kind leverage, which includes water purification units, project
management support, and staff time.
RESULTS
Over 12 months, this
partnership will make electricity more reliable and affordable for
the participating health facilities, replace diesel generators with
renewable energy solutions, improve access to health services, and
provide access to safe drinking water for health facility clients
and the surrounding communities.
OffGridBox is also
working with the DRC-based Research Center For Humanitarian Aid, and
the Renewable & Appropriate Energy Laboratory (RAEL) at UC Berkeley
to carry out a randomized controlled trial based on a package of
solar and medical equipment. This builds on a running energy
research project, including 25 clinics that have been extensively
monitored. The long-term goal is to electrify many more health
facilities in DRC.
Partner Spotlight
OffGridBox was born from a desire
to bring solar energy to communities in the most rapid way possible,
enabling them to serve more needs. Their mission is to provide renewable
energy and clean water to remote communities around the world. Their product
includes modular and integrated solutions for solar power and safe
water—from standalone 1.6 kWp solar PV modules and 1,200 liter per hour
water ultrafiltration modules to 10 kWp containerized systems that include
water purification.
The HETA grant is enabling OffGridBox to provide solar power
modules for sustainable, 24/7 access to electricity at health facilities in
North Kivu and the Kasaï region, combined with a package of biomedical
equipment and water purification technology.
This report and the experiences it documents
were made possible through the support of the American people through the United States
Agency for International Development (USAID). It was produced by Abt Global for the Power
Africa Health Electrification and Telecommunications Alliance (USAID Cooperative Agreement
72067422CA00003).
