In Uganda, many refugees lack access to renewable energy, relying on firewood and kerosene. This study focuses on promoting adoption of high-quality solar products to address energy poverty and environmental concerns in refugee settlements.

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Access to electricity remains a challenge in Uganda, especially for refugees, with over 75% of the refugee population lacking access to any form of renewable energy in 2018. Many refugees relied on firewood and kerosene, spending up to 22% of their total household expenditures on energy. The time spent collecting fuel was significant, ranging from 12 to 24 hours per week. When refugees did own solar products, they were often small lanterns provided by humanitarian organizations or uncertified products purchased locally.

The focus of this study is on increasing the adoption of high-quality, certified solar products in refugee settlements in Uganda, particularly in Kiryandongo and Nakivale. These settlements host refugees from countries like South Sudan, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Rwanda, and Burundi.

Kiryandongo and Nakivale are two of Uganda’s oldest and most populous refugee settlements, with limited access to the national electricity grid. While a minority of residents have access to off-grid solar products, the share of owners with certified products is likely low. The lack of access to electricity has put a strain on local natural resources, leading to deforestation and other environmental challenges in both settlements.

Barriers to solar adoption in these settlements include the lack of awareness of the benefits of solar energy, low trust in the quality of products, and financial constraints that make solar product ownership seem unattainable for refugees. To address these barriers, an intervention was designed using a behaviorally-informed approach and implemented through VSLAs, informal savings groups common in refugee settlements.

The intervention included informational sessions on the benefits of solar energy, practical support in identifying certified products, and goal-setting to help refugees save for a solar device or other expenses. The sessions were delivered by community members and refugee role models, emphasizing the savings and productive benefits of solar products, ways to identify certified devices, and financing options available.

A randomized controlled trial design was used to test the impact of the intervention on the pursuit of solar products in refugee settlements. Results showed positive impacts on mediators such as knowledge of solar benefits, trust in local companies selling certified products, VSLA support, aspirations for purchasing solar products, and self-efficacy in saving for long-term goals. These mediators were linked to outcomes such as contacting a solar company, setting savings goals for solar products, and increasing weekly savings toward solar devices within VSLAs.

The study’s findings suggest that interventions focusing on increasing awareness, trust, and access to high-quality solar products can help refugees in Uganda adopt renewable energy solutions. By addressing the barriers to solar adoption and leveraging VSLAs as a platform for behavior change, refugees can improve their access to clean and sustainable energy sources, reducing their reliance on harmful alternatives like firewood and kerosene.

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