Powering rural communities with renewable energy in Ethiopia

October 14, 2020

Rocky Mountain Institute in Ethiopia

Our new partnership with Rocky Mountain Institute (RMI) will enable people living in rural Ethiopia to access renewable energy, and to earn a better income by using energy as effectively as possible.

According to the International Energy Agency (IEA), just 45% of Ethiopians have access to electricity, which means more than 50 million people lack access to energy.

The Ethiopian government has prioritised universal access to electricity. It aims to reach 100% electrification by 2025, with 35% of the population using off-grid energy solutions and the other 65% of the country connected to the grid.

Using energy productively

Rocky Mountain Institute Ethiopia

However, energy access is not enough by itself to improve incomes. People need access to finance, markets and energy efficient appliances, and to know how to use energy productively.

Our grant will enable RMI to focus on drastically increasing the efficacy of Ethiopia’s rural electrification programme by stimulating the local economy in communities. RMI will work with five rural communities to make sure energy choices are sustainable, affordable and focus on productive uses of power to increase people’s yields and incomes. Their work will also inform Ethiopian’s national strategy for off-grid communities.

A recent study by RMI identified six agricultural production and processing opportunities for rural communities: horticulture irrigation, grain milling, injera baking, milk cooling, bread baking and coffee washing. Collectively, these areas have the potential to produce US$4 billion in annual value.

Building local resilience

Francis Elisha, RMI Africa principal, says: “Over the past few years, we’ve seen the incredible opportunities that distributed energy resources, like decentralised mini-grids, bring to rural communities. They not only electrify communities but also build local resilience and bolster economic growth.”

Shambhavi Sharma, programme manager in the renewable energy team at the IKEA Foundation, says: “We want to bring the renewable-energy sector together to articulate sustainable-energy solutions that put people living in poverty at the heart of their work. Our partnership with RMI will tackle the biggest challenges in the renewable energy sector in Ethiopia, helping people afford a better life while protecting the planet.”

About Rocky Mountain Institute

Rocky Mountain Institute (RMI)—an independent nonprofit founded in 1982—transforms global energy use to create a clean, prosperous, and secure low-carbon future. It engages businesses, communities, institutions, and entrepreneurs to accelerate the adoption of market-based solutions that cost-effectively shift from fossil fuels to efficiency and renewables. RMI has offices in Basalt and Boulder, Colorado; New York City; the San Francisco Bay Area; Washington, D.C.; and Beijing. More information on RMI can be found at www.rmi.org.

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Rocky Mountain Institute
https://rmi.org

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What can change when agriculture and energy are planned together? 🌱🌍 Food systems depend on more than crops and climate — they’re shaped by people, supporting services, and the systems around them. Written last year, this article brings together insights from work and partnerships across Eastern Africa, co-written by Judith Jacobs from #SNV, and our co-workers, Ahmed Sameh and Nico Janssen. Today, nearly 20% of the world’s energy use goes into food systems, yet many farmers still lack the power, infrastructure, and services they need to adapt and thrive. These five reasons explain why bringing regenerative agriculture and renewable energy together can help make food production — and rural livelihoods — more resilient. 🔗 Read the full article, link in bio. The Power for Food Partnership works across Kenya, Ethiopia, Uganda, and Rwanda to bring these connections into practice — linking renewable energy, regenerative agriculture, and cross-sector collaboration to support farmers and build more resilient, sustainable food systems. #IKEAfoundation #PowerForFoodPartnership #RegenerativeAgriculture #RenewableEnergy
3 weeks ago
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Did you know that methane emissions affect both the health of people and our planet? And here’s the fact we can’t forget: methane is 86x more potent than CO₂.But it’s also faster to remove from the atmosphere than CO₂ — meaning that reducing methane can deliver impact sooner. The good news? Solutions already exist, and with support from the IKEA Foundation, the #GlobalMethaneHub is helping scale effective ways to reduce emissions worldwide. 🔗 Spend a day with Henrique to learn more, link in bio. #IKEAfoundation #ClimateChange #ClimateAction
Did you know that methane emissions affect both the health of people and our planet? And here’s the fact we can’t forget: methane is 86x more potent than CO₂.But it’s also faster to remove from the atmosphere than CO₂ — meaning that reducing methane can deliver impact sooner. The good news? Solutions already exist, and with support from the IKEA Foundation, the #GlobalMethaneHub is helping scale effective ways to reduce emissions worldwide. 🔗 Spend a day with Henrique to learn more, link in bio. #IKEAfoundation #ClimateChange #ClimateAction
Did you know that methane emissions affect both the health of people and our planet? And here’s the fact we can’t forget: methane is 86x more potent than CO₂.But it’s also faster to remove from the atmosphere than CO₂ — meaning that reducing methane can deliver impact sooner. The good news? Solutions already exist, and with support from the IKEA Foundation, the #GlobalMethaneHub is helping scale effective ways to reduce emissions worldwide. 🔗 Spend a day with Henrique to learn more, link in bio. #IKEAfoundation #ClimateChange #ClimateAction
Did you know that methane emissions affect both the health of people and our planet? And here’s the fact we can’t forget: methane is 86x more potent than CO₂.But it’s also faster to remove from the atmosphere than CO₂ — meaning that reducing methane can deliver impact sooner. The good news? Solutions already exist, and with support from the IKEA Foundation, the #GlobalMethaneHub is helping scale effective ways to reduce emissions worldwide. 🔗 Spend a day with Henrique to learn more, link in bio. #IKEAfoundation #ClimateChange #ClimateAction
@ikea_foundation
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•
Follow
Did you know that methane emissions affect both the health of people and our planet? And here’s the fact we can’t forget: methane is 86x more potent than CO₂.But it’s also faster to remove from the atmosphere than CO₂ — meaning that reducing methane can deliver impact sooner. The good news? Solutions already exist, and with support from the IKEA Foundation, the #GlobalMethaneHub is helping scale effective ways to reduce emissions worldwide. 🔗 Spend a day with Henrique to learn more, link in bio. #IKEAfoundation #ClimateChange #ClimateAction
1 month ago
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In a world full of noise and misinformation, credible voices matter more than ever. That’s why nearly 800 @IKEA co-workers applied to join the 2025 IKEA Foundation Ambassador Programme — a journey that connects them with the people and partners the foundation supports as they tackle real-world challenges every day. Ambassadors listen, ask questions, and learn from those closest to the issues — building understanding they bring back to their teams and communities, where awareness grows and perspectives begin to shift. In 2025, the programme: 🌎 reached five hubs across four continents 🇰🇪 launched the first-ever Super Hub in Nairobi 🌟 welcomed 169 new ambassadors 🌱 grew a global learning community of 550+ people in 30+ countries These numbers reflect a growing curiosity — a desire to understand how change really happens and to hear directly from those working closest to the world’s toughest challenges. None of this learning happens without the insight and generosity of our partners. Their leadership continues to inspire and inform us. With our strategy now in motion, we’re doubling down on #ClimateAwareness at a moment when it matters most — and supporting partners creating solutions for people and planet. For 2026, that energy is even stronger: nearly 1,000 IKEA co-workers applied, and we’re excited to welcome 161 new ambassadors, with 38 more joining our Alumni Hub. We’re proud of what last year set in motion, and looking forward to what comes next. #IKEAfoundation #IKEAFoundationAmbassador
@ikea_foundation
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•
Follow
In a world full of noise and misinformation, credible voices matter more than ever. That’s why nearly 800 @IKEA co-workers applied to join the 2025 IKEA Foundation Ambassador Programme — a journey that connects them with the people and partners the foundation supports as they tackle real-world challenges every day. Ambassadors listen, ask questions, and learn from those closest to the issues — building understanding they bring back to their teams and communities, where awareness grows and perspectives begin to shift. In 2025, the programme: 🌎 reached five hubs across four continents 🇰🇪 launched the first-ever Super Hub in Nairobi 🌟 welcomed 169 new ambassadors 🌱 grew a global learning community of 550+ people in 30+ countries These numbers reflect a growing curiosity — a desire to understand how change really happens and to hear directly from those working closest to the world’s toughest challenges. None of this learning happens without the insight and generosity of our partners. Their leadership continues to inspire and inform us. With our strategy now in motion, we’re doubling down on #ClimateAwareness at a moment when it matters most — and supporting partners creating solutions for people and planet. For 2026, that energy is even stronger: nearly 1,000 IKEA co-workers applied, and we’re excited to welcome 161 new ambassadors, with 38 more joining our Alumni Hub. We’re proud of what last year set in motion, and looking forward to what comes next. #IKEAfoundation #IKEAFoundationAmbassador
1 month ago
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3/4
This year reminded us that progress on climate action isn’t a straight line and that the way we move forward matters. 🌍 As climate extremes intensified and uncertainty grew, we saw the importance of working together — with trust, openness and shared purpose. For the IKEA Foundation, being on the way in 2025 has meant moving forward together: 🤝 With our partners, who are doing the work — working alongside communities, testing new approaches, learning what works and pushing for change where it’s needed most. Their leadership, commitment and courage are what turn ambition into action. 👥 With our team, learning, adapting and shaping a new strategic direction — focused on enabling impact, strengthening partnerships and keeping people at the heart of climate action. 🌱 With our ambassadors and changemakers, who share trusted knowledge, challenge misinformation and help people make sense of complexity with clarity and hope. As we look ahead — deepening partnerships and scaling impact — we carry our founder’s reminder with us: happiness, and real change, are found in the journey. #IKEAfoundation
@ikea_foundation
@ikea_foundation
•
Follow
This year reminded us that progress on climate action isn’t a straight line and that the way we move forward matters. 🌍 As climate extremes intensified and uncertainty grew, we saw the importance of working together — with trust, openness and shared purpose. For the IKEA Foundation, being on the way in 2025 has meant moving forward together: 🤝 With our partners, who are doing the work — working alongside communities, testing new approaches, learning what works and pushing for change where it’s needed most. Their leadership, commitment and courage are what turn ambition into action. 👥 With our team, learning, adapting and shaping a new strategic direction — focused on enabling impact, strengthening partnerships and keeping people at the heart of climate action. 🌱 With our ambassadors and changemakers, who share trusted knowledge, challenge misinformation and help people make sense of complexity with clarity and hope. As we look ahead — deepening partnerships and scaling impact — we carry our founder’s reminder with us: happiness, and real change, are found in the journey. #IKEAfoundation
2 months ago
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