Strengthening Institutions

Increasing the ability of partner institutions to foster enterprise development in-country is a core element of AREED. This activity focuses on:

• integrating AREED-type functions into the organizational structure of partner NGOs;

• exploring additional sources of funds for seed and second-stage capital investment post-AREED; and

• supporting some targeted government agencies to refine policies related to rural energy and clean energy enterprises enterprise development.

During 2002, AREED NGO partner the Kumasi Institute of Technology and Environment (KITE) developed its long term enterprise development strategy for Ghana. The strategy is directed at institutionalization of the approach, including efforts to mainstream cleaner energy enterprises into national energy policy. To this end, KITE will now work to engage the relevant national ministries in specific technology areas, such as LPG distribution. A similar strategy had been developed previously in Mali and will also shortly be prepared in Zambia.