Improving access to irrigation water services in rural areas by providing solar power pumping systems and constructing check dams
Improving access to irrigation water services in rural areas by providing solar power pumping systems and constructing check dams
Water Emergency Relief Project aims to improve water access and irrigation services across Afghanistan. The project supports solar-powered irrigation systems through private sector partnerships, provides agricultural inputs and training to farmers, promotes productive uses of renewable energy, and implements groundwater recharge interventions in drought-affected areas to strengthen water security and community resilience.
WERP, in partnership with Private Sector Energy Companies (PESCs), is deploying a business model that aims to install solar-powered irrigation systems across Afghanistan. PESCs co-finance, install, operate, and maintain the irrigation systems, and, after 1 year of successful operation, own these infrastructure schemes.
Farmers will then pay a % of their crops to the PESCs for the electricity used to pump water to irrigate their fields. To support farmers in paying this tariff, WERP subsidies agriculture inputs like seeds, fertilizers, pesticides, and provides training programs on high-value crop plantation and sustainable farming.
The implementation of the Energy as a Service (Eaas) model met with challenges. PESCs were skeptical at first, with only a few companies remaining engaged in the co-financing model. Additionally, communities were reluctant to pay tariffs to PESCs for highly subsidized services. After a long iterative process, WERP has developed a methodology by phases that has proven effective to attract both PESCs and communities to participate in the Eaas model.
Watch the video below to understand our approach:
Water Emergency Relief Project (WERP) – Project Footprint
Explore the geographic coverage of the Water Emergency Relief Project (WERP), highlighting irrigation and check dam interventions across provinces in Afghanistan. Select a province to view project activities and key indicators.
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This article explores key ideas and insights on the impact of the WERP on rural communities
Through an innovative Energy as a Service model, WERP is transforming how water and energy solutions are delivered to farmers in Afghanistan.