Through implementing projects that address energy poverty, water scarcity, and vulnerability to climate change, as well as other natural-resource challenges for marginalized groups in the rural communities in Jordan, Lebanon, and Tunisia, ESCWA’s Regional Initiative to Promote Small-Scale Renewable Energy Applications in Rural Areas of the Arab region (REGEND) aims to improve livelihoods, boost economic benefits, and to promote social inclusion and gender equality.
Within the framework of the initiative, solar energy field projects and capacity-building programmes have been implemented to reduce or even eliminate the cost of energy while developing skills and knowledge relating to income-generating activities among the beneficiaries. In addition, the initiative included the procurement and donation of production equipment to rural women to facilitate production activities, reduce production time, and develop new production lines.
This report seeks to assess the social, economic, and environmental impact of REGEND’s activities in such rural communities. It presents REGEND’s sustainable impact on income-generating activities, energy consumption, women empowerment, and the environment.
