Community Engagement for Power Projects
Power Africa, a U.S. Government initiative to double electricity access in sub-Saharan Africa, launched in January 2018 the Guide to Community Engagement for Power Projects in Kenya. The Guide outlines how electricity producers can best engage with communities living in proximity to planned and existing power plants.
While Kenya has a dynamic, private sector-driven power industry, community concerns have impacted the completion of these projects in the past. The Guide provides approaches <g class="gr_ gr_25 gr-alert gr_gramm gr_inline_cards gr_run_anim Grammar multiReplace" id="25" data-gr-id="25">on</g> the best community engagement practices for infrastructure developers, at each project stage, as well as pitfalls to avoid.
“The Government of Kenya supports all efforts to develop electricity infrastructure in a way that respects the values and traditions of our country’s diverse communities,” said Hon. Charles Keter, EGH, Kenya’s Cabinet Secretary for Energy and Petroleum. “This guide from Power Africa is a comprehensive and practical tool that will help developers foster inclusive and mutually beneficial relationships with communities across Kenya, and ultimately help us reach our shared goals of Universal Electricity Access.”
Developed with input from local communities, government agencies, private sector developers, finance institutions, and Kenyan and international civil society organizations, the Guide features real-world examples and reflects country-specific laws, customs <g class="gr_ gr_30 gr-alert gr_gramm gr_inline_cards gr_run_anim Punctuation only-ins replaceWithoutSep" id="30" data-gr-id="30">and</g> institutions that developers in Kenya must navigate.
The Guide is designed as an actionable tool for developers of electricity generation and transmission infrastructure which outlines best practices for the kind of inclusive and effective engagement needed to create positive outcomes for companies and communities alike.
While the Guide is geared specifically for power developers working in Kenya, the Guide’s core principles and methodologies can be used to create a step-by-step action plan for other countries and even other industries where community engagement is essential to obtain a social license to construct and operate power plants.
The Guide can be downloaded from here.
