In the remote village of Tum, located 4,650 feet above sea level and just 20 to 30 kilometers from Ethiopia’s border with South Sudan, Meskerem Tadesse’s life has been transformed. A mother of four, Meskerem once spent hours every day on tasks made harder by the lack of electricity. She gathered firewood daily to cook and relied on kerosene to provide dim lighting in her home. This limited her family’s activities and exposed them to harmful fumes. Like many rural communities in Ethiopia, Tum had no access to electricity.
Before, we used candles, kerosene lamps, or flashlights. We lived in the dark. It was especially hard for my children. They couldn’t study at night, and the smell of the kerosene wasn’t good for their health. We couldn’t watch TV or connect with the outside world. But now, we know what’s going on. Meskerem Tadesse. A mother of four.
Today, Tum is no longer in the dark, thanks to a solar mini-grid installed by the Ethiopia Electric Utility (EEU) with support from the Government of Ethiopia (GoE) as part of the World Bank-supported Ethiopia Electrification Program (ELEAP).
Tum is one of 11 villages benefiting from mini-grids, which provide around 4,000 connections, supplying electricity to around 20,000 people. This development has transformed how Meskerem spends her day-to-day activities, and has created opportunities for financial growth. She now runs a small grocery store, made possible by her capacity to refrigerate and package her products, especially freezer pops. “This is a hot, sunny area, so freezer pops are very popular,” she says. The income from her business has allowed her to buy a computer for her children, improving their education.
Electricity has also transformed her household. “We used to cook with wood, but now we have an electric stove and oven,” Meskerem explains. “It saves so much time, and the house is well-lit at night. It’s a big change for us.” Her plan to start an electricity-powered mill reflects her commitment to expanding her business and illustrates how access to energy is fueling her family’s growth and resilience.
Meskerem’s story is just one example of how electricity is transforming rural communities in Ethiopia. Along with the off-grid connections, the project has also supported close to 1.3 million new on-grid connections, bringing electricity to nearly 6.5 million people.
These families are now able to spend less time on household chores like fetching water, as systems now pump water directly to homes. This frees up time for more productive activities. “Energy is a key driver of economic development. Without it, progress in any sector is nearly impossible.
Villages with access to energy see economic improvements within just a few years. Energy access also creates job opportunities for young people, such as work in technical fields, metal workshops, or wood workshops, helping them generate income and improve their quality of life,” said Shiferaw Telila, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Ethiopian Electric Utility (EEU).
Source: World Bank