In Kenya's Turkana region, Edmond Buigut supports the Diocese of Lodwar in planning and implementing renewable energy solutions for schools, health facilities and other diocesan institutions. Alongside the Solar Pledge programme, he also contributes technical expertise to wider diocesan solar initiatives.
"Many of our schools and health facilities are in remote areas where reliable energy can change daily life. An Energy Officer helps ensure that systems are properly planned, maintained and used effectively so communities receive lasting benefits."
Behind every solar installation, every repaired health-centre system, and every diocesan renewable energy strategy, there is a person making it happen on the ground.
In the Solar Pledge East Africa programme, that person is the Energy Officer.
Working at diocesan level, Energy Officers coordinate renewable energy activities, connect technical experts with local institutions, support long-term planning and help ensure that solar investments continue delivering benefits long after installation.
They are often the first person to assess a school's energy needs, the person overseeing a repair at a health centre, the coordinator bringing together diocesan departments, and the local expert helping institutions build a sustainable energy future.
Energy Officers help dioceses:
Solar systems do not sustain themselves.
Without proper planning, oversight and maintenance, energy systems can quickly fall into disrepair. The Energy Officer helps ensure that renewable energy investments remain functional, sustainable and aligned with the needs of the institutions they serve.
In other words, while solar systems provide the power, Energy Officers provide the continuity.
For many donors, financing solar panels is a tangible and attractive investment. Yet the success of every solar investment depends on the people who make it work.
For €15,000, a funding partner can finance an Energy Officer in one diocese for 1 year. This support enables ongoing technical guidance, coordination, training and monitoring across dozens of schools, health facilities and diocesan institutions. Rather than funding a single installation, sponsors help ensure that an entire diocesan renewable energy programme can function effectively and grow over time.
By supporting an Energy Officer, you invest in local capacity, long-term sustainability and lasting change.
