United Nations Development Programme

In Samoa’s markets, women are the backbone of the local economy, selling fresh farm produce, vegetables, fruits, and seafood that feed families and sustain communities. Many are the main income earners for their households. Without reliable cooling storage, their perishable goods, mainly fresh vegetables and fruits, spoil quickly in the tropical heat,&nbsp;leading to food waste, lost income, and fewer affordable options for customers. <img src="https://giveth.mypinata.cloud/ipfs/Qmca8DXuipk44oj63iKeK1zV94f6SZCHCAw9hhDMdYdMtn" width="287" style=""> <img src="https://giveth.mypinata.cloud/ipfs/QmVsEuKvm442Ue5QycMjAutGrUcSVDUTD9pQ5foAZ16a92" width="397" style=""> <img src="https://giveth.mypinata.cloud/ipfs/QmdR337qcCke8odDrXeBu9w988UztoXT4ByjzrjhDMRrg4" width="463" style="cursor: nwse-resize;">﻿ This project will fund the purchase and installation of solar-powered cooling chambers at Fugalei Market. A reliable cooling storage facility will allow vendors to keep food fresh for longer, reduce waste, improve food quality safety, and increase earnings and thereby strengthen food security. The benefits can extend to hundreds of vendors and thousands of market customers. <h2>Goals and Impact</h2>This initiative will improve the livelihoods of women vendors by increasing the shelf-life of farm produce, reducing post-harvest loss, and enhancing food quality. It will support renewable energy solutions in market infrastructure, empower women through greater profitability and stability, and strengthen community ownership of market improvements. The model can be replicated in other Pacific Island markets, creating a scalable solution that promotes economic empowerment, strengthens food security, reduces food waste, and builds community resilience. <h2>Related SDG Goals:</h2> <img src="https://giveth.mypinata.cloud/ipfs/QmYmBobXfLpGvtxPS3DBtNxttX6zszXV27D33rCn5Mi5nN"> <img src="https://giveth.mypinata.cloud/ipfs/QmdF7GhakbXsJipZuWtyVNbyGUxG6depJHtT7pVU7hwNWV"> <img src="https://giveth.mypinata.cloud/ipfs/QmeZ1CBVoTXro4iV9qjyCwpdD72DdbAyamvc8soFBBE9Yw"> <h2>Budget:</h2><ul><li>Cold storage unit (purchase and delivery): USD 40,000</li><li>Installation and setup: USD 5,000</li><li>Vendor training in safe food storage: USD 5,000</li><li>Total:&nbsp;USD 50,000</li></ul> <img src="https://giveth.mypinata.cloud/ipfs/QmXv4jVq2ajwGdu4o9fBtbdoS4cre5QEg1vRYaBMwqJJa2">By contributing, you are helping to protect food quality, strengthen women’s livelihoods, and build a more resilient local economy in Samoa.<h2>Together, we can keep food fresh and futures secure.</h2><div class="ql-video-wrapper"><iframe class="ql-video" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/8dlM4Q1ewJk?showinfo=0"></iframe></div>

In Samoa’s markets, women are the backbone of the local economy, selling fresh
farm produce, vegetables, fruits, and seafood that feed families and sustain
communities. Many are the main income earners for their households. Without
reliable cooling storage, their perishable goods, mainly fresh ve...

Giveth

Solar-Powered Cold Storage for Samoan Markets

UNDP in Afghanistan is <a href="https://www.undp.org/afghanistan/stories/harnessing-sun-power-afghanistans-development" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">spearheading the adoption of renewable energy</a> and energy efficiency measures in public health and educational facilities across Eastern Afghanistan, covering more than 1,300 facilities nationwide. In this cluster—spanning Kunar, Laghman, Nuristan, Kabul, and Kapisa—we are ensuring uninterrupted access to essential services. Solar PV systems will keep hospital lights on for critical procedures and ensure classrooms remain safe, well-lit spaces for children to learn and thrive. <img src="https://giveth.mypinata.cloud/ipfs/QmPRXTWUewE1fmAEAVqX3UXmJLK1V6w83LVaNhZmVu3Q6Q"> Your contribution can ensure these systems are operated and maintained sustainably—turning renewable power into lasting change for entire communities. This is not just about electricity; it’s about giving a child a brighter future and saving lives in the moments that matter most. <img src="https://giveth.mypinata.cloud/ipfs/QmVZVo6vpU1Q1yJ85fs58iCyWD6Mjdcv5WL7J1nGJuif1M">Girls at Qishlaq Secondary School in Musahee district, Kabul, enjoy their lessons in a brighter, more supportive environment thanks to solar energy. The school, serving over 700 students, now benefits from reliable electricity, improved learning conditions, and extended study hours — empowering students and staff through clean, renewable energy.&nbsp; Goals and Impact <ul><li>Sustain clean energy supply for hospitals and schools in Eastern Afghanistan.</li><li>Reduce power outages, ensuring reliable healthcare and uninterrupted learning for children.</li><li>Enhance safety, improve service delivery, and promote climate-resilient development.</li><li>Strengthen local capacity for solar system operation and maintenance.</li></ul>&nbsp;Budget (Tentative):<ul><li>Procurement of spare parts: USD 85,000 across 340 sites</li><li>Annual maintenance services, including training to operators: USD 10,100 across 340 sites per year</li><li>Total: USD 95,100</li></ul>&nbsp;By supporting this initiative, you are directly investing in healthier communities, better education, and a cleaner future for Afghanistan’s Eastern provinces. <div class="ql-video-wrapper"><iframe class="ql-video" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/qYVStm8_2Qg?showinfo=0"></iframe></div>

UNDP in Afghanistan is spearheading the adoption of renewable energy and energy
efficiency measures in public health and educational facilities across Eastern
Afghanistan, covering more than 1,300 facilities nationwide. In this
cluster—spanning Kunar, Laghman, Nuristan, Kabul, and Kapisa—we are e...

Clean Energy for Eastern Afghanistan

Beans of Change: Solar Cocoa for Better Futures is bringing solar-powered dryers to Samoan cocoa farmers, equipping them with climate-smart technology, protecting their beans from rain and humidity while cutting drying time by half. By improving quality and consistency, these dryers open doors to premium export markets, reduce losses, and increase farmer income. This project not only safeguards a cherished cultural tradition—koko Samoa—but also strengthens community resilience, empowers women’s role in value chains, and builds an inclusive, resilient cocoa economy rooted in Samoan tradition. <img src="https://giveth.mypinata.cloud/ipfs/QmepFo1vbsus797rRTsNVpqEDxi7eXTpiVF6dier5dFMhd" width="396" style=""> <img src="https://giveth.mypinata.cloud/ipfs/Qmf4J9NbJGpqdk8EUUComSLbg9AyD8GfL8TUKiQMpQcLZD" width="380" style=""> <img src="https://giveth.mypinata.cloud/ipfs/QmcZsTcMQLzJ7Xwtkx1mrxz3LpziAz1975FC2fvbVy7ZzV" width="412" style=""> In the lush green villages of Samoa, cocoa isn’t just a crop, it is culture. Cocoa has been part of Samoa’s history and culture for centuries, formally introduced in 1883 and later developing into the distinct Samoan Trinitario variety prized for its fine flavor. Today, cocoa farming supports over 15,900 households and remains central to rural livelihoods, with most production consumed locally as koko Samoa, a traditional drink that holds cultural significance. Women play an essential role in post-harvest processing, preserving both quality and tradition. Though relatively small by global standards, Samoa’s cocoa sector represents both a cultural treasure and a high-potential economic opportunity. <h2>Challenges</h2>Traditional sun-drying methods are vulnerable to Samoa’s humid climate and unpredictable rainfall, leading to mold, uneven drying and contamination. This not only reduces quality, but minimizes access to premium export markets, leaving farmers with lost opportunity. This is where solar dryers become a game-changer. <h2>A Solar Solution</h2>Solar dryers offer a simple but transformative intervention for Samoan cocoa farmers. They cut drying time nearly in half, from about five days to two and a half, while producing uniform beans with stable pH and reduced free fatty acids that meet premium export standards. By maintaining proper moisture content, they reduce losses and ensure beans are consistently export-ready. Solar tunnel dryers also double drying rates compared to traditional methods and provide resilience by allowing farmers to deliver high-quality cocoa regardless of weather conditions.<h3> </h3><h2>Budget</h2><ul><li>Solar Dryer Units (incl. installation): $100,000</li><li>Farmer Training &amp; Capacity Building: $25,000</li><li>Maintenance &amp; Spare Parts Fund (3 years): $15,000</li></ul>Total Budget: $140,000 <img src="https://giveth.mypinata.cloud/ipfs/QmanhXTSyRRYyJwh714hXRaRUEb1yhxt5gXUNdHkifGhBX" width="305" style=""> <img src="https://giveth.mypinata.cloud/ipfs/QmVXK7LiSTXqemngdVP59TgkMj7SssvxYmHF9ujkTCTLnX" width="293" style=""> <img src="https://giveth.mypinata.cloud/ipfs/QmW4ovyfFXQ1hpKWCp3J45TL7XtG7jQGxq5ziEaKx1AxuG" width="283" style=""> <img src="https://giveth.mypinata.cloud/ipfs/QmZaK98zFYa9dFiPdcdyaoFtcRZxaq6XNcP4LLy2bVGpeT" width="246" style=""> <h2>Join us in bringing solar power to Samoa’s cocoa farmers!</h2>With your support, families can protect their harvests, improve quality, and reach markets that value their craft. Together we can honor the tradition of koko Samoa while creating resilient livelihoods and brighter futures for generations to come. Let’s turn sunshine into prosperity! <h2>Related SDG Goals:</h2><img src="https://giveth.mypinata.cloud/ipfs/QmXHErGixKBei2Zn1osN6oNbFGC6fknb5cG1K2531WYjuK" width="145" style=""> <img src="https://giveth.mypinata.cloud/ipfs/QmVAsTKNjqPmhsRt7q12NPxYtyupy8GRTGxh1ZU4bAT6dN" width="138" style=""> <img src="https://giveth.mypinata.cloud/ipfs/QmRETsPL3LwXnn9uHxEbLuLq6gLQAhMK5WZRUGjTpm6N7R" width="148" style=""> <img src="https://giveth.mypinata.cloud/ipfs/QmXYh6jXpBpRFAWmSSvki166DCTWv1Yq9X2zHZZyY7jAZ9" width="141" style="cursor: nwse-resize;"> <h2>Relevant Links:</h2><a href="https://www.undp.org/samoa/news/equipping-young-farmers-skills-needed-koko-farming" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" class="ql-size-large">Equipping young farmers with skills needed for koko farming</a><a href="https://www.undp.org/samoa/press-releases/growing-interest-koko-farming-amongst-youth" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" class="ql-size-large">Growing interest in koko farming amongst youth</a>

Beans of Change: Solar Cocoa for Better Futures is bringing solar-powered dryers
to Samoan cocoa farmers, equipping them with climate-smart technology,
protecting their beans from rain and humidity while cutting drying time by half.
By improving quality and consistency, these dryers open doors to...

Beans of Change: Solar Cocoa for Better Futures

In Afghanistan, barriers to education and digital literacy remain particularly significant for girls and women. To address these challenges, UNDP is launching the Digital Corners initiative, establishing fully equipped computer labs in schools that are already powered by sustainable solar systems under the SESEHA project. By bridging the digital divide, this initiative will enable female students to acquire essential digital skills and open pathways for personal, academic, and professional growth. <img src="https://giveth.mypinata.cloud/ipfs/QmQN3UzHkwu9D9ZW2vchtox7akeuQci5j3jNHrZDU1QDym">Girls walk to school in rural Afghanistan, where solar panels now power classrooms through the SESEHA initiative, bringing light and opportunity to remote communities. Goals<ul><li>Empower girls and women through access to technology and digital education, addressing gender-specific barriers.</li><li>Create sustainable infrastructure for digital learning in solar-powered schools.</li><li>Foster learning environments where students can acquire digital literacy, soft skills, and technological competencies.</li></ul>&nbsp;Impact<ul><li>Accelerate digital inclusion in underprivileged communities, particularly for girls and women.</li><li>Reduce the digital skills gap, enabling students to use technology for education, entrepreneurship, and personal development.</li><li>Strengthen the capacity of schools in Kabul by integrating renewable energy with cutting-edge digital education solutions.</li></ul> Budget (Tentative):Establishment of a fully functional Digital Corner in other 10 schools: USD 100,000 By supporting this initiative, you are helping transform solar-powered schools into gateways of opportunity—where girls gain the digital skills to participate, compete, and lead in the future economy of Afghanistan.

In Afghanistan, barriers to education and digital literacy remain particularly
significant for girls and women. To address these challenges, UNDP is launching
the Digital Corners initiative, establishing fully equipped computer labs in
schools that are already powered by sustainable solar systems...

Digital Corners at Solar-Powered Schools

The Central Highlands of Afghanistan—Bamyan, Ghor, and Daikundi—face some of the country’s greatest energy challenges. Most areas remain off-grid or only partially connected, leaving families dependent on small-scale solar panels, diesel generators, or micro-hydropower systems that are often costly, unreliable, and insufficient. Harsh winters, rugged mountains, and limited infrastructure investment further deepen the energy gap, restricting opportunities for education, healthcare, economic activity, and cultural preservation. To address these challenges, UNDP through the SESEHA project is equipping health and education facilities with sustainable energy solutions, enabling them to deliver services that would be impossible without reliable power. Building on this, UNDP has piloted a community-oriented business model for improving electricity access in households adjacent to Zargaran Girls’ Primary School in Bamyan. Under this model, the school sells surplus electricity from the installed system to nearby households. This not only provides local families with affordable and reliable electricity but also generates revenue for the operation and maintenance of the solar system—ensuring sustainability beyond the project cycle and energy access to vulnerable families at an affordable cost, leaving no one behind. <img src="https://giveth.mypinata.cloud/ipfs/QmNoRwPN7Gn7wwKWrRd4iZY8zU8iNmdde8EUzoF1hY3nSZ" width="350" style=""> <img src="https://giveth.mypinata.cloud/ipfs/QmemhMpnfyZ2HEaoV5xpz9Dkq9EhcURXeyiAVgtYuhhCVc" width="624" style=""> <img src="https://giveth.mypinata.cloud/ipfs/QmRNEKTQg3XP4JUxk8AxpfZX1XkCi5gyQxCd3baXZKaatB" width="233" style=""> <h2>Goals and Impact</h2>• Provide schools and nearby communities with reliable electricity for essential needs.• Improve learning environments with lighting, ventilation, and safe water access.• Reduce dependence on costly, polluting diesel generators.• Build local ownership and strengthen capacity for long-term system sustainability. <h2>Budget (Tentative):</h2>• Replicating the Implementation of the business model in all 20 schools of Central Highlands: USD 60,000 Your support will directly invest in improving energy access for families and ensuring that every child has the light to learn and the opportunity to build a brighter future.

The Central Highlands of Afghanistan—Bamyan, Ghor, and Daikundi—face some of the
country’s greatest energy challenges. Most areas remain off-grid or only
partially connected, leaving families dependent on small-scale solar panels,
diesel generators, or micro-hydropower systems that are often cost...

Energy Access Through Community-Driven Business Models

This Cause unites projects supported by UNDP that are transforming lives through sustainable energy access. In communities where electricity is unreliable or entirely absent, these initiatives are introducing solar and small-scale hydro solutions to schools, markets, and households, creating a foundation for education, health, and economic opportunity. By expanding renewable energy, they are opening pathways for students to learn, for vendors to preserve and sell their goods, and for families to build brighter and more resilient futures. From solar-powered schools in Afghanistan that give girls the tools to thrive, to cocoa farmers and market vendors in Samoa building sustainable livelihoods &amp; protecting food security with renewable refrigeration and solar dryers, to pico-hydro systems in Vanuatu that electrify remote villages, each project contributes to a shared vision. Together they demonstrate that access to energy is more than a technical solution. It is a catalyst for dignity, empowerment, and progress across generations. By supporting this Cause, you are helping communities harness the power of sustainable energy to overcome barriers, strengthen resilience, and create sustainable futures aligned with the United Nations vision for inclusive development.

UNDP: Sustainable Energy for Resilient Communities
United Nations Development Programme

$358.4

373,967.5 GIV

UNDP: Sustainable Energy for Resilient CommunitiesUnited Nations Development Programme

$358.4

373,967.5 GIV

UNDP: Sustainable Energy for Resilient Communities
United Nations Development Programme