I CAN South Sudan (ICSS), under the SUSTAIN Consortium Project, implemented in partnership with Oxfam Uganda and funded by the Kingdom of the Netherlands, conducted an intensive awareness-raising campaign across the Rhino Camp Refugee Settlement in Terego and Madi Okollo Districts between April and June 2026. The awareness sessions were conducted in collaboration with Energy Service Companies (ESCOs), the Office of the Prime Minister (OPM), Refugee Welfare Councils (RWC), local leaders, churches, and Vision Fund Uganda. During the reporting period, a total of 3,439 refugees and host community members participated in the awareness campaigns. As a market systems development intervention, the project focuses on stimulating demand and increasing uptake of Off-Grid Solar (OGS) technologies, including Productive Use of Energy (PUE) and Clean Cooking Solutions (CCS), by creating market linkages among communities, technology providers, and financial institutions.

The awareness creation sessions were designed to demonstrate how renewable energy technologies can improve livelihoods, strengthen food security, and promote environmental sustainability within displacement settings. Energy Service Companies conducted practical demonstrations of solar irrigation water pumps, solar-powered deep freezers, and improved clean cooking technologies, enabling participants to understand their operation, benefits, maintenance requirements, and financing options. The sessions emphasized the role of solar irrigation in supporting year-round agricultural production, improving household incomes, and increasing resilience to prolonged dry seasons. At the same time, the promotion of clean cooking solutions highlighted their contribution to reducing charcoal and firewood consumption, minimizing indoor air pollution, improving the health of women and children, and mitigating environmental degradation caused by deforestation.

The community response to the awareness campaigns was overwhelmingly positive, with participants expressing appreciation for the practical demonstrations and the opportunity to interact directly with technology providers. Many refugees and host community members reported that it was their first time seeing modern clean cooking technologies that significantly reduce charcoal and firewood consumption, while farmers were impressed by the portability and efficiency of the solar irrigation water pumps.

The demonstrations increased community confidence in renewable energy technologies, resulting in growing interest and adoption of solar irrigation systems, solar-powered deep freezers, and improved cookstoves. The most significant achievement of the awareness campaign was the substantial increase in knowledge and understanding of Productive Use of Energy and Clean Cooking Solutions, enabling beneficiaries to make informed decisions about investing in technologies that can improve their livelihoods and household well-being.

Despite the encouraging progress, affordability remains the greatest barrier to the widespread adoption of renewable energy technologies, as many refugee and host community households lack sufficient financial resources to purchase the products outright. To address this challenge, Vision Fund Uganda actively participated in the awareness sessions by educating community members on the affordable financing opportunities available under the SUSTAIN Project.

The institution explained the available loan packages, eligibility requirements, repayment arrangements, and application procedures designed to enable refugees, host communities, farmer groups, and small business owners to access Productive Use of Energy and Clean Cooking technologies. This collaboration between implementing partners, ESCOs, and financial institutions continues to strengthen market access and create sustainable pathways for increasing the adoption of renewable energy technologies in refugee-hosting communities.