   Kabamba Chiefdom in Serenje District is small village in Zambia which was proposed as a site for a mini-hydro power station to be constructed at the Chipota Falls.The 200-kilowatt mini-hydro power station would be constructed by a UNDP-supported project to promote the transfer of renewable energy technology from China to Zambia using the South to South cooperation model.Â
   The initiative is a partnership between the Department of Energy in Zambia, the Ministry of Science and Technology in China and the UNDP Country Offices in Zambia and China and it’s being funded by the Government of Denmark.
   The partnership seeks to increasing access to energy through off-grid and community-based electrification - thereby indirectly supporting other socio-economic and environmental objectives, most notably poverty reduction through employment generation and supporting action on climate change mitigation and adaptation.
   This initiative is a key component of UNDP’s support to the implementation of Zambia’s Sustainable Energy For All. It’s estimated that 15,000 people are expected to benefit directly from the clean energy to be generated by this mini hydro.Â
   Some of the major benefits of the project are:
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possibility to effectively irrigate crops, boost farming yields, fuel economic growth;
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more productive schools and more accessible health facilities;
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empowering women in the male-dominated, conservative district;
   With this initiative, Kabamba Chiefdom in Serenje District is on the verge of a boom with a mini power grid that could stimulate the rural economy and bring jobs to rural communities.
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Photo credit: UNDP
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The views expressed in this article are the author's own and do not necessarily reflect those of the SDG Philanthropy Platform. The SDG Philanthropy Platform is a global initiative that connects philanthropy with knowledge and networks that can deepen collaboration, leverage resources and sustain impact, driving SDG delivery within national development planning. It is led by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors (RPA), and supported by the Conrad N. Hilton Foundation, Ford Foundation, Oak Foundation, Brach Family Charitable Foundation, and many others.