Implementing the SDG 2, 6 and 7 Nexus in Kenya – a case study of solar powered water pumping for human consumption and irrigation

Abstract

The paper deals with the importance of the 17 SDGs as a force to align initiatives at a global level towards a green circular economy. The specific scope of this work is the nexus formed by the SDGs 2, 6 and 7 which deal with agribusiness, water management and renewable, reliable and affordable energy respectively. These three goals merge perfectly in the case of solar PV powered water pumps which can work for human consumption and irrigation. In a country such as Kenya where over 75% of the population still live in rural areas and are deprived of both electricity and water, the lack of such basic resources drives people to an economy of subsistence with little or no surplus to generate income. In order to develop a sector there is a fundamental need to build capacity. That is why Strathmore Energy Research Centre (SERC) has, with the help of industry, developed a syllabus for theoretical and practical training on how to design, install and maintain such systems in different sizes. SERC has built a hands-on kit such that after going through the course, participants are fully prepared to implement such units all over the geography of Kenya and neighbouring countries. This nonetheless does not tell the whole story as aspects related to awareness amongst the rural population, access to line of credit and suitable regulations are also essential aspects required for adequate penetration of this specific technology. This paper thus analyses the holistic setting up of an ecosystem which has a potential to transform rural economies and eventually reduce urban migration.