11 March 2011: The UN Development Programme (UNDP), in partnership with the Ministry of Rural Rehabilitation and Development of Afghanistan, has launched projects expected to provide clean water-driven energy to more than 6,200 households in rural and remote parts of Afghanistan.

The scheme is part of the National Area-Based Development Programme (NABDP) that prioritizes energy for rural development. It is estimated that about 85% of rural areas in Afghanistan lacks electricity. NABDP works directly with residents to form District Development Assemblies that identify the needs and priorities of communities. So far, communities have requested over 150 micro hydropower units to be constructed. Each unit will benefit from 40 to 1,000 families. The project will allow households that relied exclusively on kerosene oil and other polluting fuel sources for cooking and heating to use a clean energy source, with clear health benefits.

The programme benefits seven provinces across Afghanistan, namely Badakhshan, Takhar, Samangam, Ghor, Herat, Bamiyan and Panjshir. It receives support from the Governments of Canada, Denmark, Germany, Italy, Japan, the Netherlands, Norway, Spain and the UK. [UNDP Press Release]