The Solar Energy for Agricultural Resilience (SoLAR) Phase II project builds on the successes and lessons of Phase I (Dec 2019– May 2025) in South Asia and expands its scope to East Africa. Supported by the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) and implemented by the International Water Management Institute (IWMI) . The program aims to strengthen the enabling environment and unlock investments for sustainable scaling of socially inclusive and climate-resilient solar agri tech solutions in South Asia (India, Bangladesh) and East Africa (Ethiopia, Kenya). Solar Phase 2 will be implemented in partnership with government and implementing agencies who have the mandate to implement policies and programs on solar energy for agriculture. The project runs from July 2025 till December 2028.
Project Outcomes:
Outcome 1: Evidence-Based Policy Design
Policymakers embed water energy food interlinkages in a socially inclusive manner, to enhance effectiveness of solar agri-tech programs.
The project assesses the impact of solar irrigation on Water-Energy-Food (WEF) and climate systems to propose a WEF-sensitive solar irrigation framework. WEF composite index and Water-Energy-Food-Solar Suitability maps for India, Bangladesh, Ethiopia, and Kenya will be developed to help policymakers evaluate solar applications. To improve solar schemes, decision-support tools, including tailored solar sizing models for Bangladesh, Kenya, and Ethiopia, will be created. Key deliverables include an online solar sizing tool with a user manual, a live digital database of key indicators for PM-KUSUM in India, and country-specific training sessions to support policy implementation and rural livelihood programs.
Outcome 2: Accelerating Finance
Climate-smart and socially inclusive financing solutions for scaling solar agri-tech are co-developed and launched.
The project advances financial mechanisms to improve equitable and inclusive access to solar technology, finance, and markets in India and Bangladesh by identifying and validating effective financial instruments and incentives. This includes assessing both market and non-market-based tools and co-designing climate-smart financial models with private sector and government partners. In Ethiopia and Kenya, the project explores the feasibility of a Solar4Africa Irrigation Investment Fund through investment assessments, market segmentation and identifying promising financing options, culminating in a comprehensive feasibility report.
Outcome 3: Capacity Building
Strengthened knowledge, capacities and south-south collaboration leads to greater uptake of solar agri-tech applications.
Under this outcome, the project strengthens knowledge, capacities, and south-south collaboration to increase solar agri-tech adoption. Key activities include tailored training programs and knowledge exchange for farmers, technicians, and officials, focusing on tools from Outcomes 1 and 2, with emphasis on empowering women. In India, with support from ICAR, project activities will provide capacity building for energy extension agents to assist farmers and institutionalize this model. In Ethiopia and Kenya, targeted Training of Trainers programs will be developed, along with roadmaps to embed capacity building in local frameworks. The program will also collaborate with alliances like SufoSec to capture solar’s benefits for income security, food security, and resilience.
Outcome 4: Scaling through Living Labs
Existing platforms and living labs are assessed and optimized for scaling solar agri-tech bundles.
Existing platforms and living labs will be assessed and optimized to scale solar agri-tech bundles, focusing on women and marginalized farmers. Pilots identify effective bundling solutions to support sustainable scaling. The findings will support governments and agencies in understanding real-world applicability and necessary adjustments. In India, IWMI’s research has been shared with MNRE to support implementation, while pilots in Bangladesh, supported by SoLAR, have led to the approval of new solar irrigation pumps. In Ethiopia and Kenya, solar technologies are being integrated across the agricultural value chain, including irrigation and cold storage, with region-specific plans to expand adoption and improve rural livelihoods.
Theory of Change