The PUERTEM project is implemented by UNESCO with support from the India-UN Development Partnership Fund to promote renewable energy and energy-efficiency technologies in rural communities of northern Cameroon. The initiative distributed solar power kits to over 3,000 households in the Poli locality—an area where electrification rates fall below 22% and more than 95% of families rely on wood for cooking. These kits are designed to reduce dependence on firewood, provide reliable lighting for night-time activities, and enhance household well-being by enabling children to study after dark and improving overall security.

By mid-2025, PUERTEM entered its second phase and surpassed its initial targets, achieving a completion rate of 207.85% and reaching over 12,000 beneficiaries compared to the 6,000 originally planned. The project has since expanded to the town of Zina, with a population approaching 40,000, where similar solar installations are delivering comparable social and environmental benefits. Through ecosystem protection, the reallocation of women’s time from firewood collection to education and economic pursuits, and the creation of new opportunities in agriculture and infrastructure, PUERTEM exemplifies a scalable approach to advancing clean energy access and supporting the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.

Image Credit:

UNESCO, Abel Winamou