Founded in 1965 by Father Vincenzo Barbieri, Cooperazione Internazionale (“COOPI”) has helped more than 100 million people across more than 1,700 projects in 65 countries in Africa, Latin America, the Caribbean and the Middle East. It works across numerous areas of intervention, including protection, education in emergency, food security, nutritional security, disaster risk reduction, energy, water and hygiene, and migration.

NextEnergy Foundation donated to COOPI in 2019 to contribute to the development of a solar off-grid system (c.70 kWp) in Gbinty Town, Port Loko District, Sierra Leone. The donation has helped to: support the operation of the village mini-grid system; install and operate energy systems for one community health centre, one rural financial institution and one primary school, including site reviews and design selection and build-up of structures; and, conduct training of trainers’ courses for key stakeholders in the energy and education sectors. The mini-grid has played a pivotal role in reducing the use of fossil fuels within the community and CO2 emissions.

The system currently has 49 customers, of which 22 commercial, 25 domestic and 2 industrial. COOPI is working on connecting more potential customers over the coming months. In addition, the organisation is also in the process of identifying potential operation entities to handover the assets, manage the system and sell the produce in collaboration with the Ministry of Energy of Sierra Leone and the local regulator for energy tariffs.