OUR NORTH STAR:
MICRO-UTILITIES
Community-scale water and energy systems. Professionally managed by the people they serve. Not projects. Permanent institutions that provide the foundation for health, education, gender equity, livelihoods, and climate resilience.
Scaling What Works
We are leading with our micro-utility model as our north star—directing our energy and resources where strong partnerships and momentum already exist. By activating proven models of collective action, we are expanding impact by building the enabling conditions for micro-utilities.
In an era of global disruption, Green Empowerment represents a proven, ground-up model for rural community development. Over nearly three decades, we’ve reached more than 670,000 people with renewable energy and clean water solutions that last. We are steadfast in our belief that rural infrastructure investments + local ownership + collective action are essential to our vision: a world where all people have the resources they need to thrive.
WHERE WE'RE GOING:
PROGRAM GOALS
WATER, SANITATION, & HYGIENE (WASH)
Expand access to community water systems while advancing an integrated WASH Framework that connects water, sanitation, hygiene, and resource management.
What this looks like:
- Launch XX new micro-utilities with XX partners
- Strengthen five partners to independently run micro-utilities
- Build five regional ecosystems linking communities, governments, and technical partners
RENEWABLE
ENERGY
Scale community-owned mini-grids that deliver high-quality energy access (Tier 4–5), while expanding programs that strengthen climate resilience and livelihoods.
Key Priorities:
- Support at least 10 communities to build and operate their own mini-grids by 2028
- Advance the Sabah RE2 Roadmap and enabling policies
- Strengthen existing partners and support 2–3 new partners in emerging geographies
- Expand solar + storage solutions for agriculture, health, and community services
COMPLIMENTARY PROJECTS
Alongside micro-utilities, we will expand energy and water access for community services such as health clinics, community enterprises, and agricultural processing, while continuing to integrate sanitation and hygiene, women’s empowerment, conservation, training, and locally driven innovation.
COMMUNITY
OWNERSHIP
Refine and share our proven micro-utility model, a replicable and evidence-supported approach that sustains long-term community ownership.
- Integrate appropriate technology and IoT solutions in at least 10 micro-utilities by 2026, with plans to expand
- Evaluate service reliability, financial sustainability, and impact to strengthen evidence and continuous improvement
- Document and share our fully defined Community Management Model for Micro-utilities (including governance, tariff-setting, O&M, community engagement, gender inclusion, and resilience planning) and implement across 100% of GE projects
HOW WE GET THERE
