UNCDF Clean Start Program

Creating clean pathways for low income households

Overview

UNCDF has partnered with UNDP to develop CleanStart a programme to help poor households and micro entrepreneurs access financing for low cost clean energy. It creates microfinance opportunities for a clean energy future for low income people. To scale up energy financing for the poor Microfinance institutions which by definition target low income clients are well placed to provide the products and services poor households and micro entrepreneurs need to pursue clean energy opportunities. CleanStart promotes such financing arrangements supports quality assurance measures and offers advisory services to contribute to a mutually beneficial cycle of investment awareness building and the creation of a new higher return market segment. CleanStart aims to help lift at least 2.5 million people out of energy poverty by 2017 in ways that can be replicated and scaled up by others. This is expected to contribute to the mutually complementary MDGs on poverty and hunger education gender health environmental sustainability as well as and reduced carbon emissions.