By Mr. Hongpeng Liu, Chief of Energy Security and Water Resources Section, Environment and Development Division, United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP).

A hydropower project driven by United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP) and a Community based NGO - People Centered Business and Economic Institute (IBEKA) at rural level in Cinta Mekar, Indonesia is built on the foundations of Pro Poor Public Private Partnership (5Ps). This has successfully demonstrated that the 5Ps is one of the most effective options in providing basic energy and other services to the poor. Also, it addressed to issues like community development with sustainable foundations of clean energy. The community development provided efficiency and sustainability in the operational aspects of the project. The project helped in empowering communities with focus on poverty reduction by providing sustained source of income to the community through enhanced energy access.

Partnership has been an important element in the development of this mini-hydropower plant towards securing access to energy. Partnerships with Local Authorities have significantly helped in project development process as this led to increased public participations and local community engagement towards raising awareness through capacity building activities. Village infrastructures related to access to clean drinking water and sanitation has significantly improved along with other developments like improvement of health and social services. The income rise in the local community helps in mitigating poverty and other related issues.

Seed funding of off-farm economic activities for alternative or additional income generation has been another important highlight of this project.