About this project

Kokoda Track Foundation (KTF), in partnership with the Kokoda College, Sanananda Aid Post and the Australian Government, is delivering clean, reliable energy to two remote communities in Papua New Guinea’s Oro and Central Provinces. This project will install solar mini-grids at the Mt Koiari FODE Centre in Efogi and the Sanananda Aid Post, powering critical education and health services in off-grid, underserved areas.

On the Kokoda Track, the new solar mini-grid will support equitable access to secondary education for students living along the Kokoda Track. The system will power classrooms and digital learning infrastructure for KTF’s Mt Koiari FODE Centre, the first secondary school of its kind in the region. In Sanananda, a busy coastal aid post serving up to 7,000 people each year will receive reliable power for life-saving maternal health services, vaccine storage and improved water and sanitation systems.

This initiative builds on KTF’s successful pilot Off-Grid Renewable Energy Partnership, which installed a solar mini-grid at Kokoda College in early 2025. That project delivered reliable power for classrooms, an IT lab with disability assistive technologies, solar water pumping with irrigation system and electric incinerator waste systems, improving education outcomes for over 200 students, many of whom are women pursuing second-chance education through KTF’s FODE program. The pilot demonstrated the transformative potential of small-scale renewable energy for education, health and climate resilience in remote Papua New Guinea.

By expanding this proven model, the new project integrates energy access with inclusive service delivery and community development. It supports national priorities across education, health and energy, while promoting long-term sustainability through local operations and maintenance, community training and gender-inclusive governance.

Access to electricity in rural and remote Papua New Guinea is among the lowest in the world, with estimates in Oro and remote Central Provinces even lower than the national average of 10 to 15%. In isolated communities along the Kokoda Track and in Sanananda, there is little to no chance of connection to the national electricity grid. Existing energy access is typically limited to low-capacity solar lanterns or expensive, unreliable diesel generators that frequently break down or cannot be refuelled easily due to supply chain disruptions.

KTF has worked in these communities for over two decades and understands the deep developmental challenges they face. On the Kokoda Track, the Mt Koiari FODE Centre is transforming lives by offering digitalised high school education to students who previously had no access to secondary schooling. However, operations are hindered by the absence of consistent electricity, limiting learning opportunities and safety for students, especially women and students with disabilities. In Sanananda, the aid post is overwhelmed by demand and lacks the reliable power needed for safe deliveries, vaccine storage and clean water access.

These energy challenges undermine the health, education and resilience of these communities. By delivering solar mini-grids tailored to each site, the project directly addresses these barriers by providing dependable energy where it’s needed most and unlocking broader socio-economic benefits. It also aligns with Papua New Guinea Vision 2050 and national development plans, contributing to climate goals and improving lives in some of the country’s most remote regions.

We’re proud to once again partner with the Australian Government to deliver sustainable, community-led energy solutions where they’re needed most.

The Community Health Workers at Sanananda Aid Post do an incredible job providing healthcare services to a catchment of close to 15,000 people. Delivering babies, triaging emergencies and providing the healthcare services most of us take for granted. They manage with a small solar system that charges a handful of lights. No hot water, limited refrigeration, no powered equipment, limited night-time services. Reliable access to power from a mini-grid will be an absolute game changer for the level of care they can deliver to their community.

High in the mountains of the Kokoda Track, the Mt Koiari FODE Centre provides the first ever access to secondary schooling for nearby communities. In region where the only communications are via radio, and accessing the electricity grid is a pipe dream, a mini-grid provides extraordinary opportunity. Powering classroom basics – lights, student resource tablets and fans – will transform the learning environment for students and lecturers alike.

Through this work, we’re helping people reach their potential by improving their access to education and healthcare that is powered by clean, dependable energy in even the most remote parts of Papua New Guinea.

– Dr Genevieve Nelson

KTF’s Chief Executive Officer

On behalf of the community of Sanananda and the entire catchment area of more than 10 armlets, we are excited after hearing the message about the mini-grid. This mini-grid will help the Sanananda Aid Post to store vaccine for immunization, do delivery of babies, give light for patients and emergencies at night, security during night, and also help us charge and use equipment at the Aid Post. We are grateful as a community and also as a catchment. Thank you on behalf of our people of Sanananda.

– Grayson Kaumi

Sanananda Community Representative

About this project

The Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI), in partnership with the Water Authority of Fiji, Department of Water and Sewerage and the Australian Government, is delivering a transformative project to improve access to safe, reliable and affordable drinking water for remote maritime communities. The project will install solar-powered water pumping systems in seven sites across the outer islands of Lakeba, Rotuma and Vanuabalavu.

Each site will benefit from solar-hybrid systems designed to reduce dependence on costly, emissions-intensive diesel generators while improving resilience to extreme weather events. The systems will also include water storage and remote monitoring capabilities, enabling improved service delivery and more sustainable management of water resources.

In addition to infrastructure upgrades, the partnership will strengthen institutional and community capacity. Training and governance support will be provided to Water Authority of Fiji staff and local communities, alongside targeted inclusion efforts to ensure women, people with disabilities and other vulnerable groups actively participate in and benefit from the project.

Fiji’s maritime communities face persistent water insecurity due to ageing infrastructure, high fuel costs and limited energy access. While over 98% of urban populations have access to safe drinking water, this figure drops to just 58% in rural areas. For communities on islands like Lakeba, Rotuma and Vanuabalavu, diesel-powered water pumps are costly to run, prone to breakdowns and vulnerable to supply chain disruptions, especially during cyclones.

These challenges are more than technical: they impact health, livelihoods and equity. When diesel systems fail, communities are often forced to collect unsafe water, increasing the risk of waterborne diseases such as leptospirosis and typhoid. Women and children, who typically bear the burden of water collection, are particularly affected.

By integrating solar energy into critical water infrastructure, this project addresses the interconnected challenges of energy insecurity, water access and climate vulnerability. It aligns with Fiji’s National Development Plan, Low Emissions Development Strategy and National Adaptation Plan while supporting the REnew Pacific mission to deliver clean energy and climate-resilient services to frontline communities.

About this project

Its Time Foundation, in partnership with Fiji’s Ministry of Education and the Australian Government, is helping remote schools across Fiji overcome long-standing barriers to quality education caused by unreliable or absent electricity.

It builds on a 2024 pilot Off-Grid Renewable Energy Partnership, funded through AIFFP, which delivered clean solar power and internet connectivity to Buakonikai Primary School on remote Rabi Island. Just six months on from the solar system launching, the school reported improved classroom engagement, expanded digital learning and annual savings of over AUD 6,000 in fuel costs, which are reinvested in education. Buakonikai is now a blueprint for how clean energy can boost education, reduce emissions and build community resilience in the Pacific.

Building on this success, the expanded partnership will install high-quality off-grid solar systems in 31 additional schools and teacher homes, delivering 24-hour reliable power that is future-proofed to meet energy needs through 2035 and beyond.

To maximise impact, the project includes new or upgraded electrical wiring, Starlink internet and simple computer labs to help bridge the digital divide for students while improving teaching conditions. Long-term sustainability is supported through the Solar Fund (Fiji) and ongoing monitoring.

The partnership also promotes gender equality through targeted training for women in solar installation and electrical trades and aligns with Fiji’s education and climate resilience priorities.

In remote Fijian island communities, many schools continue to rely on costly, carbon-emitting diesel generators that run for only a few hours a day, if at all. This unreliable energy supply limits students’ access to digital learning tools, widens the education gap between urban and rural areas and makes it difficult to attract and retain teachers. The lack of lighting and connectivity also affects safety and inclusion, particularly for girls and students with disabilities.

Solar power is recognised as the most effective and sustainable energy solution for off-grid schools in the Pacific. However, many systems fail prematurely due to inadequate design, poor-quality equipment and the absence of long-term maintenance strategies or funding. When well-designed and properly maintained, solar systems can continue to provide service for 20 to 25 years.

Its Time Foundation has more than a decade of experience delivering high-quality solar solutions to several remote schools across Fiji. Their approach focuses on durable equipment, strong partnerships with local stakeholders such as the Ministry of Education and inclusive delivery models that prioritise safety, accessibility and gender equality. The Foundation ensures that investments in renewable energy deliver long-term, transformative impact for students, teachers, and communities alike.

This new partnership marks a major step forward in our mission to ensure every child in Fiji has access to safe, modern education, regardless of where they live.
 
We’re building on the success of our earlier pilot to bring reliable solar power, internet connectivity and long-term sustainability to 31 more remote schools. It’s not just about clean energy, it’s about opportunity, equity and lasting impact for communities across the Pacific.

– Rob Edwards OAM

Founder, Its Time Foundation

Providing solar power to remote schools brings light to classrooms, hope to students and relief to teachers. It powers learning, reduces costs and protects the planet, turning every sunrise into a promise of opportunity, resilience and a brighter future for education.

– Kaushik Lal

Senior Education Officer, Ministry of Education, Fiji

Our young people deserve to have every opportunity to reach their full potential and I’m excited to see what new opportunities are now available to them as their access to energy and the internet improves.

– Katarina Tubekoro

Headteacher, Buakonaki Primary School

I want to show women that they have a place in these industries. Whether it’s working on installations or teaching others, there is a need for women in this space. And the more of us who step up, the stronger our communities become.

– Vasiti Talakubu

Solar technician, Its Time Foundation

About this project

This two-year REnew Pacific project will benefit over 4,700 people across eight rural communities in Vanuatu’s Santo, Paama, Tanna, and Malekula islands by installing solar-powered water pumping systems that will improve water security, sanitation and hygiene. It will also equip 24 health centres and schools with standalone solar photovoltaic (PV) systems and battery energy storage, providing reliable, clean energy for essential services.

The project is led by the Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI) and supported by the National Green Energy Fund (NGEF), the Department of Water Resources (DoWR), the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Health. It’s set to support local employment, offering local community members training in maintenance, financial management and system governance to ensure the long-term sustainability of the systems while contributing to local economic growth.

Aligned with Vanuatu’s National Energy Roadmap and climate resilience goals, the project aims to reduce CO2 emissions by at least 1,500 tonnes over its lifespan. It will power greater climate resilience for these local communities, enabling greater access to clean water, energy and essential services while supporting Vanuatu to achieve its goal of 100% electrification with renewable energy by 2030.

Rural communities in Vanuatu face significant challenges related to energy and water access, which directly impact their wellbeing, economic opportunities and climate resilience. Only 17% of rural households have access to electricity, compared to 80% in urban areas. This disparity is compounded by the reliance on diesel-powered generators, which make up nearly half the country’s energy mix. These generators are costly, vulnerable to supply chain disruptions, extreme weather and rising fuel prices exacerbated by climate change.

Access to clean water is also a challenge. Communities often rely on manual water collection or diesel-powered pumps, which are also expensive and prone to breakdowns. This lack of reliable water access impacts sanitation, hygiene and community health.

Diesel fuel is not only expensive but it’s also dirty, noisy and polluting. Its high operational costs mean communities often can’t afford to run the generators consistently, leading to unreliable access to power and water. This energy insecurity limits economic growth and quality of life in rural areas.

Health and education services are also severely affected by unreliable energy supply. Rural health centres struggle to properly refrigerate vaccines and medicines, power essential medical equipment or provide lighting for emergency operations, which compromises the quality and availability of healthcare in these areas. Schools also lack electricity, limiting access to digital learning tools, internet connectivity and lighting, which negatively impacts educational outcomes, particularly for women and children.

This project addresses these challenges through reliable solar infrastructure to supply clean water and power healthcare and education settings. Installing solar water pumping systems and solar PV systems with battery storage will improve climate resilience, strengthen essential services and create long-term economic and social benefits for rural Vanuatu communities.

Through our REnew Pacific project, GGGI is helping ensure that no child misses school, no vaccine is lost for lack of power and no one walks miles for clean water in Vanuatu’s rural communities.

– Andres Torres

GGGI Pacific