[{"bbox": [82, 147, 1167, 500], "category": "Table", "text": "<table><tr><td></td><td>of technical standards</td><td></td><td></td><td></td></tr><tr><td>To social impact and equality</td><td>Risk of not benefitting and reaching to the most vulnerable, poor households, women</td><td>High</td><td>High</td><td>Attention is paid that crosscutting aspects are integral part of the project design and ensure that women, persons with disabilities and those living in rural areas can actively participate in the action as well as benefit from the results (increased access to safe energy.). Increase access to energy services will also be prioritised by the social protection programmes supported by the EU.</td></tr></table>"}, {"bbox": [92, 503, 253, 527], "category": "Section-header", "text": "Lessons Learnt:"}, {"bbox": [92, 547, 1150, 601], "category": "Text", "text": "Through the initiatives supported under the 11th European Development Fund, the following lessons are recorded as relevant for the current action:"}, {"bbox": [92, 623, 1161, 703], "category": "List-item", "text": "* For the interventions proposed and anticipated outcomes to be achieved, greater energy sector co-ordination is required. The energy sector is modernising with new technologies and service agreements emerging which require commensurate enhancement of skills and capacities within the sector;"}, {"bbox": [92, 705, 1161, 783], "category": "List-item", "text": "* While there is a market for small-scale renewable energy and energy efficiency solutions such as improved cook stoves, photovoltaic lanterns and solar home systems, the lack of credit mechanisms (such as PAYGO) frustrates the full realisation of the market;"}, {"bbox": [92, 785, 1161, 839], "category": "List-item", "text": "* There is a lack of awareness about new products and services (mini-grids, solar home systems, improved cook stoves etc.) in the market which needs to be addressed through education and awareness campaigns;"}, {"bbox": [92, 841, 1161, 974], "category": "List-item", "text": "* Most of energy policy frameworks in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) are gender sensitive and Lesotho is no exception. The country's energy policy framework minimally refers to women's energy needs or opportunities for women's engagement in the energy value chain. When a national energy policy framework does not consider the gender-specific energy needs of women and men related to households, income-generating and community services, it cannot contribute to lifting women out from their energy poverty."}, {"bbox": [92, 978, 1161, 1254], "category": "Text", "text": "* The ongoing programme *Support to Reform in the Energy Sector in Lesotho (Phase I) – FED/2016/038-076* has provided additional lessons learnt taken into account in the design of this action. First, the programme highlighted the importance of technical assistance embedded in the Ministry of Energy. However, difficulties in mobilising experts to Lesotho partly delayed its implementation. This action therefore includes this support in indirect management, relying on the capability of a selected entity with relevant experience in this sector to mobilise the required expertise. The programme foresaw a call for proposals to support pilot private sector initiatives in the energy sector via grants. This modality proved challenging for the selected beneficiaries and therefore this action expands the toolbox of support options to including results-based financing, more suitable to sector and objectives of the programme, as well as concessional loans."}, {"bbox": [1026, 1681, 1142, 1705], "category": "Page-footer", "text": "Page 12 of 25"}]