Responsibilities:

As the implementing organisation for the Rural Energy Access Model, Gpower holds following core roles and responsibilities:

• Implementation of micro-hydro generation and distribution installations
• Consulting on organisational and legal structures in cooperation with international corporate responsibility programmes
• Consulting on feasibility, technical, administrative and financial expertise
• Facilitation of training and community capacity building
• Securing project implementation support through grant and loan programmes
• Securing access to monetary markets through asset creation
• Networking with international investment partners to create sustainable commercial ventures in the target area.

Partner Organisations & Supporters:

After many years of hard work by members of our team and thousands of community members, Gpower has managed to secure the recognition and support of following (inter-) national donors as well as academic and legal partners (in alphabetical order):

1. Ashoka Foundation: the global association of the world’s leading social entrepreneurs has selected GP co-founder Nyaga Ndiga as one of its fellows in 2008 and will provide seed funding over a period of 3 years.
2. CDF(Constituency Development Fund): partially supports implementation of generation and distribution installations in Thiba and Urumandi
3. Dutch Embassy: facilitated and funded the upgrading of the Kianyaga office as well as the establishment of a technical production and assembly workshop at Wilson Airport, Nairobi
4. Echoing Green Foundation in New York: selected GP co-founder Robert Mutsaers in July 2007 as one of 20 winners out of 900 applicants for the most promising social entrepreneurs in the world. The Echoing Green fellowship provides GP management with seeding funding for two years.
5. Finnish Embassy: through it’s foreign aid programme the Finnish Embassy supports the distribution network in Riakaruria
6. French Embassy: Through it’s foreign aid programme the French Embassy supports a section of the Kiangurwe distribution network
7. Gpower Ltd.: in partnership with Numerical Engineering and Sintronics Gpower Ltd. assembles and installs generation and distribution components
8. Japanese Embassy: through it’s foreign aid programme the Japanese Embassy supports the distribution network in Muketura
9. Kenyatta University and Nairobi polytechnic institutions: support operation and maintenance capacity building programmes in the context of the Rural Energy Access Model
10. Liberty Foundation: supported the finalisation of generation installations in Kiangurwe
11. Lighting Africa (World Bank and IFC) : provides funding for 2 generation facilities in Rianjue and Inanjugu
12. Linklaters Ltd: the New York law firm provides GPower with substantial pro bono support to set up the legal framework of the Rural Energy Access Model.
13. NRECA (National Rural Electric Cooperative Association): supports GPower with design and standardisation of distribution networks
14. TARDA (Tana River Development Authority): provided a revolving fund for Kiangurwe to advance it’s mandate in the target area
15. UNDP and the local Kenyan Nile Basin Development Authority: invited GP in August 2008 to meet with local leaders and carry out a feasibility study to copy the Rural Energy Access Model in Western and Nyanza provinces.>
16. Berlin University of Technology: supports access to pre-financing and Gold Standard Status in the context of GPower’s carbon credit programme. In addition, the university is in the process of designing the REAM Phase II Megawatt power plant.
17. University of Quebec at Montreal (UQAM) Partnership: provides substantial pro bono capacity building and community outreach support and is in the process of carrying out a socio-economic impact evaluation in the REAM partner communities.
    

Offices & Infrastructure:

Since the initiation of its operations, Gpower maintains a head-office in Nairobi and a branch in Kianyaga. In 2006 and with support of the Royal Netherlands Embassy, Gpower designed and constructed a larger office in Kirinyaga and opened its technical production and assembly workshop at Wilson Airport in Nairobi.

GPower Head Office in Nairobi:

The head office in Karen, Nairobi is run by Robert Mutsaers and currently employs five support staff in order to govern and manage technical, financial, legal and administrative activities.

The Nairobi office is equipped with a network of three computers, three laptops, scanner, printers, internet access and UPS-systems. The financial data is consolidated through Quick-books, administrative data through Excel/ Word programmes and the feasibility- and design departments utilize GRASS geographical- and Auto-CAD software. The open source RET-screen application is utilized for MHP-evaluation. The available transport facilities are two Toyota Land Cruisers and a motorbike.

Branch Office in Kianyaga:

The branch office in Kianyaga , run by Nyaga Ndiga, monitors and manages project activities on the ground in Kirinyaga district. In conjunction with UQAM and Nairobi polytechnic institutions it provides administrative and financial services for the CBOs and facilitates training seminars and sensitization programmes.

The branch is equipped with a network of six computers, printer, access to internet facilities and UPS-systems. The financial data is consolidated through Quick-books, administrative data through Excel and Word programmes, available transport facilities are a Toyota Corolla, Yamaha off-road motor bike and six bicycles. Currently, the Kianyaga office employs five staff in order to govern and manage technical, financial, legal and administrative activities.

Gpower Techncial Production and Assembly Workshop at Wilson Airport, Nairobi:

In collaboration with its engineering partners, the Nairobi workshop constructs and assembles 100KW generation- and control units and builds switchgear and transformers for primary- and secondary overhead networks.

The workshop has been equipped with a laptop and internet access, assembly- and construction tools, fasteners, measurement instruments, column drill, plasma cutter, MIG-welder, Aluminium welder as well as an air-compressor.