The Renewable Energy for Rural Development Phase II (RERDII) project is funded by the Belgian development agency with a total budget of EUR 22 million. It was designed to address energy access challenges in Mozambique, where the vast geography and low rural population density make off-grid renewable solutions highly cost-effective. Implemented jointly by Enabel, the National Energy Fund (FUNAE), and the National Irrigation Institute (INIR), the project allocates funding across electrification and solar-powered irrigation. The specific objective is to increase access to energy in rural areas through investments in renewable systems and support mechanisms that ensure long-term sustainability. The targeted results include the construction of five solar-powered mini-grids in the Nampula and Zambézia provinces to establish 3,700 new rural connections, alongside the development of business models aimed at improving the technical and financial sustainability of these energy systems.

This end-term evaluation, covering the implementation period from March 2018 to December 2024, focused on the electrification component of the project. It was conducted to ensure accountability to partner countries, donors, and stakeholders and served a learning purpose to guide future strategic decision-making and upcoming projects. The scope of the analysis was framed comprehensively around the standard DAC criteria to holistically examine the project. In addition to these core parameters, the evaluation explored several cross-cutting themes, placing a significant focus on gender-responsive planning, inclusion in the productive use of electricity, and environmental safeguards. Furthermore, it reviewed institutional partnerships, specifically examining capacity-building efforts directed at national stakeholders and the transition toward functional operational frameworks for rural energy management