Gambiaj.com – (BRISTOL, United Kingdom) – The University of Bristol has secured £3.5 million to spearhead an international research initiative aimed at integrating well-being into energy system design, with The Gambia and Ghana as a key focus country. The Sustainable, Holistic, and Inclusive Energy Systems for Well-being (SHINE) project will collaborate with Gambian stakeholders to ensure energy access interventions are both inclusive and sustainable.

Funded by UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) through the Ayrton Challenge Program, SHINE is one of 13 projects sharing a £33 million fund.

The initiative will explore the social, economic, gender, environmental, health, and technological conditions that shape equitable energy transitions, moving beyond traditional metrics like the number of households connected to grids or cookstoves distributed.

In The Gambia, SHINE will work closely with national institutions, including the Ministry of Energy and the University of The Gambia (UTG), as well as local organizations like the Mbolo Association.

The project will assess community-specific challenges and develop a framework to guide researchers, policymakers, and project implementers in designing energy solutions that prioritize people’s well-being.

Dr. Sam Williamson, who leads SHINE from Bristol’s Faculty of Science and Engineering, emphasized the project’s commitment to equitable knowledge exchange. “We are really excited about working with our partners in The Gambia and Ghana to develop African-centered, transdisciplinary research and to leverage expertise from South Africa, Nepal, and Brazil. This project’s focus on well-being will put people at the heart of the energy access challenge, driving for equity and inclusion,” he stated.

The Gambia’s participation in SHINE underscores its commitment to sustainable energy access and aligns with national development priorities.

With collaboration from institutions like the Medical Research Council – The Gambia Unit at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine (MRCG) and the University of Leeds, the project aims to establish a model for designing energy systems that benefit communities in Africa and beyond.