• Strengthen the capacity of the Ministry of Lands, Mines and Energy (MLME), supporting RREA with technical and management training;

• Promote clean energy development in Liberia with four pilot hydropower and biomass electric power projects;

• Support energy regulatory, policy and legislative changes that will improve the private investment climate in Liberia for clean and renewable energy development;

• Strengthen the capabilities of local government, civil society and the private sector in managing, operating, monitoring and regulating renewable energy projects; and,

• Benefit the citizens of Liberia through strengthened economic development and improved access to social services, resulting from access to electricity.

(i) increased, sustainable access and affordability of electricity within urban and rural poor communities; (ii) improved performance of local governments, civil society and the private sector in monitoring, regulating and managing the use of renewable energy; (iii) an increase in the percentage of households and businesses utilizing clean energy, and a corresponding increase in economic activity; and (iv) policy changes that improve the investment climate for the energy sector. Objective 1: Strengthen the government of Liberia’s (GOL) capacity to implement plans for rural electrification as expressed in the National Energy Sector Policy.

Winrock is successfully building the capacity of the Rural and Renewable Energy Agency (RREA). RREA staff members informed the assessment team that they use skills acquired through LESSP capacity building activities to perform their job responsibilities. Most contract deliverables under Objective 1 were delivered on time.

Objective 2: Establish commercially viable pilot plants that provide renewable energy services to population centers in Bong, Lofa and Nimba counties. four pilot renewable energy projects Construction of both hydro pilot plants is delayed.