The Fiji Rural Electrification Fund (FREF) support project aims to foster the development of rural mini grids to improve access to clean, affordable, and reliable renewable energy. 

In doing so, it plans to also diversify Fiji’s energy mix to reduce carbon dioxide emissions from the Fijian power sector, contribute to national electricity access objectives and promote gender-balanced economic growth using electricity as an enabler for inclusive sustainable development.  
 
The project will seek to electrify at least 20 rural communities in 4 years to support the expeditious implementation of FREF as well as demonstrate best practices to shore up investments in FREF and its rural electrification objectives while building long term implementation and management capacity within the Department of Energy to continue FREF on a long-term basis. 

It will benefit at least 6,500 Fijians and avoid over 2,920 metric tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent by installing over approximately 2 megawatts of renewable energy.

The provision of electricity is combined with modern auxiliary services such as smart meters, mobile payment, digital connectivity and clean water and sanitation solutions to - among other things – induce productive electricity use cases and lift standards of living in rural communities. 

The ability to productively harness the provided clean electricity is expected to enable rural Fijians to increase community income through multiple economic activities, reduce social inequality and promote gender inclusivity. All of which also contributes to building more climate informed resilient livelihoods.