Solar Power Helps Ex-Fighters Find Jobs in Eastern DRC

When armed militants approached a village in the Democratic Republic of Congo that had just gained solar power, something remarkable happened. Instead of fleeing, residents rushed to defend their mini-grid, putting themselves in danger to keep the lights on.

That moment, shared at a gathering of energy and peacebuilding experts in Nairobi this March, captures a powerful idea gaining momentum: access to clean energy can help reduce conflict in some of the world's most fragile regions.

More than 45 specialists from energy, finance, government, and peacebuilding organizations met to explore how renewable power and peace are connected. They agreed that while energy access alone won't end violence, it can be a genuine tool for stability when designed with communities at the center.

The evidence is already compelling. Virunga National Park Foundation in eastern DRC invested $250 million in hydroelectric plants after watching armed groups fund themselves through illegal charcoal sales. The renewable energy project now generates 60 megawatts and created between 800 and 1,000 jobs for every megawatt produced.

Most striking: 11% of new workers were young people who had left armed groups to take those jobs. "By bringing electricity, we create jobs, especially for youth, who can get drawn into armed groups given high rates of unemployment," one government participant explained.

Across sub-Saharan Africa, 600 million people still lack electricity, with conflict zones hit hardest. Conflict itself is at its highest level since World War II, driven by climate change, inequality, and demographic pressure.

The Ripple Effect

The benefits extend beyond individual communities. When Virunga brought power online, it didn't just create jobs. It removed the economic incentive to cut down forests for charcoal, protecting endangered mountain gorillas while simultaneously defunding the armed groups who controlled that trade.

In borderlands between Sudan and South Sudan, energy infrastructure woven into local peace agreements has shifted economic incentives, even for active combatants. Markets function where they couldn't before, creating new reasons for cooperation.

The approach isn't foolproof. Practitioners warned that poorly planned projects can worsen tensions. One DRC mini-grid lacked capacity for two neighboring villages, and choosing one over the other triggered conflict between them.

The lesson: conflict-sensitive design must be built in from day one. That means understanding local grievances, ensuring benefits reach marginalized groups, and working with existing peace processes rather than imposing technical solutions from outside.

The biggest remaining challenge is finance. Investors see mini-grids in fragile settings as too risky, despite abundant global capital. Experts are now working to reframe these projects as infrastructure investments, which could unlock the $2 trillion infrastructure capital market.

The path forward requires new financial tools, patient capital, and genuine community partnerships, but the potential is clear: clean energy that powers both lights and lasting peace.