Voluntary organisations will be able to benefit from an investment of €500,000 through a scheme launched by the Energy and Water Agency and the Malta Council for the Voluntary Sector. The scheme assists registered voluntary organisations to reduce their carbon footprint and invest in technology that is more energy and water-efficient.
Voluntary organisations will be able to benefit from a maximum of €27,000, covering 90% of the total cost of the project. Each Voluntary organization can apply for a maximum of two measures, ranging from energy efficiency to water flow reduction.
Manuel Sapiano, CEO of the Energy and Water Agency added that “In the last 3 years the scheme has helped voluntary organisations reduce their consumption by more than 950MWh and saved more than €99,000 in running costs. We have listened to the feedback received from voluntary organisations that have benefitted in the past and have adjusted the scheme to better suit their needs. This was also possible with the input and support given by the Malta Council for the Voluntary Sector”.
The scheme was launched in 2019 and has seen a reduction of 340 tCO2. Through the scheme, we will continue to see Malta and Gozo shift toward a cleaner economy and reach our 2030 Sustainable Development Goals, in particular; SDG 7 (Affordable and Clean Energy), SDG 11 (Sustainable cities and communities), and SDG 13 (Climate Action).
Minister Miriam Dalli and Minister Julia Farrugia Portelli explained that voluntary organizations such as sports clubs, social support clubs, and environmental organizations, among others, will be able to benefit from this scheme for modern electricity and water use systems. “Our ultimate goal is to shift our society to more sustainable practices. It is a huge gratification for us to help people shift towards more environmentally-conscious practices” said Minister Miriam Dalli. Minister Julia Farrugia Portelli added that “the will of the government is to continue investing in the 1,747 voluntary organisations. Volunteers and voluntary organizations are considered by the government as key stakeholders and an important stakeholder in shaping Maltese society ”.
Present at the launch was also the Chief Executive of the Council for the Voluntary Sector Mauro Pace Parascandalo and the Commissioner for Voluntary Organizations Jesmond Saliba.
Those interested in applying for this scheme can attend an online information session on Thursday 5 May. Applications for the scheme will open in the second week of May. Voluntary organisations can apply for projects relating to the restoration of reservoirs, the installation of second water distribution networks to be used for rainwater storage, efficient lighting, and more. Interested Voluntary Organisations can access more information through the VO funding portal or through here.