ASSERT focuses on a specific gap in energy poverty action: the needs of people with physical disabilities. It trains municipalities and intermediaries to design more inclusive support, combining capacity building with tailored household advice and small-scale solar solutions.
Location:
Rome,
Italy
Start date:
01/10/2024
Lead organisation:
RETE ASSIST
Target groups:
People with physical disabilities
Energy transition focus:
Capacity building, Energy poverty alleviation
Scale:
City-wide
ASSERT addresses a largely overlooked issue: people with physical disabilities face higher energy needs but often have lower incomes, making them especially vulnerable to energy poverty. The initiative trains municipal staff and local intermediaries to better support these households. Through mentorship, it helps design more inclusive local policies and practical support schemes. It combines training with real-life action, including tailored advice to households and small-scale solar installations. What makes it innovative is its focus on disability within energy poverty and its multi-actor approach linking cities, civil society, and energy communities. It turns knowledge into concrete local support while building long-term capacity.
The initiative tackles specific barriers such as higher energy consumption needs, accessibility challenges, and lack of tailored support for its target group. By training municipalities and local organisations, it embeds inclusiveness into local governance. This ensures that fairness is not an add-on but built into policy design and implementation. The initiative delivers benefits through reduced energy bills, improved comfort, and better access to energy services. It actively involves vulnerable groups through interviews, focus groups, and accessible co-design processes, including Braille materials and adapted formats. Intermediaries and social actors play a key role in outreach and support.
It operates based on EU grants, which cover most operational and staffing costs. Additional philanthropic funding is used to finance tangible support such as solar panel installations. The initiative does not generate direct revenue. Instead, it creates social value by reducing energy costs for vulnerable households and improving policy design. Key costs include staff time, training development, accessibility adaptations such as sign language and adapted formats, and equipment. Long-term sustainability relies on building local capacity within municipalities and intermediaries so that actions can continue beyond the grant duration, even with limited funding.
Contact person:
Marina Varvesi
E-mail:
presidente@reteassist.it
Website:
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