Successful projects need to be sustainable hence meet the needs of the present without compromising the ability of the future generations to meet their own needs. For energy projects to be sustainable, they not only have to meet the technological, environmental, economic and financial parameters but more importantly they have to satisfy the social needs. Hence energy project developers have to appreciate and understand social needs to avoid their projects turning into white elephants. The course will deal with the following matters: Developing a common understanding of the energy requirements and use; sustainable energy solutions for rural communities in Southern Africa and in particular in Lesotho; gender and energy; provision of optimal sustainable energy requirements for rural communities; community participation in sustainable energy solutions; current energy solutions and their sustainability; designing of practical and affordable energy solutions; appropriate energy technology projects.