By Angela Travers | Development Director
Access to energy is fundamental to achieving several SDGs: alleviating poverty, advancing health, improving education and water and sanitation, and addressing climate change. However, 940 million people do not have access to electricity. 3 billion people do not have access to clean fuels for cooking. Energy poverty is particularly acute in sub-Saharan Africa, which has the lowest energy access rates in the world. Women bear the brunt of the effects of energy poverty.
The solution to energy poverty must include a deliberate focus on underserved markets and intentional inclusion of overlooked resource of women's enterprise. Solar Sister's solution is a market-based, locally-led, women-driven approach to combatting energy poverty. Solar Sister brings energy access and economic opportunity to women entrepreneurs in sub-Saharan African "last-mile" communities.
Each investment in the capacity of a local woman entrepreneur creates a local, sustainable clean energy business that provides transformative income for the woman entrepreneur. The training and support she receives provide economic empowerment that enables her to expand her income opportunities, invest in her family's health and well-being, and improve her standing in her community. When more women work, families thrive, communities benefit, and nations prosper.
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