Give African villages a clean energy boost

Access to electricity can transform livelihoods, but small rural businesses need more than just electricity, they need to know how to capitalise on the opportunities that energy access can bring. It is this knowhow that is the real driver of economic growth and social change in poor rural regions. 

Over the last 2 years we have helped 300 businesses in rural Tanzania – agro-processors, wood mills, carpenters, retailers and other micro enterprises – to understand how they could flourish by using the available power and expand into new markets or industries. Our team always meet these entrepreneurs where they are, tailoring support and guidance to the circumstances of each individual business. 

Following an economic and value chain analysis to ascertain which products and services were in demand locally, we undertook needs assessments of each business to identify gaps in areas such as skills, technical equipment, and finance. Once we had the full picture, we helped the entrepreneurs develop their own business plans and we introduced them to reliable suppliers of electrical appliances such as fridges, juice blenders, hair dryers, ice making machines, food fryers and printers. We also introduced them to local financing institutions who could lend them the capital required to invest in such tools.

We provided technical training to ensure the correct installation, handling and operation of all equipment and appliances. We helped them develop marketing and sales strategies and we strengthened their bookkeeping and customer service skills.

After two years, many of these businesses are thriving. I would like to take this opportunity to introduce you to some of the people whose lives and livelihoods have been transformed:

• Khalfan and Kizase are shop owners in the village of Kidomole on the coastal plain of Tanzania. After connecting the shop to electricity, Kizase bought a refrigerator and started selling chilled drinks. The huge local demand for chilled drinks has significantly boosted her profits. Khalfan has since set up a welding workshop which is doing so well that he has hired more staff to help meet the demand for his services.
  
  
• Soud started a small-scale milling business when the village Hondogo, Western Tanzania, was connected to electricity. The 52-year-old now buys corn from local farmers, grinds and packages it. He has been selling fine flour locally but he’s now aiming to increase his income by selling greater quantities in larger markets in the capital city of Dar Es Salaam.
  
  
• Peter is retired teacher from Hondogo and is now running a small shop that he has connected to the power supply. He has purchased two refrigerators which he uses to sell chilled soft drinks, a particularly profitable line of produce. He also boosts his income by offering mobile phone charging services to his fellow villagers.
  
  
• Amina owns a small retail shop in Korogwe, near the coast of Tanzania.  When she learned of the potential of using electricity to enhance her income, she took out a loan to purchase an electric mill and set up a milling business. Her business has gone from strength to strength as she able to mill greater quantities of maize: she has now built a warehouse where she stores the maize that she buys from local farmers before processing and packaging it.
  
  
• Hamza owns a small butcher shop in Korogwe. He is now connected to electricity and has bought a freezer to store and preserve his meat products. Now better able to cut down on waste, Hamza has seen an improvement in the bottom line of his business.

I hope you will be as inspired as we are by these powerful stories.

Thank you for your generous support.

Kind regards

Alessandra