Page 14 - Lighting a Billion Lives - Developing Pathways for Energy Access
P. 14
Lighting a Billion Lives in Africa
Sub-Saharan Africa and the developing countries in Asia account for 95 per cent of the global
population living without access to electricity or clean cooking facilities. Africa in particular experiences
the highest access deficit in electrification rate, despite being rich in energy sources. Only 5 per cent
of the rural population has access to grid power connection while the national average rests at 32
per cent. In 2011, Lighting a Billion Lives (LaBL) initiated activities in Africa with an aim to increase the
community’s awareness, develop scalable business models, and to create demand for clean energy
products and services for lighting and cooking. Increased private sector participation, in partnership
with the government, NGOs, and research institutions, has been the key to achieving results in Africa.
Clear performance standards and business models have been developed to address underlying
issues including, demand generation, mass production, distribution channels, selection and training
of sellers, financing, education of users, and after sales service and maintenance.
The four main areas of focus to build a robust energy service delivery mechanism in Africa are:
Stakeholder Networking and Outreach
Multi-stakeholder Training and Capacity Building
Implementation of Cook stoves and Solar Lighting Solutions
Policy Engagement for Accelerated Development of the Sector
While LaBL has footprints in eight African nations, a major part of these activities have focussed on
Ethiopia and Kenya where implementations are being carried out through two national focal points—
African Centre for Technology Studies (ACTS) in Kenya and Horn of Africa Environment Centre and
Network (HoAREC-N) in Ethiopia.
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Sub-Saharan Africa and the developing countries in Asia account for 95 per cent of the global
population living without access to electricity or clean cooking facilities. Africa in particular experiences
the highest access deficit in electrification rate, despite being rich in energy sources. Only 5 per cent
of the rural population has access to grid power connection while the national average rests at 32
per cent. In 2011, Lighting a Billion Lives (LaBL) initiated activities in Africa with an aim to increase the
community’s awareness, develop scalable business models, and to create demand for clean energy
products and services for lighting and cooking. Increased private sector participation, in partnership
with the government, NGOs, and research institutions, has been the key to achieving results in Africa.
Clear performance standards and business models have been developed to address underlying
issues including, demand generation, mass production, distribution channels, selection and training
of sellers, financing, education of users, and after sales service and maintenance.
The four main areas of focus to build a robust energy service delivery mechanism in Africa are:
Stakeholder Networking and Outreach
Multi-stakeholder Training and Capacity Building
Implementation of Cook stoves and Solar Lighting Solutions
Policy Engagement for Accelerated Development of the Sector
While LaBL has footprints in eight African nations, a major part of these activities have focussed on
Ethiopia and Kenya where implementations are being carried out through two national focal points—
African Centre for Technology Studies (ACTS) in Kenya and Horn of Africa Environment Centre and
Network (HoAREC-N) in Ethiopia.
12
