About SolarAid
SolarAid is a UK based international charity that combats poverty and climate change. It was established in 2006 and is regulated by the Charity Commission of England and Wales. SolarAid provides access to solar lighting in Zambia and Malawi through its locally registered social enterprise organisations called SunnyMoney Zambia and SunnyMoney Malawi. Initially, SolarAid creates demand and awareness of solar lighting in ‘last mile’ communities, particularly through working with local schools and in partnership with the local Ministry of Education. It then recruits and trains a network of entrepreneurs, known as agents, to sell a range of solar lights to their local communities as well as offer an after sales service. This creates a local market as well as sustainable, long-lasting change. In total so far it has provided over 10.5 million people across Africa with access to affordable, renewable, and clean energy.
What is SolarAid’s vision?
SolarAid’s vision is ‘A world where everyone has access to clean, renewable energy’. Most directly, SolarAid works to accelerate achievement of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal number 7 ‘access to affordable, reliable and sustainable energy for all’.
What is SolarAid’s mission?
No one left in the dark in Africa by 2030.
What types of financial services does SolarAid provide?
SolarAid is not a specialist financial intermediary. Through its social enterprise, SunnyMoney, they advance solar lights and chargers on credit to local agents (entrepreneurs) to sell in Zambia and Malawi. This involves appraising the capacity of agents to receive and repay loans and through being given training by SunnyMoney, they get a very good knowledge of the solar products sold and how to maintain them. Through the social enterprise model, SolarAid can give their customers a 2-year warranty on their solar lights, where faulty lights are replaced. A repair scheme is right now also being set up.
Does SolarAid provide any training?
SunnyMoney supports all local entrepreneurs through marketing campaigns, training, and shipping of products.
Where can I find out more information about SolarAid?
Further information about SolarAid is available from the organisation's website here.
SolarAid: Basic facts and figures (March 2023)
Full name: | SolarAid |
Established: | 2006 |
Total number of active loans: | 88 |
Proportion of loans given to women: | 98% |
Total loan portfolio: | US$8,385 |
Zambia: Basic facts and figures (June 2023)
Population: | 19.47 million* |
Currency: | New Zambian kwacha* |
GDP per capita: | US$1,137* |
Inflation (GDP deflator): | 27.6%* |
Life expectancy: | 61 years* |
Percentage of population living on less than $1.90 a day: | 59%*** |
Human Development Index Ranking: | 154 (out of 191 countries)** |
Infant mortality rate (per 1,000 live births): | 40* |
Percentage of adults with a bank account: | 48.5%* |
Malawi: Basic facts and figures (June 2023)
Population: | 19.88 million* |
Currency: | Malawi kwacha* |
GDP per capita: | US$636* |
Inflation (GDP deflator): | 8.5%* |
Life expectancy: | 63 years* |
Percentage of population living on less than $1.90 a day: | 69%* |
Human Development Index ranking: | 169 (out of 191 countries)** |
Infant mortality rate (per 1,000 live births): | 31* |
Percentage of adults with a bank account: | 42.7%* |
Sources: *World Bank 2021 **United Nations Development Programme 2021 ***Sustainable Development Report 2022
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