The 17 October is the UN International Day for the Eradication of Poverty. 774 million people globally lack access to energy, 597 million of those live in sub-Saharan Africa
17/10/2023. Since 2010, Solar Sister has worked to fight energy poverty across sub-Saharan Africa by recruiting, training, and supporting women entrepreneurs as they create clean energy distribution businesses. These women, in turn, develop financial resilience, confidence, and community status by delivering clean energy to their communities. This work feeds into the goals of the UN specifically related to fighting energy poverty globally.
Solar Sister has recruited, trained, and supported more than 9.900 entrepreneurs who have gone on to mitigate more than 1,3 million CO2e, providing access to energy to more than 4,3 million people across Nigeria, Tanzania, and Kenya.
The impact that Solar Sister has on the entrepreneurs we support has a ripple effect in their communities and beyond. More than 75% of Solar Sister Entrepreneurs live in rural, off-grid communities that likely do not have access to clean energy products without Solar Sister. These products have saved last-mile community members over 80 million USD in the past three years and generated more than 4,3 million USD in economic benefit for those communities.
Putting energy poverty in perspective
Globally, 698 million people live below the extreme poverty line of less than 1,90 USD a day, unable to fulfil basic needs like food, water, and shelter for themselves or their families.
Access to energy is fundamental to alleviating poverty and advancing health and education, particularly for women and children. Inadequate access to energy leaves those affected, typically in rural and remote communities (last-mile communities), dependent on burning solid biomass in inefficient and polluting ways and in a cycle of unproductivity and poverty.
Affordable, reliable, and efficient electricity increases productivity, generates jobs, and enhances living conditions and socioeconomic success. Despite this, 774 million people globally lack access to energy, with 597 million of those individuals living in sub-Saharan Africa, with women and children disproportionately bearing the brunt of its negative impacts.
Find out more about the work of Solar Sister and how E&C support them.
Solar Sister, https://solarsister.org/
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