Women energy entrepreneurs
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Authors
Magori, Robert
Issue Date
2018-01
Type
Language
en
Keywords
Energy
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Abstract
Women remain disadvantaged politically, socially and economically and have less access to basic needs such as education, energy, safe and clean water, health services. Initial assessment of the solar products value chain indicated that women are underrepresented and yet are great influencers especially at the bottom of the pyramid. Building on Practical Action’s experience in enhancing women’s participation in energy markets, this will strengthen the role that women play in the supply chain for off-grid lighting products in rural Kenya, helping them develop sustainable businesses and empowering them to participate in local energy markets, and increase the availability of quality clean energy products for consumers in rural Kenya. Practical Action recruited and trained 403 women entrepreneurs on business development. The support to women entrepreneurs involved practical working tools for day-to-day business management such as toolkits and remote training using podcasts, allowing flexible access to learning materials. We allocated full time mentors to the women entrepreneurs to help solve their major challenges. These mentors facilitated the development of business acumen and self-confidence of the entrepreneurs in management of the business.period. The 240 active women entrepreneurs collectively sold 27,875 solar lighting units worth an estimated value of US$1.4 million. Overall entrepreneurs’ business performance has been positive with an average growth rate of 30% per entrepreneur. Catherine Mumbi is from Sofia in Kakumeni ward, Machakos County where kerosene lamps are the main source of lighting in most households. When she started the solar business, Catherine used to sell only 2 units per month but currently sells an average of 10 units per month. She gives credit to Practical Action for helping with business skills and product knowledge. Ms. Selina, another active entrepreneur thanks Practical Action for helping her manage stage fright. She narrates that before the training and subsequent mentorship she couldn’t communicate properly with customers because she was afraid, but currently she can approach anyone and get to sell a lamp or come out of it with a prospective customer. She is grateful for the mentorship as she terms it as a source of knowledge, encouragement and motivation to the business. Since the training and commencement of mentorship, Selina has acquired more networks which include other entrepreneurs and customers. In conclusion, solar lighting industry continues to grow and reach rural households without access to modern energy services. The programme has demonstrated that more women entrepreneurs can be integrated in the solar lighting value chain and more efforts should be geared towards such engendered initiatives as a measure of not only addressing energy poverty but also improving women’s economic positioning. Practical Action is highly conscious of the contribution of this work overall objectives of ensuring access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for, and by extension the global sustainable development goals.
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