Each partner plays a siginificant role, while supporting the other. In Tanzania alone, Solar Sister has trained over 1,900 Solar Sister Entrepreneurs (SSE) to sell clean energy products to their own and neighbouring communities. Signify is, among other providers, ensuring that Solar Sister entrepreneurs have high-quality, energy-efficient, reliable and safe lighting to sell.
“I’m very happy to see how joining our forces, covering every segment of the value chain, has now resulted in the start of such an impactful project, enabling so many more women in Tanzania to become solar entrepreneurs,” says Katherine Lucey. “Our model helps the women to create a sustainable livelihood, while helping their families, friends and communities with clean, safe lighting.”
Prajna Khanna agrees that a joined-up approach, between a diverse combination of partners is key to sustainable development.
“I have worked on so many projects throughout my career, but this truly is a one of a kind public-private collaboration, in which we provide so much more than solar-powered lighting,” says Prajna. “What we provide is a whole new market ecosystem…one might say that together we’re pioneering the future of development cooperation! This is an excellent example of where the business case and development case are clearly aligned with each other and SDGs.”