SOLAR LAMP CHALLENGE; SOMALIA
PROVEN INTERVENTION TO BE DISTRIBUTED
Solar lamps.
Learn more about the Solar Lamp Challenge and how these lamps create enormous benefits for developing world families.
DISTRIBUTION MODEL INNOVATION
Qorax (“ko-rah") enters the Somaliland energy sector with a partnership-based model emphasizing education and a local brand as the basis for establishing trust, rapid adoption and long-term stewardship for domestic solar lighting products. Qorax will address both the distribution and capacity building challenges by functioning as a holding company, investing in and providing technical support to locally branded subsidiaries in East Africa, first in Somaliland.
By distributing solar lanterns direct to consumers using a local sales team that is already familiar with the primary market data, Qorax's local commercial entity called EnerSom will help address the critical energy needs of Somaliland's population. EnerSom will handle inventory control, trasportation, customer service, and order processing through cash and mobile payment services. A university partner has agreed to provide a secure room for initial inventory and an office space for the team.
EnerSom will build and manage a network of company-owned outlets, with the future potential to establish small, company-owned kiosks in existing retail outlets in urban centers and establish regional small offices to serve additional rural communities. Working from the central store in Hargeisa, the sales team will visit sub-communities locally, including the livestock market, and identify key community influencers - clan leaders, business people, and political leaders - to demonstrate the solar lighting products and communicate the value and benefits.
PILOT AND SCALING GOALS
- The Hargeisa retail outlet will sell 150 GLP Sun King Eco lanterns and 150 GLP Sun King PRo 2 lanterns during the pilot phase
- Sell 2,625 Sun King Eco lanters and 2,625 GLP Sun King Pro 2 lanterns by the end of year 1
- EnerSom will open additional stores in Burco, Berbera, and Booroma to sell 25,000 lanterns by the end of year 2
FOUNDING TEAM
Nigel A. Carr - Co-Chief Executive Officer, Qorax
Christian Nicolas Desrosiers - Co-Chief Executive Officer, Qorax
Abdishakur Mohamoud - Chief Operations Officer, Qorax and Chief Executive Officer, EnerSom
Eric Verploegen - Chief Technology Officer, Qorax