SOLAR LAMP CHALLENGE; NAMIBIA
PROVEN INTERVENTION TO BE DISTRIBUTED
Solar lamps and other solar products.
Learn more about the Solar Lamp Challenge and how these lamps create enormous benefits for developing world families.
DISTRIBUTION MODEL INNOVATION
Approximately 25% of Namibia's 2 million people live in informal settlements which have almost nonexistent electrification rates. In addition to low electrification rates, Namibia also has a youth (age 18-34) unemployment rate above 39%. Sol Sisters' main objective is to improve livelihood availability by creating markets for solar products.
Initially, Sol Sisters will form a super agent partnership with D.light and Greenlight Planet, enabling them to have lower initial costs and risks while better understanding the Namibian market. Both companies have agreed to provide a 2 year warranty on all products, marketing supporting, training support, and access to their full line of solar products. Sol Sisters will recruit and manager their own team of sales agents but the company distributors will assume all risk with the supply chain and inventory management.
After successfully meeting sales targets for each month, they will negotiate a different partnership with distributors. Sol Sisters will target families and shopkeepers as customers for solar home kits. The D30 home system is an ideal solution for families spending much of their income on candles, wood, paraffin, kerosene, batteries, and phone charging kiosks as, within a year, families will realize a cost savings. Financing plans allow them to rent-to-own and remain within their disposable income range each week. The brightness of the kits will allow shop owners to attract more customers and work longer hours. Sol Sisters recognizes that the key to their success will like in community partnerships to reach sales agents and to expand their distribution networks.
PILOT AND SCALING GOALS
Sell 500 solar lamps within the three month pilot
Impact 2,500 individuals within the three month pilot
Sell 1,750 solar products by the end of year 1, impacting 15,000 individuals
Sell 7,000 solar products by the end of year 2, impacting 35,000 individuals
FOUNDING TEAM
Lily Nhoisaykham - Co-Founder, Training and Development
Stephanie Shih - Co-Founder, Community Partnerships
Cybil Zhang - Co-Founder, Customer Insights