ElleSolaire

SOLAR LAMP CHALLENGE; SENEGAL

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

ElleSolarie is the first women-led, pay-as-you-go clean energy distribution network in West Africa.

In Senegal, six million people live without electricity. 58% of the population is rural and the women in these communities suffer the most from energy poverty and the implicit time poverty. They rise with the sun, often completing up to 17 hours of domestic tasks each day, leaving very little opportunity for endeavors that could improve lives, including their own. What’s more, their sources of energy are often pollutant, dangerous, and costly.

Women entrepreneurs from rural communities in Senegal are being recruited and trained by ElleSolarie. They become business women in their own right, distributing much needed, cutting-edge clean energy solutions on affordable pricing plans to remote last mile communities.

ElleSolaire is about women helping women to help themselves with economic opportunity, while growing in confidence, dignity, and choice. It is also about helping their families and communities to tap into a life-changing energy source that is safe, clean, and plentiful: sunlight. Customers get to reduce costs, health risks, environmental damage, and time given to domestic tasks. Solar energy is a key source of poverty alleviation that also increases opportunity through communication, business and studies.

IMPACT TO-DATE:

• 55 women and youths trained

• 545 women benefiting economically

• 2,005 households connected to clean energy source

• 35,000 people benefiting from clean, safe light in their home and Health Clinic

• 18 off-grid Health Clinics electrified

2021-2025 SCALE-UP PLANS

• 350 women trained as clean energy managers

• 8,250 women benefiting economically

• 40,000+ households connected to clean energy source

• 335,000 people benefiting from clean, safe energy source in their home and/or Health Clinic

FOUNDING TEAM

Kelly Nwachuku Lavelle - Founder, Executive Director

JLF EI

SOLAR LAMP CHALLENGE; SENEGAL

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

JLF EI distributes high-quality solar lamps and phone chargers from the German manufacturer, Little Sun. The products are specifically designed to resist intensive usage in rural Sub-Saharan Africa such as heat (up to 80°C), heavy tropical rains, drops, dust, and UV. One of the key barriers to development for people in rural Senegal is the lack of last-mile distribution for high-quality products. Left with no choice and little information on alternatives, they rely on expensive and polluting energy sources like kerosene and batteries. Lifting this barrier requires building last-mile distribution channels and closing the gap between national distributors and local customers through innovative partnerships. In the long-term, JLF EI sees their solar lamps and chargers as only the first two steps on the "energy ladder": with increasing savings on energy, clients will be able to afford larger energy systems, more lighting sources, and power other large electronic devices like refrigerators. 

JLF EI will set up a micro-entrepreneur network distribution model, relying on sales agents who are deeply rooted in their communities. The venture will also make use of partnerships to make products more affordable to families in rural areas. JLF EI has been selected by Little Sun as a distributor, and this relationship allows the venture access to solar products on credit at no interest rate. This allows JLF EI to pass credit on to their own, carefully selected sales agents, or micro-entrepreneurs, who then get the products into the market. To reach the target market of off-grid communities across Senegal, JLF EI will target agricultural networks such as village savings and loans associations, farmers' associations, and other networks that exist in rural areas. These networks reach deeply into the customer base and will allow JLF EI to pass on promotional messaging at a lower operational cost. 

PILOT AND SCALING GOALS

• Distribute around 500 solar lamps during the pilot
• Reach around 3,000 people during the pilot
• Distribute around 2,000 solar lamps by the end of year 1  

 

FOUNDING TEAM

Joan Le Fur - Head of JLF EI

Fatoumata Ndiaye - Business Developer at JLF EI

Samuel Dansette - Africa Sales and Business Development Manager at Little Sun GmbH