The SunnyMoney Way

12 Aug

MLC VANGUARD | Created by SolarAid

SolarAid's unique market-based model has reached 11 million people by working through schools and entrepreneurs to build trust and demand for solar lights in rural Africa.

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11,340,720 Lives Impacted

We are working to reach the poorest families with clean, safe and affordable solar light and all of our customers live on less than $5 a day.

Thanks to our sector-leading research we understand the impact of our work to date:

11.3 million people reached with clean, safe and affordable solar light
£389.6 million saved by families from no longer having to spend on dangerous and unsustainable alternatives
2.1 billion study hours created for children under clean, safe light
2.2 million tonnes of CO2 emissions averted
5.5 million people experiencing better health

The Innovation

We provide access to solar lights in the poorest rural communities through our market-based model – The SunnyMoney Way.

Step One – Schools Campaigns: The first essential step we take when bringing solar lights to a community is to build trust in the technology in partnership with the Ministry of Education. By working with headteachers and trusted community members, we raise awareness and encourage trust in solar products and this builds initial demand.

Step Two – Agent Network: Once demand takes off we build an ecosystem of entrepreneurs ensuring anyone who wants a light can get one, developing our agents and creating jobs. The SunnyMoney teams drive demand, and then focus on another region. As demand for solar lights snowballs, private companies begin to see a profitable opportunity, and join us in meeting this demand – a solar market is catalysed.

By supporting local entrepreneurs we can ensure that a sustainable market will continue to serve rural families long after the presence of an organisation like SolarAid is necessary. Our aim is to leave a legacy of solar markets across the continent – ensuring that by 2030, no home, no school and no clinic is left in the dark.

About SolarAid

SolarAid is a charity with the mission to light up every home, school and clinic in Africa by 2030, using safe, clean, solar power. We are doing this by distributing and selling solar lights through our social enterprise, SunnyMoney.

Through our core market-based model, The SunnyMoney Way, we have sold over 2.1 million solar lights reaching over 11.3 million people in rural Africa with clean, safe and affordable solar light.

But this is not enough. The world is failing on its commitment to SDG7 and the poorest families are being left in the dark. SolarAid is now launching innovations designed to accelerate energy access, catalyse sustainable solar markets and ensure that by 2030, no one is left in the dark.