THE CHALLENGE
Roughly 770 million people worldwide (10 percent of the global population) have no access to electricity, and approximately 75 percent of those affected live in sub-Saharan Africa where the energy access gap is most pronounced.*
THE OPPORTUNITY
GP and its affiliated funds aim to improve the economic position and quality of life of off-grid households living in poverty by investing in social enterprise partners that provide access to affordable solar lights and small solar home systems.
WHO IS SERVED
The target demographic is beyond the grid populations, living on less than $3.20 PPP/person/day.
WHAT IS DELIVERED
Clients must receive at least one of the following:
- Solar lights;
- Solar lights with mobile phone charging;
- Small solar home systems.
WHY IT IS IMPACTFUL
Household economics and quality of life improve as clients see:
- Reductions in fuel and phone charging costs;
- Increased productivity;
- Decreased smoke from kerosene;
- Increased study time for children.
Households in poverty mitigate climate change through reduced use of carbon-emitting energy sources.
* “SDG7: Data and Projections,” International Energy Agency, 2019 figures accessed June 2021, https://www.iea.org/reports/sdg7-data-and-projections.