SF is working with Value for Women to present the business case of gender inclusion strategies for SMEs in the off-grid energy sector. The lessons emerging, based on the first 11 months of testing approaches of SF’s portfolio of enterprises explore the potential impact to businesses, including: How SMEs can integrate and adopt gender inclusion…
Energy storage has become a key issue for the solar industry. SF is working with the Grantham Institute at Imperial College, London, on a report exploring solutions for off-grid energy organisations, looking at technology choices, challenges and opportunities. Here we share the initial findings on technology availability and supply chains, realised costs of storage solutions,…
Shell Foundation has supported M-KOPA since 2011 to establish its solar and mobile technology solution and to provide affordable, clean and bright energy to off-grid villages in East Africa. In 2016, M-KOPA Labs was established to accelerate the company’s ability to produce innovative, larger capacity appliances capable of interfacing with off-grid energy. In developing new…
Shell Foundation and Catalyst Off-Grid Advisors try to get a realistic idea of the quantum and type of capital needed to reach the off-grid component of Sustainable Development Goal 7 (SDG 7) in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), defined as all households with at least a large portable system or a solar home system. Read the report…
SafeBoda is shifting attitudes towards motorbike taxis (boda-bodas) in Uganda, and planning to export its model to new markets in 2018. This report looks at the impact the company – which operates a ride hailing app to link customers with a community of well-trained, professional riders – has impacted the lives of women passengers. Drawing…
In 2017, Shell Foundation and Open Capital Advisors came together to pilot a new approach to accelerate energy access in Uganda. With support from local the UK Government and USAID, and the Government of Uganda, the result is a dedicated and neutral intermediary that provides balanced data and advice to enterprises, investors and policy-makers; coordinates…
For the last two years, Shell Foundation has been working with elite sales specialists, Scott Roy and Roy Whitten, to understand how social enterprises who serve rural consumers can adopt cutting-edge sales techniques and salesforce management practices – in order to increase traction with low-income customers. The Whitten & Roy Partnership has now provided low…
By Rebecca Fries and Stephanie Finigan, Value for Women Clean energy represents one of the fastest growing sectors today. A 2017 report by the Energy Information Administration highlighted that for the first time in the United States, wind and solar accounted for 10% of all electricity generation in the country[1]. According to the International Renewable…
Energy is needed for the day-to-day functioning of rural households (cooking, lighting, and running appliances) as well as for livelihoods (agriculture and small businesses). In rural India, where access to energy sources is often poor and availability is unreliable, many households resort to using multiple energy sources to service their energy needs. Energy portfolios (the…
Dharma Life has partnered with Shell Foundation and the UK Government to test alternative credit assessment frameworks for rural entrepreneurs and consumers – with the purpose of developing a credit assessment tool that is relevant and scalable in rural and emerging markets. The study explores ways to overcome the challenges in providing credit to rural…