Creating sustainable livelihoods for marginalized rural women in Malawi through sales and distribution of clean energy products.

About Village Solar

Village Solar is a social enterprise that empowers marginalized rural women in Malawi by providing training and essential tools, enabling them to earn a living distributing clean energy products in their communities. This reduces energy poverty, confronts gender disparities, and increases incomes for women.

Why our work is important

95% of rural Malawi has no energy access. Over 17 million people miss out on improved living standards and economic opportunities due to this energy gap.

Rural women are falling into further and deeper poverty.

Poverty has a clear gender aspect. Households led by women experience higher rates of poverty. In comparison to men, women are often more disadvantaged when it comes to decent work opportunities and face greater difficulty translating their labour into paid work and their paid work into higher and more secure incomes.

Advancing Rural Job Creation, Clean Energy Access, and Gender Equality.

We prioritize generating opportunities for women in distributing clean energy products, recognizing that incidence of poverty and ultra-poverty appear to be higher among women especially in rural areas.

In our view, investing in women is not just a moral obligation but also a strategic means to alleviate energy poverty and advance gender equality.

Our Operating Model

We validated our social enterprise model through a pilot.

We have built an operating model that empowers marginalized women as clean energy entrepreneurs and champions of progress.

It all began with a validation process; we conducted a pilot to test our model of empowering women as clean energy entrepreneurs. This involved training local women in entrepreneurship and equipping them with tools and knowledge to distribute our products within their communities.

We refined our approach by gathering insights through surveys and engaging in discussions with community leaders and women’s groups. This collaborative effort has proven highly effective in addressing unemployment, energy poverty and gender disparities. We crafted a business model that not only addresses the immediate needs but also provides the necessary support for sustainable change.

Women as Clean Energy Entrepreneuers

In Malawi’s rural areas, women are at the heart of their communities, managing farming, household care, and more. As primary users of household energy, they are perfectly positioned to lead in bringing renewable energy solutions to their communities.

How it works - Empowering women as Clean Energy Entrepreneurs

1. Identify energy-deprived areas: We focus on remote, off-grid communities.
2. Engage the community: We work closely with local leaders to understand community needs.
3. Select and train women entrepreneurs: Through comprehensive training programs, we equip women with the skills they need to distribute solar products and provide technical support.
4.Provide quality solar products: Entrepreneurs are given access to reliable and affordable clean energy products.
5. Ongoing mentorship and support: Continuous guidance ensures entrepreneurs succeed.
6. Scale to new areas: Our goal is to expand and replicate this model in other communiti

The Impact

We closely monitor our impact, keeping tabs on the distribution of solar products, beneficiaries, and economic advancements. Our commitment to advancing women’s livelihoods, promoting clean energy access, and gender equality is rapidly gaining traction.

In our initial three-month pilot stage, we organized and trained six women’s groups. Together, they have distributed 300 solar lights, providing clean and affordable energy access to more than 1,500 people.

Current beneficiaries tell us that many of their daily tasks have been made easier, safer and more efficient thanks to affordable energy technologies. Our commitment remains unwavering, and we anticipate significant growth in our impact as we continue these efforts.

Our numbers that speak

We have numbers that push us to give in our best and make sure that we break our own records. We are happy to be growing and helping more day by day.

Products Distributed

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Active Women Groups

Beneficiaries Served

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Energy Savings

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Impact Stories

Spotlight on our Solar Entrepreneurs

Meet the 15 women who are fighting poverty through solar power

In the remote village of Mtambo in Malawi, a remarkable transformation is unfolding—a story of resilience, empowerment, and the radiant power of change. Meet the 15 extraordinary women who are driving change in their community, one solar lamp and home system at a time.

Give us a hand

Village Solar is always open to forging connections and collaborations with organizations and individuals who align with our mission.