Village Solar creates sustainable livelihoods for marginalized rural women in Malawi through sales and distribution of clean energy products.
Welcome
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 3-month pilot made possible with support from D-Prize.
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 are best placed to distribute clean energy products
In rural Malawi, women are central to community life, handling tasks from farming to caregiving. As primary users of household energy and trusted within social networks, women are uniquely positioned to bring renewable energy to remote areas.
How it works - Empowering women as Clean Energy Entrepreneurs
We begin by identifying energy-deprived communities, especially in off-grid, remote areas. Within these communities, we select women from existing Village Savings Groups (VSL’s) popularly known as Village Banks and bring them into our micro-entrepreneur distribution network. These women receive extensive group based training in solar product distribution, trouble shooting, as well as essential business and financial skills to ensure their success.
Identify a market with high energy poverty
Engagement with the community. Form village energy communities
Identify and train women entrepreneurs
Equip women with quality clean energy products
Offering consumer financing makes it easier for customers to afford our products.
Continuous guidance and mentorship
Scale to more communities
Continuous Impact Assessment
After training, the women gain access to customized solar products for their communities. They play an active role in distributing and selling these products while providing essential customer support. In addition, we establish “Village Energy Committees” that are led by women to foster community engagement and decision-making.
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.
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.
They Believe In Us
Partnership and Support
Our mission is recognized and supported by these top organizations and more.
