Problem
In Africa today, 620 million people (over 70% of the population) do not have access to electricity. In Kenya, the rural electrification rate is a mere 7%, with 36 million people still living with unreliable or no access to electricity. This prevents access to essential life functionalities such as lighting and phone charging, in turn negatively impacting on the health, education, and development of such affected communities.
Solution
Pawame brings together solar and mobile technology to provide affordable, clean and bright energy to off-grid population in Kenya. Pawame’s solution and mission is a pay-as- you-go Solar Home System that enables customers to (a) immediately benefit from clean and affordable electricity, while (b) building a credit history that can unlock access to other life-changing products and services, like scholarship loans and micro-insurance. Thus, Pawame delivers more than just energy.
Loan use and impact
In a short span of 8 months, the company has impacted 5,000 lives in Kenya. With your help, Pawame plans to efficiently build inventory to distribute 400 more solar home systems, providing power to an additional 2,500 off-grid Kenyans.