Connecting off-grid girls to off-grid energy

Project description

Summary

This project aims to increase adolescent girls' income-generating power by connecting them to renewable energy sources that improve their communities. This program addresses two globalproblems: the failure to assure adolescent girls’ inclusion in sustainable modern economies, and the exclusion of poor communities from new renewable energy and technology advances.

Key Activities

1. Provider Vetting and Selection

In the initial months of this project, Batonga conducted a detailed provider vetting and selection process. After understanding the current landscape of companies in the region, a list of eight (8) organizations in the solar energy field were contacted and two were shortlisted. After severalexchanges and meetings with each of the two of the shortlisted organizations, Batonga selected the local solar technology organization, Herisa, as a partner and distributor of the solartechnologies.

2. Community Selection

Aglamidjodji and Azonkangoudo, both in the commune of Savalou in Collines department, were selected.

3. Technology Selection

Upon evaluation of girls’ and communities’ needs at the launch of the project, it was determined that solar panels used to power refrigeration technologies would have the greatest impact.Batonga determined that this would simultaneously fulfill a need in the community whileallowing girls to better develop their knowledge of solar technology and business skills through production, marketing and selling of refrigerated and frozen products.

4. Technology Installation

Thus far, two (2) solar-powered freezer kits have been purchased and installed in the villages of Aglamidjodji and Azonkangoudo.

5. Mentor Training

The training focused on controlling battery charge, installing and maintaining the solar panels and managing the functions related to the refrigerators. The training also covered troubleshooting and what to do in case of emergency.

Key Indicators

Number of Girls Engaged in Solar Technology 317

Number of Businesses Launched 11

Number of Units Distributed 2 Solar-Powered Freezer Kits

Mastor Training Sessions Conducted 1

Number of Mentors and mentor’s assistants Trained 9

Number of Community Members Reached 2,600

Challenges and Opportunities

In our vetting process for local technical partners, we noted that the majority of the solar energy organizations in Benin do not stock or directly distribute products and the few that do are very expensive and carry limited stock. Throughout the remainder of this project, we will continue to survey the region for reliable distributors and technicians to build off of the momentum and learnings of this project in the future.

Summary

This project aims to increase adolescent girls' income-generating power by connecting them to renewable energy sources that improve their communities. This program addresses two global problems: the failure to assure adolescent girls’ inclusion in sustainable modern economies, and the

exclusion of poor communities from new renewable energy and technology advances.

Key Activities

1. Provider Vetting and Selection

In the initial months of this project, Batonga conducted a detailed provider vetting and selectionprocess. After understanding the current landscape of companies in the region, a list of eight (8)organizations in the solar energy field were contacted and two were shortlisted. After several exchanges and meetings with each of the two of the shortlisted organizations, Batonga selected the local solar technology organization, Herisa, as a partner and distributor of the solar technologies.

2. Community Selection

Aglamidjodji and Azonkangoudo, both in the commune of Savalou in Collines department, were selected.

3. Technology Selection

Upon evaluation of girls’ and communities’ needs at the launch of the project, it was determined that solar panels used to power refrigeration technologies would have the greatest impact.Batonga determined that this would simultaneously fulfill a need in the community while allowing girls to better develop their knowledge of solar technology and business skills through production, marketing and selling of refrigerated and frozen products.

4. Technology Installation

Thus far, two (2) solar-powered freezer kits have been purchased and installed in the villages of Aglamidjodji and Azonkangoudo.

5. Mentor Training

The training focused on controlling battery charge, installing and maintaining the solar panels and managing the functions related to the refrigerators. The training also covered troubleshooting and what to do in case of emergency.

Key Indicators

Number of Girls Engaged in Solar Technology 317

Number of Businesses Launched 11

Number of Units Distributed 2 Solar-Powered Freezer Kits

Mastor Training Sessions Conducted 1

Number of Mentors and mentor’s assistants Trained 9

Number of Community Members Reached 2,600

Challenges and Opportunities

In our vetting process for local technical partners, we noted that the majority of the solar energy organizations in Benin do not stock or directly distribute products and the few that do are very expensive and carry limited stock. Throughout the remainder of this project, we will continue to survey the region for reliable distributors and technicians to build off of the momentum and learnings of this project in the future.

About the partner Association

Batonga is a American Association based in Washington, harnessing the economic potential of the most marginalized female youth and arming adolescent girls with education and skills to transform their economic potential into economic power. Batonga strive to go “beyond the paved road,” and target those girls who are “invisible” or typically left out of traditional education and development initiatives.