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010 Mobilising Saccos to promote solar systems for poverty alleviation in Mwanza region
Project partner
Zara Solar Ltd, Tanzania
Project status
Completed 2008
Project description
The market for small and medium size solar home systems in Mwanza has been developed from a few players taking small quantities from Nairobi in 1999, into today one of the biggest market areas in Tanzania, where private sector players can get a sustainable income. Zara Solar has been the leading private sector player in developing the market for solar products in Mwanza, developing a sustainable and growing cash market, and working with a network of over 35 self employed solar technicians. In 2007, Zara Solar received an Ashden Award in recognition of its achievements. Zara Solar is a coordinating member of TASEA (Tanzania Solar Energy Association) in Mwanza, receives support of E+Co and is member of the international Redco Alliance. Zara has effectively cooperated with the UNDP project for the promotion of solar PV which has been running from 2003-2007, which supported demonstrations, promotion and capacity building.
The evaluation by the Ashden Award jury showed that products supplied by Zara have already contributed to energy access for poverty alleviation, a.o. in:
- mobile phone charging
- powering hair clippers in hair saloons
To further promote such access to solar systems for poverty alleviation, Zara Solar sees effective cooperation with Saccos as a priority, combined with further capacity building of its dealers.
Zara will develop cooperation with the Saccos in/around Mwanza to promote solar systems to their members, both for household use and for income generating use (phone charging, hair clipping).
In the first instance, Zara will supply the products to the Saccos. In each Sacco at least one member will be trained as solar technician to be able to install, maintain and repair the systems. The first systems will be installed in cooperation with Zara Solar technicians.
In the prospective next step, Zara solar will support its dealers in the wider region of Sengerama, Geita, Bukoba, Kahama, Shinyanga, Nansio to develop similar co-operations.
Learning questions
The principle questions to be answered by the project are:
- How to develop a quality low-cost package of biodigestors which will be competitive in Tanzanian household markets (value chain)?
The subquestions are:
- What is the optimal organisation of the cooperation between suppliers of solar systems and the Saccos in the project area?
- Which tools and capacity building are needed to develop effective cooperation between suppliers of solar systems and Saccos?
- How can these best be supported by Zara Solar and by ETC MFS Energy Access programme?
- How can the experiences in 2008 be used for further work in 2009 and 2010?
Downloads
More information
Contact us for more information at: ease@etcnl.nl
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