NORTON ROSE FULBRIGHT LLP AMSTERDAM DONATES $5,000 TO OPEN A NEW HUB IN BUYA ROMENDE BECOMING A NEW CORPORATE SUPPORTER

Global law firm Norton Rose Fulbright (NRF) LLP provides a full scope of legal services to the world’s preeminent corporations and financial institutions. The global law firm has more than 3,000 lawyers advising clients across more than 50 locations worldwide, including London, Houston, New York, Toronto, Mexico City, Hong Kong, Sydney and Johannesburg, covering Europe, the United States, Canada, Latin America, Asia, Australia, Africa and the Middle East. With its global business principles of quality, unity and integrity, Norton Rose Fulbright is recognized for its client service in key industries, including financial institutions; energy, infrastructure and resources; technology; transport; life sciences and healthcare; and consumer markets.

 In October 2024, the Responsible Business Committee of NRF Amsterdam decided to donate USD 5,000 to Smiling Through Light (STL) for the purpose of enabling the further expansion of our work in the Buya Romende Chiefdom. Saskia Blokland, Managing Partner Norton Rose Fulbright Amsterdam: "It was a no brainer for the Responsible Business Committee in Amsterdam to donate to the project Buya Romende of Smiling Through Light. Our colleagues Omar Salah, Tamara Ubink and Jan de Wit worked closely with Mariama Kamara earlier this year and experienced the impact of the initiatives of Smiling Through Light on communities in West Africa. To be able to help this valuable project in Sierra Leone is an honour and we hope this will have a positive impact on the community.”

 NRF Amsterdam started providing STL with pro-bono support and advising them in November 2023 to review the contract for the sales of goods from our solar home system manufacturer SPARK, establishing a partnership with SPARK to enable the business to scale their Pay-As-You-Go (PAYG) solutions in Sierra Leone, providing advice on the products financing and warranty and assistance with any legal issues. The team has further supported STL by including them in their Responsible Business Report EMEA 2024 and in an interview on a Dutch legal magazine as an example of their pro-bono initiatives. In July 2024, Mariama Kamara, Founder & Director of Smiling Through Light visited the NRF Amsterdam offices to meet the team and discuss plans of developing our relationship further. She said, “This partnership with NRF Amsterdam has been unique supporting us on our scaling journey to impact the lives of community members in Buya Romende and contributing to their overall wellbeing.”

 Buya Romende Chiefdom is a Chiefdom in Port Loko District of Sierra Leone. Its capital is Foredugu. Located between Lunsar-Makeni Highway, Port Loko District, Sierra Leone, Foredugu is home to more than 400 people. The community has been without access to power for over 60 years because the national grid could not reach the community. Through this project, we will provide clean solar energy in rural communities like Foredugu with no access to electricity and promote sustainable economic growth. We will establish a new physical hub to sell our clean energy products, create 4 jobs; 2 locally trained women entrepreneurs who will sell energy products on a commission basis, an Area Sales Manager and a Solar Installer and educate the community members about clean energy products.  Alexandros Germanis, Non-Executive Director of Smiling Through Light said, “This generous support from NRF Amsterdam enables STL to expand clean energy access and create economic opportunities in Buya Romende, advancing our shared goal of a sustainable, empowered Sierra Leone.”

 At STL, we see Corporate Social Responsibility as more than just good business—it’s a commitment to meaningful impact. NRF’s support is supporting STL to bring clean energy and sustainable growth to Buya Romende, creating real and long-lasting change together. NRF are demonstrating how companies can use their skills, knowledge and resources to make a different to their clients and wider communities that they operate in helping to share the future in a way that provides economic, ecological and social benefits for all. “We are grateful to have NRF Amsterdam as a corporate supporter working and supporting us achieve our vision to provide clean energy access, economic opportunities, women empowerment whilst reducing CO2 emissions and therefore mitigating climate change.” said Mariama Kamara, Founder & Director, Smiling Through Light

 This donation will support STL in achieving its overall vision of a West Africa where off-grid communities are no longer underserved and have access to clean, reliable, sustainable energy. We see a future in which women can generate income for their families, and remote communities no longer experience extreme poverty.

 Learn more about the law firm here: https://www.nortonrosefulbright.com/en-gb

Empowering Women Through Financial Inclusion: The Impactful Role of PAYGo Solar Models Webinar Recording

On Tuesday 29th October 2024, Smiling Through Light held a webinar entitled ‘Empowering Women Through Financial Inclusion: The Impactful Role of PAYGo Solar Models.’

The webinar addressed the knowledge gaps regarding gender equity in PAYGo systems, emphasising the role of funders in advancing financial inclusion. It explored strategies to support a just energy transition by observing energy access from a gender lens, providing an overview of financial inclusion in Africa, identifying barriers to women's financial inclusion, and discussing the social and economic impacts of PAYGo Solar models.

The speakers provided an overview of data on PAYGo models, how the products and their digital systems work and the financial inclusion impact of PAYGo solar products on women.

*KEY TAKEAWAYS*

• Investing in Women-Led and/ Locally-Owned companies is imperative as they often achieve higher customer satisfaction and impact.

• More funding needed for Women-Led and/ Locally-Owned companies who play an essential role in the clean energy transition and have a great impact.

• Investing in technology solutions can advance women's participation and advancement in a just energy transition.

• Flexible payment options and financial education are valuable for increasing access and affordability for women.

• Investing in training especially for Female Solar Technicians is essential.

• Investing in research and impact data especially collection of sex-disaggregated data and monitoring gender-specific indicators in all energy and climate transition inventions, so that we know the gaps, and progress being made.

• Creating an enabling energy policy and market environment that champions, gender equality, with pathways for women's individual and collective agency and participation, is necessary going beyond providing energy services and enlarging women's role in the energy supply chain.

If you missed the webinar, the recording can be seen here: https://youtu.be/xwdhDkpizbg

The Importance of the PayGo System

What is the PAYGo System?

The PAYGo system is a business model that emerged to address challenges to energy access. With more than 789 million people globally still living without electricity, the PAYGo system is a crucial innovation, which helps renewable energy providers reach last mile customers at affordable prices. By efficiently spreading the cost of energy systems over time, and so reducing the economic burden of solar devices, the PAYGo model will support three of ‘Smiling Through Light’s’ central missions: to provide sustainable energy systems; to nurture economic growth; and to raise environmental awareness in Sierra Leone and Africa more widely.

How does it work?

The model works using a simple process:

• Customers have to go through a credit assessment process to find out if they are eligible to take the product on loan.

• The solar home system is installed.

• Customer payment for the device is made on a monthly basis (current contract is 6 months after the initial deposit).

• Customers make payments using mobile money.

• Solaris PaygOps sends 30 days activation codes through SMS once the payment is received.

• Customers enter the code into the PAYGo solar home system.

• The system is unlocked and the electricity supply is kept on for the prepaid number of days.

• Electricity supply is cut off once the payment expires, and an SMS reminder is sent

• Once the final payment is made based on the monthly contract, a final code is sent which unlocks the system forever.

Why is PAYGo useful?

• Economic Growth

Rural low-income communities in Sierra Leone have faced several challenges toward energy access. These obstacles include high recurring costs, the use of energy systems that are detrimental to the environment, and systems that are dangerous for households, such as diesel generators and kerosene lanterns. Using digital technology, which allows customers to provide small regular payments, the PAYGo system removes the burden of large loans and debt obligations from customers at the bottom of the pyramid. As a result, PAYGo companies have made safe, reliable, and clean energy far more accessible for rural families.

Since its creation in 1990, the model has had a transformative impact, supplying affordable energy products to 25-30 million users with limited cash flow and savings. Due to digital billing, via mobile phone or mobile money, payment flexibility is greatly increased and the risks associated with carrying cash are reduced. The PAYGo system also provides the opportunity to build creditworthiness. Through making consistent punctual payments, ‘Smiling Through Light’s’ customers will have the chance to demonstrate their financial reliability. Creating a positive credit history can have a knock-on effect by improving future access to loans and financial products, meaning customers will be economically empowered in all areas of their lives.

• Community Impact

The impact of safe, clean, and reliable energy access on rural families reaches far beyond economic factors. Studies show a clear correlation between the use of cleaner energy sources and children’s educational outcomes. The use of solar devices tackles the risks associated with indoor air pollution from traditional fuels, which reduces school absences, and improves both domestic study spaces and educational infrastructures. 

“My status in my neighbourhood has improved. Children in my neighbourhood come to my home to study every night. My neighbours like and respect me because their children are performing well at school.” – STL PAYGo customer.

As this customer notes, access to a well-lit space for children to study, parents to work, and communities to come together has had a hugely positive impact on their life. For busy families, the flexible and efficient PAYGo system will free up time and provides efficient access to ‘Smiling Through Light’s’ products.

• Access to modern, sustainable energy, especially for women

PAYGo financing for off-grid solar devices can be a conduit for achieving the twin goals of last mile energy access and financial inclusion of women in low-income households, which ultimately improves their quality of life and livelihoods. The appliances can reduce women’s workloads at home, provide greater flexibility in how and when women can perform domestic chores, and free up more time for income-generating activities. PAYGo financing can expand households’ access to financial services that many prove useful to women. We know that formal credit is often beyond women’s reach because they lack the credit history or assets to collateralise loans. Asset-based financing models like PAYGo solar offer a way around this challenge. They enable women customers to build transaction histories that financial providers can use to underwrite loans and increase women’s access to finance. It also offers flexible payment options that are better suited to women’s needs than traditional loans. Once a device is paid off, it can be collateralised for subsequent loans to meet other household needs, such as paying for children’s school fees.

When women and community members have access to PAYGo financing it enables them to access off-grid energy devices, establishing credit and repayment data trials.

Business Owner in Lunsar using the SPARK 20W Solar Home System.

EA Foundation Funds £30,000 to Smiling Through Light to Improve Rural Communities Energy Access through PAYG Solar becoming a new Funder & Partner

Smiling Through Light (STL) receives funding from EA Foundation to accelerate action to ensure that rural communities in Sierra Leone have access to clean energy and electricity.   

 The EA Foundation was established in 2021 by the co-founders of Energy Aspects, a data & intelligence company headquartered in the United Kingdom. The EA Foundation has been set up to improve the lives of disadvantaged communities around the world, with a particularly focus on improving access to education and basic services, relieving poverty and promoting environmentally sustainable development. Their goal is to achieve a tangible and lasting positive impact on the world by engaging respectfully with innovative partner organisations and local communities. To date, the EA Foundation has received over £5 million of donations, which it will distribute over the coming years.

 “EA Foundation is excited to embark on this new partnership with Smiling Through Light (STL). We are inspired by STL's commitment to exploring innovative approaches to drive increased access to solar energy for rural communities in Sierra Leone. We look forward to the lessons this project will generate and the impact it will have at both individual and community levels.” said Richard Bronze, Chair – Board of Trustees, EA Foundation.

 Mobile money is transforming the landscape of financial inclusion in developing countries, leapfrogging the provision of formal banking services whilst addressing poverty and inequality. The use of mobile money through PAYG systems allows end-users to pay for their solar technology in small instalments via their mobile phones. This helps ameliorate several areas of market failure in developing economies including lower transaction costs, improved transparency, savings, and privacy & women empowerment. PAYG financing can expand households’ access to financial services enabling them to build transaction histories and meet other household needs.

 Through this project we will be opening a new hub in Port Loko, strengthening our Freetown Head Office, selling PAYG Solar Home Systems in rural communities in Port Loko through our network of female sales agents, creating 8 new jobs, supporting our operational expenditures including our digital platforms and systems integration, community engagement event on financial literacy and facilitate wider educational opportunities and promotion of energy access through different marketing channels. The funding will be used to pilot our new hub in Port Loko and share learning and impact from that community about our new PAYG operations.

 “This new funding will support Smiling Through Light to deliver on our overall business objectives and excited about opening our new hub in Port Loko.” said Mariama Kamara, Founder & Director. “With the funding of $50,000 already secured from Whole Planet Foundation this will help to leverage all our activities helping the business to scale its operations in Sierra Leone whilst creating impact.”

 The funding will focus on education and community engagement as a unique attribute and core element of how we do business. We know that renewable energy projects not only offer a sustainable and clean solution to our energy needs but also provide an opportunity to empower local communities. Community engagement plays a crucial role in the successful implementation of last mile distribution projects. It helps to educate people who are seeing these products for the first time as to what they are, how they work and their benefits. Successful engagement is sensitive to the local context, language and cultural norms. It ensures that the benefits are shared widely, and the concerns of the community are addressed.

 Alexandros Germanis, Non-Executive Director of Smiling Through Light said, “The EA Foundation funding is highly catalytic and delivers on a number of high impact outcomes positioning us to scale and grow.”

 This grant will support STL in achieving its overall vision of a West Africa where off-grid communities are no longer underserved and have access to clean, reliable, sustainable energy. We see a future in which women can generate income for their families, and remote communities no longer experience extreme poverty.

 Learn more about the foundation here: https://www.ea-foundation.org.uk

Smiling Through Light Joins Forces with Spark to Supercharge Off-Grid Solar in Sierra Leone

Smiling Through Light is teaming up with the Dutch energy company Spark, to bring last-mile communities in Sierra Leone life-changing energy access. We’re combining our community-led approach with Spark’s leading solar home systems to deliver clean, reliable, and sustainable solar energy products across Sierra Leone.

We tap into local networks by working with women who are trusted members of their communities. We create jobs and income opportunities that significantly improve their lives and help lift them out of poverty. This helps us in our mission to reach the most remote last-mile customers who are unserved by current energy networks. Our unique approach doubles our impact in last-mile communities by providing both energy access and addressing low employment rates for women. 

Working with Spark to connect Sierra Leone to energy access

Spark is an expert in the off-grid solar energy sector, especially when it comes to reaching the most remote regions of sub-Saharan Africa. They understand the challenges companies working to connect communities to energy are facing, and they have innovative solutions. 

Their modular, scalable solar home systems are designed to be affordable for customers at the base of the energy pyramid, whilst being easily upgraded. The Spark Kit’s stackable battery design allows customers to add more capacity to power more appliances as their energy needs and incomes grow. 

This, combined with their PAYGo, is revolutionary for the communities we serve. It removes the financial barrier for customers, and supports STL’s distribution and growth in the market. 

First-Time Energy For Off-Grid Communities

In Sierra Leone only around one in four people - 26% of the population - has electricity access, dropping to just 6% in rural areas. This is primarily where Smiling Through Light works. We know that women shoulder the toughest effects of this energy poverty, relying on dirty, toxic kerosene for lighting at home. 

Through this new partnership with Spark, we will be able to begin to move the needle on these numbers and provide women, small businesses and families with first-time access to affordable energy products that power their home life and work with up to 30W. 

The collaboration with Spark will initially offer 3 types of Spark Solar Home Systems aimed at entry-level energy service:

• Spark Start 10W 

• Spark Start 20W 

• Spark Steady 30W 

All are offered on STL's PAYGo model and powered by the Solaris PayOps platform, which allows customers to pay in small instalments for their product, so they can start benefiting from having electricity at home straight away.

Mariama Kamara, Founder & Director of Smiling Through Light said:

 "We are already making an impact in Sierra Leone with our smart solar systems, providing an on-grid experience in an off-grid setting. There is still a significant need for reliable energy in the country and we believe that this collaboration will help deliver a sustainable solution for customers and businesses in Sierra Leone creating an impact".

Shagun Jain, Commercial Director of Spark said: 

“Spark is proud to partner with Smiling Through Light as our distributor who, with their local knowledge and expertise, can drive efficiency in the Sierra Leone off-grid energy market and overcome country-specific challenges. 

We understand that electricity sparks opportunities for last mile communities that are otherwise out of reach. By providing affordable, and high-quality solar home systems and unlocking financing solutions, we can deliver energy access that leaves no one behind.”

At STL we are looking forward to seeing this partnership help us reach more customers in last mile communities improving productivity and powering economic growth. 

Quality Solar Products and Customer Satisfaction

At STL, enhancing customer experience and offering the highest-quality products is paramount. We are constantly searching for new ideas and investing in partnerships to improve the quality of our products. 

This has directly led to our partnership with Spark, who are committed to product quality and development of the off-grid solar sector. Spark products sold by STL are verified by VeraSol; the leading independent quality assurance programme for distributed solar solutions, appliances and equipment. Early customer feedback has been overwhelmingly positive, with customers commenting on the brightness, hours of service and cost savings they have enjoyed while using their Spark products. 

Through our continued work with Spark, we aim to contribute to the government of Sierra Leone’s targets for electricity access and alleviate the need for expensive transmission and distribution grid infrastructure. Simultaneously, our customers now have access to a more cost-effective solution that provides a renewable, reliable and uninterrupted source of energy.

Smiling Through Light Team with Spark Solar Home Systems.

Customer in Lunsar using one of the Spark Solar Home System for her trading business.

Whole Planet Funds Smiling Through Light a Further $10,000 to Provide Crucial Clean Energy Services

Smiling Through Light (STL) receives continued backing from Whole Planet, a project of Whole Foods Market Foundation to scale their operations in Sierra Leone through the innovative delivery model for off-grid energy solution.

In October 2023, Smiling Through Light received a $50,000 restricted grant from the foundation, which is a private, non-profit organization dedicated to supporting organizations that empower people living in poverty to meet their basic needs and become more resilient through income-generating opportunities. The funds were used for inventory finance and the products landed costs supporting the business to scale their Pay-As-You-Go Solar solutions in Sierra Leone. “The funding has helped the business to purchase, ship, clear and now selling three different Spark products, creating jobs, supporting women and providing access to clean energy in the communities that we work in,” said Mariama Kamara, Founder & Director of STL.

In May 2024, Whole Planet received funds from their parent company for a new initiative which aims to support active partners already working in their portfolio. "Whole Planet is pleased to support Smiling Through Light with funds for a new initiative entitled Choice 4 Change. The grant funds are unrestricted and can be used at our partner's discretion. We are looking forward to seeing the impact that the funds will contribute to as the company scales its operations in Sierra Leone." said Yvan Gatoto, Whole Planet Portfolio Manager, Africa & MENA “The additional $10,000 grant funding will have a catalytic effect for the business enabling them to undertake several high impact activities. These include investing in their digital and physical sales infrastructure, auditing of annual accounts, customer engagement & marketing and to build their central operations and personnel. These activities will have a twin effect of enhancing the support provided to the salesforce while supporting the business in engaging with key stakeholders (e.g. developing strategic alliances with delivery partners) subsequently supporting STL to increase their reach and scale”.

Alexandros Germanis, Non-Executive Director of STL said “Absolutely thrilled to receive continued backing from Whole Planet. This latest support helps us to maintain the momentum we’ve built up and to prove our innovative delivery model for off-grid energy solutions. Delighted to have such a partner alongside us in our mission to bring sustainable power to more communities.”

This additional grant will support STL in achieving its overall vision of a West Africa where off-grid communities are no longer underserved and have access to clean, reliable, sustainable energy. We see a future in which women can generate income for their families, and remote communities no longer experience extreme poverty.

Why Off-Grid Energy Matters 2024 Report

Off-grid energy solutions represent one of the most effective ways of powering the world’s most remote and marginalised communities. Yet, we are not on track to achieve universal energy access by 2030, with more than 660 million predicted to remain in the dark. 60 Decibels’ latest report, ‘Why Off-Grid Energy Matters 2024’, is the world’s most comprehensive social impact assessment of the off-grid sector to date. Based on phone interviews with 79,000+ off-grid energy customers, it identifies areas for improvement and opportunities for outsized impact performance for energy organisations and investors alike – to aid in bridging the energy divide and support the promise of no one left behind.

We’re proud to be included in the world’s most comprehensive social impact assessment of off-grid energy! Conducted by @60 Decibels, the 2024 edition of Why Off-Grid Energy Matters is based on interviews with 79,000 off-grid energy customers in more than 30 countries.

For Smiling Through Light, 53% of customers saw their quality of life improve because of access to the solar home systems that the company provides. We are also reaching unserved populations with 60% of customers accessing this technology for the first time. We’re proud to share that we are in the 4.5% benchmark for Customer Service (of those facing challenges) indicator. This makes Smiling Through Light a 60 Decibels 2024 Top Performer for our Customer Service in Sierra Leone.

The report highlights the transformative power of off-grid energy solutions, identifying opportunities for outsized impact performance and providing practical next steps towards bridging the energy divide – which is critically needed for the 660 million people expected to remain without electricity by 2030. 

Findings collated from more than 450 impact measurement projects reveal that over half of all customers report a significant improvement in their lives, with 9 in 10 experiencing enhanced wellbeing. Three-quarters of those surveyed were accessing these energy solutions for the first time, highlighting our projects' reach to previously unserved populations.

Dive into the full report to explore the detailed findings around areas for improvement, opportunities for outsized impact performance, and more: 60decibels.com/energy-report

Whole Planet Foundation Approves $50,000 to Smiling Through Light To Scale Pay-As-You-Go Operations in Sierra Leone

Smiling Through Light receives funds from Whole Planet Foundation for inventory finance and landed costs supporting the business to scale their Pay-As-You-Go Solar solutions in Sierra Leone.

Founded in 2005, the foundation is a private, non-profit organization established by Whole Foods Market and dedicated to poverty alleviation. The nonprofit's mission is to empower the world’s poorest people with microcredit and the chance to expand a home-based business and lift themselves and families out poverty. To date, Whole Planet Foundation has disbursed $107 million through microlending partners worldwide, funding 7 million microloans and 35 million income-generating opportunities.

"Whole Planet Foundation is pleased to launch a new partnership with Smiling through Light to support the distribution of solar home kits in off-grid areas of Sierra Leone. For the Foundation's West Africa/MENA portfolio, this is the first regional disbursement under Whole Planet Foundation’s new Energy & Water Fund!" said Claire Kelly, West Africa/MENA Regional Director at Whole Planet Foundation.

Pay-as-you-Go (PAYG) is an asset-based financing model used to provide solar energy systems to low-income households. Under this PAYG solar model, households can purchase a high-quality solar home system by paying it off through smaller installments. Typically, the model includes paying a deposit usually 10-20 percent of the total cost, then committing to a certain number of ongoing payments. The customer makes payments either daily, weekly or monthly through a mobile money account with a PAYG operator. Technology within the solar device regulates usage, disabling the energy services if a customer defaults on their payments. Under most PAYG models, the device then permanently unlocks at the end of the payment period and ownership is transferred to the customer. PAYG solar a viable option for households not currently served by a reliable grid, and is a cleaner, safer alternative to kerosene for lighting.

“With this new funding, Smiling Through Light will demonstrate and scale up its PAYG operations in Sierra Leone supporting women, job creation and access to clean energy,” said Mariama Kamara, Founder & Director of Smiling Through Light (STL). “2022 was marked by the implementation of our new systems and processes. By December 2021 we completed the setup of the PAYG online platform (using Solaris/PaygOps). We further introduced a 5Cs process (x5 credit assessment related questions to assess the creditworthiness of our -typically unbanked - customers). The combination of the PAYGO platform and 5Cs process has seen a transformation from the cash and credit system we operated previously, and this new funding will assist us to scale our activities.”

PAYG technology lowers the threshold for poor households, allowing them to benefit from cheaper and more useful energy in the home. This has a positive impact on family finances, improves children’s grades in school, prevents health dangers associated with kerosene lamps, and makes the environment feel more secure.

Alexandros Germanis, Non-Executive Director of Smiling Through Light said “we are fortunate to have a partner such as Whole Planet Foundation alongside us. Their wealth of experience will be invaluable as STL scale’s up operations in Sierra Leone”.

This grant will support STL in achieving its overall vision of a West Africa where off-grid communities are no longer underserved and have access to clean, reliable, sustainable energy. We see a future in which women can generate income for their families, and remote communities no longer experience extreme poverty.

Learn more at wholeplanetfoundation.org.

" Smiling Through Light customer in Lunsar using PAYG Solar for their business"

Learning Report - Examining the Journey and Impact of Pay-as- You-Go (PAYG) for Solar Home Systems

Smiling Through Light’s work to increase jobs and income generating opportunities for women in Sierra Leone has the aim of dramatically improving their lives and livelihoods, lifting themselves, and their communities, out of poverty.  

Currently, only 26% of the population have access to electricity, with this figure dropping to 6% in rural areas. Women are disproportionately impacted by energy poverty, and many are forced to rely on toxic and expensive kerosene lanterns as their primary source of light.  

Access to safe, clean and affordable energy can help break this cycle and open up a range of benefits including better healthcare and education, as well as increased job prospects. 

The organisation’s female-led local networks coordinate the distribution and sale of Solar Home Systems (SHS) focusing on the last mile. Profits are reinvested in this social enterprise to increase capacity and provide additional support to the women. 

After the scheme started in 2018, there were a series of issues with their business approach to enable poor households to acquire SHSs through flexible repayment schemes. The first assessment policy didn’t take into account the customer’s credit history and it was difficult to track and collect payments from those who defaulted. Sales agents were forced to track non-paying customers, with functioning products, who kept changing addresses.   

As this was losing Smiling Through Light vital funding, they worked hard to solve this issue. This included interviewing customers and agents and, as a result, they recently published a learning report, outlining their new policies and the improvements these have made. This explored the customer journey, levels of awareness, purchase process, costs, and usage alongside key recommendations to increase gender equality.   

Through their new digital Pay as You Go (PAYG) billing system, Smiling Through Light now has a 100% collection rate, significantly improving revenue and staff working conditions. 

Mariama Kamara, founder of Smiling Through Light, said: “PAYG solar systems have emerged as a transformative solution to the energy poverty crisis in Sierra Leone. By providing affordable and clean energy access, these systems are improving the quality of life, education, and economic prospects of individuals and communities.  

“As the PAYG solar sector continues to evolve and overcome challenges, it holds the promise of bringing sustainable and reliable electricity to millions more across Africa, ultimately contributing to a brighter and more prosperous future.” 

You can read the full learning report here - /s/Smiling-Through-Light-Learning-Report_Final-May-2023.pdf

Focus Group Discussions held in Lunsar, Sierra Leone

Focus Group Discussions held in Lunsar, Sierra Leone

Focus Group Discussions held in Lunsar, Sierra Leone

Job Description : Consultancy Services for a Learning Report

Consultancy Title:         Learning Report Consultant based in Sierra Leone

Report Title:                   Examining the Journey & Impact of Pay-as-You-Go (PAYG) Solar Home System: A Case Study of Smiling Through Light in Sierra Leone.

Reporting To:                STL Director & Non-Executive Director 

Consultant Purpose:     Solar Home Systems (SHSs) are successfully addressing energy access deficits across the world, particularly when combined with pay-as-you-go (PAYG) payment models, allowing households to pay for energy services in small instalments. We are looking for a smart, diligent, and sociable individual to produce a learning report for our business. The learning report will provide insights from STL team members, customers, and data to understand the PAYG SHS journey in depth. It will describe all the individual process and stages a customer might experience, including awareness & understanding, purchase, costs, and usage. It will also provide the Pros & Cons of PAYG payment with key recommendations to improving livelihoods and advance gender equality in a clean and sustainable manner. 

Output:                          10-page Learning report with key findings, data, and recommendations.

Learning Report Consultant Responsibilities

1. Understanding the Solaris PAYG Platform

The consultant will need to understand the use and collect data from Solaris PaygOps which monitors all our products sales/payment SaaS solutions and customers.

- Going through our all our customer policy, process, and contract.

- Using the platform for data collection and analysis of data for the report.

2. STL Team Interviews & Customer Focus Group Discussions 

Conducting interviews & Focus Group Discussions to get an insight about the PAYG journey and data collection.

- Interviews with the STL team about their experience of the pilot and use of PAYG.

- Focus Group Discussions with fully paid customers about their experience of using the PAYG system, advantages, disadvantages, changes to their households and any recommendation.

-Focus Group Discussions with women business owners to understand how PAYG is improving women’s energy access, households, and livelihoods. 

3. Production of a Learning Report

- Workplan

- Produce a 10 Page Learning Report with a Title Page, Table of Contents, Executive Summary, Introduction, Discussion with a special page on women’s access, Conclusion, Key Recommendations & References.

- Completion & Submission of the full report on Friday 30th December 2022.

Experience / Qualifications

·         Advanced University Degree in a quantitative subject, e.g., sciences, engineering, economics.

·         Clear understanding and experience of PAYG Solar Home Systems.

·         Track record of undertaking techno-economic and contextual understanding of energy access issues, particularly on electrification.

·         A passion for data, data collection and drawing conclusions from quantitative data.

· Ability to work collaboratively in a team.

How to Apply

Please submit your CV & Supporting Statement to info@smilingthroughlight.org by 25 November 2022, 23:00 PM Greenwich Mean Time. In case of questions or queries contact Smiling Through Light at info@smilingthroughlight.org

Clean Energy Finance - Where is the Money Going?

By 2030, the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 7 (SDG 7) aims to provide all people with cheap, reliable, and advanced energy services. In 2016 and 2017, about 153 million people got access to electricity, yet 759 million more are predicted to be without it (SE4ALL 2021). 

Inequalities in financing have long been acknowledged as an unavoidable part of our transition to more sustainable energy outcomes in the global discourse on addressing energy poverty. According to GOGLA’s Off-Grid Solar Investment Trends report, 75% of all investments in the off-grid industry went to the top 3 international recipients. It illustrates that local solar companies continue to be barely considered and therefore negligible as a market factor. From 2010 to 2018, off-grid energy access enterprises throughout the world absorbed over $1.7 billion in publicly disclosed investments. In 2016, the year-over-year investment growth rate was 24%, increasing to 37% in 2017 and then falling to 22% in 2018 (Wood Mackenzie 2019).

Despite the fact that the pace of investment has accelerated in the last few years access to finance continues to be the most cited barrier for local businesses facing fundraising challenges in their early stages, with a dearth of start-up capital and smaller working capital loans. International companies are more likely than local to have raised grants, debt funding and different investments (GDC 2022). Despite the fact that local companies are more likely to have obtained equity, a prior GDC study revealed that this is mostly from friends, family, and angel investors.

According to a report from the World Resources Institute (WRI) impact investors have been criticised for investing mainly in foreign-owned energy access companies and ignoring local entrepreneurs in Africa. Impact investment managers also tend to come from developed countries and prefer to invest within their network. In the African start-ups funding ecosystem, the presence of native African entrepreneurs, particularly women founders, continues to be a problem. While foreign investors' interest in African start-ups and firms is encouraging, barely 20% of private investment in African start-ups and companies has come from African investors in the last five years. Furthermore, 8 of the top 10 African firms that raised the most money in 2019 were founded by foreigners. Larry Madowo, the US-based Kenyan journalist has written about this in mainstream media: Silicon Valley has deep pockets for African start-ups – if you are not African.

Women, supplied with education and the necessary resources for entrepreneurship, are one of the tools for tackling the existing challenges, contributing to the general improvement of the people of Africa and all of us. According to statistics, women-owned micro-businesses in Africa currently face more obstacles to success than men-owned businesses. This tendency is not surprising given Africa's mainly patriarchal society and history of female exclusion in the workplace.

After more than 30 years of the country's democratic transition, women entrepreneurs still have few opportunities in Sierra Leone as well as in Africa. This is notably true in the key economic sectors. Softer industries, such as the beauty business, catering, event management, and the informal economy, are dominated by women entrepreneurs. As a result, systematic efforts to attract more women into historically male-dominated industries are needed to achieve gender equality and create the ideal atmosphere for women to unleash their suppressed potential. Access to funding, markets, supply chains for major customers of established firms and government, and aid in creating business processes should all be covered by such initiatives. Women must learn from current women-led businesses in order to develop and learn. Women will have a better understanding of the different obstacles that other women experience when trying to start their own businesses. The legal framework in Africa and Sierra Leone must create the conditions for women to overcome their internal inhibitions and rise to the challenge of entrepreneurship without copying their male counterparts or losing what makes them successful in the many other complex roles they play in society.

The African Development Bank can collaborate with financial organizations like the World Bank to act as a guarantee for local entrepreneurs in the development and commercialization of innovative energy technology, as well as the renewal of strategic business models connected to renewable energy. Alternative entrepreneurial channels might simply be provided through co-financing arrangements between nations or under the aegis of existing economic alliances and frameworks. This approach will work to significantly reduce the financial burden and help revitalize the entrepreneurial ecosystem.

As we move towards more equitable and sustainable energy access models of the future, it is key to achieving economic progress that we look at the issue of funding inequalities and drive more insights to address and incorporate the role of local entrepreneurs in this transition.

Smiling Through Light Appreciation Video for the Shine Campaign COVID-19 Energy Access Recovery Fund

In 2020, the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic left businesses of all shapes and sizes that rely on the free passage of goods and people reeling from its impacts. Restrictions of movement and travel bans resulted in delays to access inventory and curtailment of face-to-face customer engagement. Supply chains, sales processes and revenue generation were dramatically disrupted. The consequences were significant not least in emerging markets.

Sierra Leone was no exception. Businesses in the country, especially traders, startups and small-scale privately owned enterprises were badly hit. Many businesses scaled back or shut down operations, laid off workers, and sought ways to weather the storm whilst revenue generating opportunities dried up.

Smiling Through Light, a local solar energy company in Sierra Leone founded in 2016, was among the businesses affected. The company focuses on providing clean energy access to vulnerable communities in Sierra Leone through the sale of solar powered products and was unable to perform core business functions. Few activities spared the disruptive effects of the pandemic.

Thankfully, emergency relief funds and patient capital were mobilized to address these unprecedented impacts. Smiling Through Light were welcome beneficiaries of the Shine COVID-19 Energy Access Recovery Fund; average grant of USD 10,000 to support the needs of frontline energy access entrepreneurs, cooperatives, and agencies to survive the global pandemic.

Upon receiving the grant in November 2021, Smiling Through Light utilized it to address arrears and position it to return to normal operations. Agents are now able to reach customers in the last miles they are operating as restrictions on movement of people have lifted.

“Our company is now able to move forward in assisting the communities through the sales of our products, our staff is being paid and they are now able to settle family and personal responsibilities” Mohamed P. Kamara, Area Sales Manager, Lunsar.

In an appreciation video, the staff of the company extended their gratitude to the Shine Campaign for their generous support and Rockefeller Philanthropic Advisors for sponsoring them and reviving the business. Smiling Through Light is mobilizing, with a renewed focus to deliver on its mission of providing clean accessible energy to last mile communities whilst empowering women.

Smiling Through Light Using Digital Innovation And The Implementation Of Pay As You Go

Between 2015 and 2020, around 8 million people globally gained energy access with PAYG solar models. Off-grid solar products in 2017 also improved energy access for a further 83.7 million people, making a big difference to people’s lives. 

At Smiling Through Light enhancing customer experience and offering products of optimal quality is extremely important. With that in mind, we are constantly looking for new ideas to improve the quality of our products. Last year we underwent a tender process to select the best manufacturers, and we are now working with two new manufacturers: Fosera and NIWA. The products from these manufacturers arrived on February 3rd and we have already started the onboarding process with Solaris - our technology provider; we have begun piloting their pay-as-you-go products.

Pay-as-you-go (PAYG) solar products are critical because providing on-grid energy access is not possible to all areas, as it can be costly and unfeasible. The PAYG model has proven to be a reliable and affordable way of providing energy access to those who live in remote areas that may be off-grid or on an unreliable grid. Our new PAYG products provide a microgrid that can provide energy access at an individual level.

The use of mobile money through PAYG systems allows end-users to pay for their solar technology in small instalments via their mobile phones. This helps ameliorate several areas of market failure in developing economies including lower transaction costs, improved transparency, savings, and privacy & women empowerment. We would like to deepen our understanding of how to effectively implement and create a best in class PAYG system suitable for the Sierra Leonean market.

Children with PAYG solar home products on average spend more time doing homework in the evenings. Not only do these solar products represent a much healthier and sustainable alternative to diesel or kerosene lamps, but they are also more cost-effective systems. The impact that PAYG solar products can have on people’s lives cannot be understated, likewise, the positive impact that turning away from diesel or kerosene lamps can have on the environment is also crucial.

At Smiling Through Light, we believe that the increased use of PAYG solar models is one of the keys to more sustainable development.

Fosera is a German-based manufacturer of high-quality solar home systems that shares Smiling Through Light’s goal of bringing reliable solar energy access to off-grid areas through PAYG models. One of the new products that we have introduced to our product range is the Fosera Spark 20. The Fosera Spark 20 is a PAYG system that contains bright and highly efficient LED lamps, USB ports to charge phones and high runtime batteries that have superior protection. They are designed to provide our customers with a reliable long-lasting service as well as a high-quality experience.

We are also trialling NIWA’s products, a Hong Kong based manufacturer who is committed to providing Sub-Saharan Africa with ‘the same comfort of life as in the rest of the world by fully sustainable solar solutions’. We are piloting their Multi 300 XL, this premium portable solar LED and phone charger is water and dust protected, is able to produce up to 70 hours of light runtime and has enough backup power for rainy days. This product is also durable and supplies the same battery life as the Fosera Spark 20. We are also piloting NIWA UNO 50 and Starlight One. At Smiling Through Light, we take pride in offering the best products on the market and so only work with high-quality solar home systems that have been verified by the Lighting Global programme.

Trialling these products allows us to expand our business and hopefully boost the effect that our products have on our customers. It is our mission to always source the best quality products to ensure a good customer experience. Smiling Through Light is excited to see the impact that these new high calibre products will have on the Sierra Leonean communities. 

We #ChooseToChallenge The Status Quo By Supporting A Women’s Led Solar Revolution

In this day and age men are still largely seen as the traditional profile of a successful entrepreneur whereas women starting their own businesses are viewed poorly by societal stereotypes. Sierra Leone is immersed in a patriarchal system that affects the social, legal, political, religious and economic sectors due to conservative cultural and religious beliefs. There is a power dynamic problem that arises due to men occupying positions of ownership and control of production, and women occupying marginal positions. For example, women account for less than 20% of elected positions in Sierra Leone. This power unbalance places men in the critical role of enabling women’s economic empowerment. Smiling Through Light is prepared to challenge this as a women-led business looking to alter cultural norms.

Over the past years, there has been a lot of positive movement towards legislation surrounding women’s rights and supporting women in business. Nonetheless, women still face many challenges both economically and socially when it comes to developing their careers. There are structural barriers such as the gender wage gap and other sexist regulations that repress women and do not allow them to fulfil their full potential. The denial of women's rights is still prevalent in Sierra Leone leading to the discrimination of women in education, employment and political participation. 

 At Smiling Through Light, we strongly believe that for society to progress effectively gender equality is essential, especially women empowerment. For Smiling Through Light empowering women means challenging gender norms in the renewable energy sector by placing women at the forefront of our business and giving them the opportunity and support to become clean energy leaders. We equip local women from Sierra Leonean communities with the necessary tools to thrive in the industry and develop their proficiency and confidence to further their future careers. By guaranteeing women access to formal employment, finance, property, health benefits and higher levels of education, we will improve their livelihoods and inevitably advance sustainable development. It is a known fact that women in Sierra Leone have always been fundamental to the economy and to the subsistence of their families. 

This International Women's Day, Smiling Through Light is aiming to raise funds to support the women in our local communities. International Women’s Day “marks a call to action for accelerating gender parity”, as a women-led business we support this message. IWD 2021 is promoting the hashtag #ChooseToChallenge, we are determined to challenge to enable a solar revolution that will transform the lives of millions of women and girls. If you would like to help support our cause or learn more about our mission, please visit our Go Fund Me page or website to help us continue to fight for women empowerment in Sierra Leone. 

Go Fund Me Page: https://www.gofundme.com/f/qywgb-smiling-through-light-iwd-fundraiser?utm_source=customer&utm_medium=copy_link&utm_campaign=p_cf+share-flow-1

SEforAll Forum 2018

Smiling Through Light will be attending the 2018 Sustainable Energy for All (SEforAll) Forum to highlight the energy needs of women and communities in Sierra Leone. We will be advocating for women-inclusive solutions to energy access and to increase energy access in West Africa.

SEforAll Forum 2018 Lisbon 2-3 May

The UN's Sustainable Energy for All initiative (SEforAll) has been instrumental in elevating the status of energy access globally. Since SE4All's inception in 2012, it has pushed for universal energy access to be achieved. This year's forum will bring together government, business, civil society and international organisations working towards clean energy access. With the theme 'Leaving No One Behind' discussions will be held around accelerating progress on global sustainable energy goals and closing energy gaps especially for 'last mile' populations.

Smiling Through Light's key messages

This week, we will be in Lisbon talking all thing energy access for women and last mile populations in Sierra Leone. This includes advocating for:

·         Women inclusive solutions to energy access;

·         Increase energy access support in West Africa;

·         Appropriate finance options for women and energy access businesses in West Africa;

·         Inclusive and gender-sensitive approaches to energy planning, financing and programming.

Smiling Through Light's participation

In order to ensure the needs and priorities of energy-poor communities in Sierra Leone are heard, we will be attending different sessions at the Forum.

·         2nd-3rd May 8.00-18.00, attending the plenary and partner working sessions

·         4th May 12.00-17.00, SEforAll People Centered Accelerator Update (closed workshop)

Look forward to seeing you all there......

Smiling Through Light Launches New Interactive Website

After months of planning and developing new content, we are delighted to finally announce the launch of our brand new website. Smiling Through Light focuses on clean energy access. We work with a network of women to provide clean, reliable & sustainable energy in Sierra Leone and Africa more widely through the sales of solar products. Beam Talks is Smiling Through Light's UK initiative which aims to inspire young women by highlighting different job sectors amongst Sierra Leoneans in the UK. It showcases the diverse career routes taken by Sierra Leonean women living in the UK. The event provides a space where role models can discuss their achievements, experiences and challenges with a new generation of change-makers.

Our new website will enable us to better tell the story of Smiling Through Light and to showcase some great examples of the work we do. The site will more accurately reflect our goals and will contain exciting and interesting content from all of us. Developing this new site has also helped us to hone the organisation's vision, objectives, values and journey – see for yourself, here. We will be sharing content from female entrepreneurs and exploring the challenges to women starting, growing or scaling a business.

We will be adding to our blog regularly to keep you up to date with all the new things happening at Smiling Through Light as well as regular articles about topics on clean energy access which is at the heart of our work. We also hope the new website will help us to better collaborate with our partners on the things we are most passionate about; sharing our perspective and generating debate on closing the energy gaps for women solar entrepreneurs and 'last mile' populations.

Take the time to explore our new site and get in contact if you have any questions about Smiling Through Light and the work we do. We hope you like our new website....we certainly do!

SEforALL People-Centered Accelerator

WOMEN ARE HELPING DRIVE THE CHANGE WE NEED IN THE ENERGY SECTOR – BUT WE MUST SUPPORT THEM TO GO FURTHER, FASTER

By Fiona Messent, Finance Specialist, SE4ALL

This blog post is part of a series Sustainable Energy for All (SEforALL) is running throughout March related to our work and partners from the People-Centered Accelerator. The series has been timed to coincide with International Women’s Day on March 8, 2018.

“When we think about the faces of energy poverty, the poorest in society, and particularly women, come to mind. That’s because they make up the majority of the 1 billion people who don’t have access to electricity and the over 3 billion people who don’t have access to clean cooking solutions.

This must change.

That’s why, for the past 18 months, Sustainable Energy for All (SEforALL) has been leading the development of a global partnership platform – the People-Centered Accelerator.

The Accelerator aims to advance gender equality, social inclusion and women’s empowerment in sustainable energy. By focusing on these areas, the Accelerator and its partners from across government, industry, and civil society, are helping ensure that we put people at the center of energy decisions. We must reach the furthest first if we are to ensure affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all by 2030.

By having better data, by working together, by forming new partnerships and by unlocking finance – all core aims of the People-Centered Accelerator – we can have a much more strategic impact on energy access for those who need it the most, and ultimately, change people’s perception of women’s role in energy.

If we’re to do this, we need more women as clients and consumers of new integrated energy systems. We need their insights to be heard and channeled into the design of solutions. We need more women to be the innovators and entrepreneurs in their communities. We need more women in the management and leadership of energy companies.

By enabling this and allowing women to become part of the solution, women move from being the face of energy poverty, to the face of the energy sector.

For women to prosper, be successful business owners or effective village leaders, we need to secure affordable, reliable and clean energy supplies that can sustain economic activity.

Unsurprisingly, therefore, it is women who are working hard to drive creative and innovative solutions at the speed and scale we need to end energy poverty by putting those who are furthest, first.

The People-Centered Accelerator has bought together a diverse group of like-minded partners who are committed to working together to accelerate action that puts people at the center of energy decisions and ensures no one is left behind in the energy transition.

The Accelerator helps showcase the many organizations already engaged in meaningful work on gender equality, social inclusion and women’s empowerment in sustainable energy. It is a place where we can come together to develop evidence and knowledge, leverage new partnerships and deliver energy services that are fit for the future. It is a place to generate the speed and scale of action on energy access and gender equality that we need. It is a space where together, we can go further, faster.

That is why SEforALL is hosting a guest blog series with partners who are supporting our core workstreams throughout March. From expert commentary on sustainable access pathways for the most vulnerable and hardest-to-reach people, to how we can direct capital to gender-responsive and socially inclusive energy businesses, and empowering women engaged in energy service delivery to achieve autonomy, authority, and decision-making power – this month is all about the great work of the People-Centered Accelerator partners.

Together, we can create an energy system that delivers for all and enables the equitable, prosperous and strong economic future that this will bring. Join us and be part of this exciting journey to build energy systems from the people up.

To find out more about joining the People-Centered Accelerator, or any other partnership opportunity with SEforALL, please email partnerships@SEforALL.org(link sends e-mail)

Read more on the Accelerator here and follow #SDG7AllEqual for the latest.