Background

Currently in Sub-Saharan Africa, households rely on costly, inefficient, and often hazardous fuel-based products such as kerosene lamps that consume up to 30% of total household incomes.  Despite these high costs, fossil fuel-based lighting is not efficient and the quality of the lighting is poor.

The Lighting Africa 2010 Conference is the only event of its kind to bring together international lighting manufacturers and local distributors in Africa for the design, development, and marketing of low cost, energy efficient lighting products tailored to low income consumer needs and conditions. This will be the second event of its kind, the first having been held in Accra, Ghana, in May 2008.

Purpose

To showcase and expand business opportunities in the off-grid lighting market, targeting low income populations in Sub-Saharan Africa.

Main Activities

• Support non-fossil fuel based lighting businesses with market intelligence, business planning and support, financing facilitation, and product quality assurance
• Provide a forum for renewable lighting companies to showcase their latest lighting products and services and to conduct networking
• Identify opportunities in the off-grid lighting market for Sub-Saharan Africa
• Establish business linkages and partnerships identifying new and innovative products, services, and business models
• Report on the progress of 16 Development Marketplace winners from 11 sub-Saharan African countries that were awarded in late 2008.  (REEEP was a funder of these Development Marketplace winners.)

Expected Impact

• Identification of at least 30 business opportunities in off grid lighting, with over $5 million in prospective investments
• Substitution of fossil-fuel based lighting sources with better quality lighting at lower costs.
• Easy access to improved, modern lighting products and services for poor consumers.
• Reduced greenhouse gas emissions from displaced fossil fuels.
• Programs in at least 10 World Bank and donor countries successfully executed.
• Uptake of the Light-Up Africa business model by other countries, regional programmes, and the private sector.