Rework Energy: solar aid reworks electricity in the village – East Africa and Latin America

Rework Energy: TaTEDO, the Tanzanian traditional energy development organization works to advance access to renewable energies in Tanzania.

TaTEDO

Rework Finance: the FSDT has been established to support Tanzania’s development of pro-poor financial markets.

FSDT

Rework Skills: Femina HIP is the civil society initiative behind the Fema magazine, the most popular magazine in Tanzania.

Femina HIP

Rural Energy Foundation

Rural Energy Consultancy Tanzania

Godwin D Msigwa is managing director of the Rural Energy Consultancy in Tanzania, an organization that works with the Rural Energy Foundation on the Solar Now! Campaign. Young and driven, Godwin has made a name for himself among organizations promoting solar energy in the region.

At this early stage of the market, one bad solar system can spoil the effort to influence retailers and consumers’ argues Godwin, ‘high-quality products are important.’ Since 2006, working with 40 to 50 retailers, his team has seen a 60% increase in sales of solar power systems.

Godwin is working with importers, local assemblers and/or distributors of small solar systems, building a network of retailers in the rural areas to foster the demand and supply of solar products.

‘If we can mobilize more people to go out an raise awareness about the benefits of solar power’ argues Godwin ‘and back them with the skills, with the products and with an enterprise model, we both accelerate the solar markets in Africa as well as provide thousands of opportunities for young people.’

The Rural Energy Foundation is part of the Tanzania Rework session on solar energy.