Publication database

This how-to-guide from the Global Distributors Collective is useful for last mile distributors looking to expand their product offering for customers. Exploring what this means for different distribution models, as well as key factors to consider including market, impact, organisational and logistical fit, the guide also features four case studies from the GDC membership. It was produced via a project delivered in partnership with Solar Sister and financed by EEP Africa.

The authors aim to catalyze a competitive marketplace of companies providing smallholder farmers with a choice of affordable, inclusive and high-quality services. For this they are building a common understanding of the key barriers and opportunities for providing smallholders tailored, high-quality services at scale, coupled with advice, technical assistance and de-risking finance to pilot new business models and partnerships.

The off-grid solar energy industry is generating thousands of jobs across East, West and Central Africa as well as South Asia. GOGLA's latest report Off-Grid Solar. A Growth Engine for Jobs estimates the sector currently supports 370,000 full-time equivalent (FTE) jobs across these four regions. With investments and the right policies, the off-grid solar sector could create 1.3 million FTE jobs across East, West and Central Africa as well as South Asia by 2022.

This document presents ENERGIA’s four-year journey to create and upscale womencentric energy enterprises that sell safe, reliable and affordable energy solutions to low-income consumers in underserved areas. As a learning document, it seeks to analyse the various strategies with which ENERGIA has worked in different contexts. It draws out common features of the most promising ones, as well as lessons from efforts that did not go so well, or even failed completely.

Case study on Belle Verte, an ecoinclusive enterprise, which provides innovative waste management solutions and raises awareness on the problem of increased waste in Mauritius. 

Case study on the Youth Initiative for Community Empowerment (YICE), an eco-inclusive enterprise that provides a agricultural services to smallholder farmers to improve their livelihoods. YICE has trained a group of farm agents to act as YICE representatives and community leaders. Innovative mobile technology provides smallholder farmers with access to key information on trainings, quality farm inputs,  and fair market prices for produce.  YICE aims to use this information and the provision of microloans to empower the local community to make better, more informed decisions at various levels of the farming value chain.

Case study on Unique Quality Product Enterprise (UQE). UQE's business model is based on a market-leading approach to promote the production and processing of the cereal grain fonio. Fonio was once a major food crop across West Africa and is known for is nutritional value, taste and adaptability to local climate and soil conditions. However, the introduction of rice and other cereal crops largely replaced fonio. UQE believes in fonio’s commercial potential and identified community members who were still growing the crop for local consumption. The enterprise engaged with local landholders and wider communities to gain access to infertile, unused land for women farmers. UQE promotes the expansion and harvesting of fonio crops using traditional methods. 

Case study on Safi Organics, one of the largest producers of rice in Kenya. The company aims to reverse declining agricultural yields, improve the income and food security of local farmers, and provide opportunities for local youth. Safi Organics created an agricultural value chain from the local organic waste stream. Using an open source technology, the enterprise produces valuable agricultural inputs such as fertiliser and soil treatments designed to meet local conditions.  Waste rice husk is collected from farmers and processed into bio char, the bio char is then stored, processed, and a local enzyme is added to enable microbial growth. The fertiliser and soil treatments are sold back to the farmers directly or through agents.