Partnership on Women’s Entrepreneurship in Clean Energy (wPOWER) - India

wPower is promoting sustainable energy access by enhancing awareness on clean energy and the environment and building local skills and entrepreneurship in rural off-grid areas.

Fast facts

The program has trained 1,010 women at the grassroots level to become clean energy entrepreneurs, or Sakhis;
Women are popularizing clean energy –solar lamps, clean fuel cook stoves and safe water and sanitation, impacting over one million lives in rural areas;
In two years, wPOWER has transformed families and communities by shifting 100,000 low-income households from conventional to clean energy adopters and promoters;
The future vision is to reach over 10 million people by empowering 10,000 women across many countries.

The problem

Millions of people in rural India are facing the brunt of climate change and there is a need for lasting solutions. Globally, more than 1.3 billion people lack access to electricity, and at least 2.7 billion people lack access to clean cookstoves and fuels. Inefficient lighting and cooking contribute to climate change and the degradation of natural resources. In off-grid communities, women are the primary users of clean technologies like solar lamps and clean cookstoves and are at the forefront of adopting the use of new technologies.

The solution

Women are being engaged as “Sakhis” or clean energy entrepreneurs and bringing clean energy solutions to villages and districts, using road shows, weekly market stalls and on the spot demonstrations. Sakhis are equipped with advanced cookstoves, solar lamps and solar water heaters and are delivering these affordable solutions to the doorsteps of rural households. “Try and buy” finance options are provided to increase adoption of cooking and lighting solutions. Diverse partnerships with private technology developers, banks and public energy agencies enhance access to products, technology and finance for consumers at the grassroots level.

Helping the planet

By providing affordable clean energy products in rural communities, this activity is facilitating clean energy access. Products like advanced cookstoves, solar lamps and solar water heaters reduce the need for fuelwood, charcoal or fossil fuels.

Helping people

Women are playing a critical role in the household energy dynamic and in ensuring the health and well-being of families by selling and adopting clean energy technologies.

Scaling Up

This activity is providing rural communities “last mile” access to the private sector and other stakeholders in the form of clean energy technology. This activity could be scaled up wherever “last mile” access is needed.