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Solar Sister, LivelyHoods
Kenya merge to expand
into African markets
KENYA SOLAR Sister Inc has merged with LivelyHoods Expanding to Kenya accelerates Solar Sister’s
Kenya to bring clean affordable reliable energy commitment to expanding its impact in Africa,
to millions of people in sub-Saharan Africa. building on the strength of its model of women
The merger combines Solar Sister’s operations entrepreneurs selling solar lights and clean cook-
in Nigeria and Tanzania with LivelyHoods’ net- stoves to family, friends and neighbours.
work in Kenya. Solar Sister chief executive Katherine Lucey
“This merger delivers a climate solution that said the merger is a massive leap in scaling up
addresses the fact that over 600 million people in proven energy access solutions that improve
sub-Saharan Africa live without electricity, and well-being, boost equity and help usher in
over 700 million depend on harmful fuels such prosperity.
as firewood and charcoal for cooking,” the com- “We bring different geographic and market
panies said in a joint press release. segment expertise to the table that will enable us
Both Solar Sister and LivelyHoods bring clean to grow in size as well as strength. We are better
energy products to households in low-resource together, and that benefits our customers, our
communities using market-based social enter- communities, our partners, and our funders,”
prise models delivering energy access, economic she said.
opportunity and climate solutions. Founded in To date, over 7,000 Solar Sister entrepreneurs
2009 and 2011, respectively, they share a mission have reached over 3mn people with clean energy
of ensuring that no one is left behind in the clean access. Products sold by the entrepreneurs have
energy transition. eliminated over 946,763 metric tons of carbon
“This merger represents the kind of collab- dioxide emissions.
oration and unity of effort that it will take to LivelyHoods has impacted the lives of over
address the world’s greatest challenges, such 300,000 people by providing them with cleaner,
as job creation, economic empowerment, and safer access to cookstoves and light. It has trained
access to clean and affordable energy,” Lively- 5,753 women and youth to create 2,568 jobs.
Hoods executive director Tania Laden said.
P8 www. NEWSBASE .com Week 21 26•May•2022
