In the newly electrified villages of Tanzania’s Tanga and Pwani regions, productive use of energy (PUE) champions are inspiring local communities to use the new power source for income-generation. As entrepreneurs themselves, the champions are playing a critical role of creating interest among other entrepreneurs to take up productive end-use activities, which hold the key to livelihood improvements and economic transformation of rural areas.
Energy demand uptake is a key priority for the country’s Rural Energy Agency’s (REA) grid densification programme, which aims to stimulate economic development in newly electrified villages. Energy 4 Impact is working with REA to empower local entrepreneurs to fully benefit from grid expansions in the country by offering micro-enterprise development support and financing facilities to micro-entrepreneurs wishing to buy commercial tools and appliances.
As part of the Rural Electrification Densification Programme (REDP), a partnership between Energy 4 Impact, REA, Multiconsult and the Norwegian Embassy in Tanzania, PUE support is opening up opportunities for rural grid-connected communities beyond lighting or heating. Businesses in the villages could, for instance, leverage the power of electricity to automate operations and eliminate intensive and time-consuming manual tasks. They could use it to improve efficiency, pursue expansion, diversification or value addition activities. By saving on costs and time associated with manual tools, this would result in productivity improvements, translating into better profit margins.
Some of the potential commercial engagements that can utilise available power include: agro-processing, wood milling, carpentry, chicken incubation, sale of cold drinks, among others. Apart from improving rural economies by creating jobs, such activities have the potential to increase electricity consumption, thereby making grid extensions viable for governments or investors.
In an effort to raise awareness about income-earning opportunities that utilise the power connectivity, Energy 4 Impact has been running productive use clinics in the villages of Tanga and Pwani. To ensure full participation of the communities and their leaders, Energy 4 Impact enlisted the help of the PUE champions, who are engaged in several entrepreneurial endeavours, in conducting awareness events and roadshows. Three days to the start of the events, the PUE champions, aboard branded trucks, crisscrossed the villages urging residents to be in attendance. They became the trusted go-to persons on topics around PUE. Local authorities, appliance suppliers, community-based organisations and financiers were similarly involved in the events from the outset. Such collaborative approaches contributed to the success of the events. In total, over 2,700 people in 39 villages were sensitised on new business opportunities that can make use of the new power source.
“We gave the villagers present training on entrepreneurship, record keeping, marketing and customer care. We shared with them insights on the suitable financing prospects and the process of obtaining electric appliances for income generation. Furthermore, we tipped them on workplace health and safety measures related to use of electrical appliances and how to deal with or avoid electric hazards,” says Fredrick Tunutu, Energy 4 Impact’s REDP Programme Manager.
Apart from showing a PUE video, the mentors staged real-life demos on how to use common electrical appliances such as fridges, juice blenders, hair clippers, hair dryers, fryers (for chips or popcorns).
“The villagers could not hide their excitement as they watched a PUE video on a pop-up screen showing entrepreneurs using electrical machines and tools for welding, grain milling, carpentry, car repair, water supply, construction and sale of cold drinks,” says Anna Jansan, a PUE champion and entrepreneur, who runs a retail-cum-grocery shop. She recently began selling cold drinks after acquiring a fridge thanks to the grid connection.
A total of 201 micro-enterprises and SMEs were recruited to be part of the 300 enterprises that would receive business and mentorship support. Such support will include business case assessments, value chain analysis, financial needs evaluation and linkages with financial institutions.
To effectively support these rural-based entrepreneurs in their productive use endeavours, Energy 4 Impact entered into partnerships with key stakeholders such as the Private Agriculture Sector Support (PASS), an agricultural finance provider. Through this partnership, agro-processors would be linked to Vision Fund International, which offers micro-finance services to rural communities.
As the PUE awareness continues, with support for entrepreneurs taking shape, uptake of electricity for commercial uses in the villages is poised to grow by 15 per cent. Over 250 electrical appliances are to be supplied to entrepreneurs, with 120 loans issued to businesses.
By Joshua Masinde
