Nearly 600 million people in Africa – about 60 percent of the continent’s population -- lack access to electricity.  This number is expected to reach 700 million by 2030. Africa’s rural poor are particularly energy starved, accounting for 88 percent of those without electricity. Many of the 300-400 million Africans who are serviced by the grid suffer low-quality supply and frequent power cuts, which, for practical purposes, deprives them of modern lighting and related energy services.

Africa’s growing un-electrified and under-electrified populations spend a significant percent of their household income ― an estimated total of US$10 billion per year― on fuel-based lighting such as kerosene, and candles. Though it eats a large share of scarce income, fuel-based lighting gives little back: it is expensive, inefficient, hazardous, and pollutes the environment. Poor quality light hinders the development of small and medium enterprises, and impedes learning in schools and homes.

To help end Africa’s reliance on fuel-based lighting, Lighting Africa is working with the private sector to make cleaner, safer and less costly alternative lighting options available to those with no or poor access to the grid.

Recent advances in off-grid lighting technology in compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs) and light emitting diodes (LEDs) promise clean, durable and high-quality lighting, and offer an interim solution for those who are not yet connected to the grid or whose connection is unreliable. Solar portable lamps can complement grid expansion programs, mini-grid and larger stand alone systems such as solar home systems, and provide clean light as well as other energy services to poor rural households.

The prices of lighting products have declined dramatically and continue to fall, making them more affordable to poor households. Performance is also improving and solar and other products today offer better illumination, longer battery life, and additional features such as mobile phone chargers. However, substandard solar lighting products are entering the Africa market and threaten to erode consumer confidence in this new technology and contribute to potential market spoilage.

The market for solar portable lights has evolved rapidly over the past five years; technical advances, combined with slow grid expansion and fast population growth, have set Africa on course to become the main market for solar portable lights by 2015. Lighting Africa acts as a catalyst for this market.

Lighting Africa lowers market entry barriers of the off-grid lighting market at every step, from the design of lighting products, to their commercial production and distribution. The program works with manufacturers of lighting products, distributors, consumers, financial institutions and governments to build a lasting market for reliable, practical and affordable lighting products.