Lighting Global seeks to recognize outstanding off-grid lighting products that are available for purchase by people without electricity access in countries like Senegal, Kenya or India. Nominated products will be judged on quality, performance, design and affordability. The awards will be presented at the 3rd International Off-grid Lighting Conference and Trade Fair, hosted by Lighting Africa and the Global Off-grid Lighting Association, in Dakar, Senegal, October 2012. 

What is Lighting Global?
Lighting Global is the new home for Lighting Africa’s global activities, which include Quality Assurance and the Product Awards.

Application materials for the Awards and more can be found at: www.lightingafrica.org/awards

Framework                         
Awards will be presented in three categories:
  • Budget • Mid-range • Premium

Depending on the pool of applicants, Lighting Global anticipates granting two awards in each category. Products under $25 retail will be judged under the Budget category, between $25 and $60 will fall in the Mid-range category, and between $60 and $120 in the Premium category. Lighting Global reserves the right to adjust the boundary between price categories by 20% (see full terms and conditions for details).

Each manufacturer may nominate up to two products.

Prize              
The winning products will be granted rights to use the mention “Lighting Global Outstanding Product Award 2012” on packaging and marketing materials, along with enjoying any media exposure associated with the awards and award ceremony.

Eligibility  
Products must meet the following basic criteria:
1. Are stand-alone modern off-grid lighting products based on LED or fluorescent technology.

2. Are designed for and marketed to off-grid end-users in countries such as Senegal, Kenya, and India.

3. Are available by March 1, 2012 for warehouse sampling under established guidelines so that Lighting Africa agents can collect unbiased samples for lab and field evaluations.

Process  
Nominated products will be evaluated through a four-step process that includes (a) initial screening, (b) laboratory testing, (c) field judging, and (d) final selection. Throughout the process, products will be evaluated based on their overall design, quality (durability and truth-in-advertising), performance (run time and light output), environmental impacts, ease of use, special product features (e.g., mobile phone charging), and affordability.

An initial screening judging process will reduce the applicant pool to approximately five products per category. These finalists will be evaluated based on Lighting Africa Quality Test Method (LA-QTM) results, field assessments by representative off-grid end-users, and affordability metrics. An expert committee appointed by Lighting Africa will select contest winners.

Entry Fees  
A $1,000 entry fee is required upon nomination; it will support the administration of the awards. Lab testing fees will be the responsibility of the applicants. The fee for initial screening in the first round is $500 (not required if valid LA-ISM or LA-QTM results are available); the fee for LA-QTM testing in the final round is $3,000 (this is a subsidized rate; if valid LA-QTM results are available for the product from prior testing they may be used).

Upon receipt of your application submission you will be sent an invoice for the amount due.  The payment must be wire transfered following the directions in the invoice no later than January 27, 2012.  The invoice will include the mandatory $1000 entry fee per each product nominated, plus an additional $500 per each product requiring LA-ISM testing.

Deadlines    
20 December 2011 - Submit application form online: www.lightingafrica.org/awards

06 January 2012 - Deliver three samples for initial screening round to Lighting Africa Team

01 March 2012 - Finalist products must be available for warehouse sampling

15 August 2012 - Lighting Africa Quality Test Method results must be available

Full eligibility requirements, terms and conditions, forms, and details on the awards process at: www.lightingafrica.org/awards