Poor quality off-grid lighting products are already entering African markets in large numbers. Low income end-users unfortunate enough to purchase inferior goods often waste their limited disposable cash. Their bad experiences, which spread rapidly by word of mouth, can undermine consumer confidence in solar portable off-grid lighting technology. Developing a large, dynamic, and sustainable market for modern off-grid lighting requires careful attention to both product quality and the potential for “market spoiling.”

Lighting Africa developed a product quality assurance program to support market development, provide technical advisory services to quality oriented companies, and protect the interests of low-income consumers.

Very low cost and poor quality products are increasing in the market but, at the same time, a number of affordable, good quality products are beginning to gain market share. Lighting Africa’s Quality Assurance program rewards manufacturers of these products with direct business support services, including increased incentives and opportunities to differentiate their products in the market.  Lighting Africa recognizes that it is important to protect quality but not constrain technological innovation, and recognizes that market segmentation results in a need for a wide variety of products at multiple price points.

Lighting Africa’s product quality assurance program offers 3 services to help promote quality products in the marketplace:

• Product Testing, Standardized Specification Sheets & Performance Verification
• Technical Advisory Services
• Lighting Global Outstanding Product Awards

In January 2012 Lighting Africa plans to update our Quality Assurance (QA) Framework based on our program experience and stakeholder input from across the value chain. We highly value and need your feedback to make these important updates. Kindly take a moment to help shape the QA program in 2012.
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