Solar Sister
Model & Strategy
Solar Sister is a green energy revolution powered by women’s enterprise. Providing a grassroots solution to a global energy crisis, Solar Sister combines the breakthrough potential of clean energy technology with a deliberately women-centered direct sales network. Working in rural Africa, Solar Sister recruits, trains and supports women to become Solar Sister Entrepreneurs. The women build sustainable businesses selling solar lamps, mobile phone chargers and fuel efficient cook stoves. Using their natural networks of family, friends and neighbors to provide the most effective distribution channel to rural and hard to reach customers the women earn much needed income to support their families and provide a vital service to their communities. Access to clean energy and simple light has profound benefits including improved education, health and economic outcomes.
Katherine Lucey, founder and CEO of Solar Sister, brings 20 years investment banking and non-profit leadership experience to her role as social entrepreneur. She is an Ashoka East Africa Fellow and a winner of Social Venture Network 2011 Innovation Award and a Global Social Benefit Incubator Fellow for 2011 at the Santa Clara University Center for Science and Technology. Katherine currently serves on the UN Foundation initiative the Global Alliance for Clean Cookstoves and is a co-chair of the Supply Chain and Entrepreneurship Committee of the Sustainable Energy for All Practitioner Network.
IMPACT
Solar Sister has built a network of more than 3,800 women entrepreneurs who earn income while bringing access to clean energy technologies to more than 1.5M people in Uganda, Tanzania, and Nigeria.
In the long term, Solar Sister provides livelihoods and energy access in rural communities in sub-Saharan Africa – breaking the cycle of poverty by creating economic opportunities for women entrepreneurs and access to energy for the women, their families, and their off-grid communities.
Solar Sister News
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We’ve been busy creating Bright Futures! Catch up on our news here - https://t.co/NddS4SAuTE
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From Early Adopters to Tech Laggards: Understanding Off-Grid Energy Customers: https://t.co/OBFfDH1dvk @60_decibels
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Solar Sister Nigeria Business Development Manager, Chinenye Anekwe, leads a policy dialogue on clean energy investm… https://t.co/BhWvtcUPSc
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The latest The Solar Sister Daily! https://t.co/ny1CtZhd2G Thanks to @womenforwomenUK @tmsruge @krmaher #ict4d #businessmodel
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Meet our superstar Nigeria Business Development Associate (BDA) Supervisor, Omotola Ajao, with one of her Solar Sis… https://t.co/YxiTZB8fxE
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Thrilled to see Italy taking the lead on making climate change education a priority! "Education is the most powerfu… https://t.co/yywGRZoue6
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RT @DukeUEnergy: Come to the Energy Innovation Showcase tonight! Featuring @3dfs_Power, @8RiversCapital, @cltjoules, @energy_modern, @infin…
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Solar Sister Co-Founder and Chief Collaboration Officer, Neha Misra, will be presenting on inclusivity in the renew… https://t.co/DBVGA4LesX
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We are so proud of Solar Sister Business Development Supervisor, Blessing Ekanem, For speaking at the 2019 Clean Co… https://t.co/Mi8KE0Eijy
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Solar Sister mentioned in @mindbodygreen article! What The World Could Look Like In 2040 — If We Took Climate Chang… https://t.co/DXOC18PNNY
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RT @energia_org: “Investment. Innovation. Impact" is the theme at the #CCF2019 which takes place at a critical moment for accelerating the…
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#CleanCookingIs empowerment for women & girls, helping to achieve #SDG7 and #SDG5. What is #CleanCooking to you? S… https://t.co/QAQblbNSjY
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In the push for #ClimateAction, communication is key. If you have a bold idea for a promotional campaign centered o… https://t.co/gmgcnxgd2l
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Come say Hiiii 👋 https://t.co/at1i7pRPK1
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My week on Twitter 🎉: 27 Mentions, 13.8K Mention Reach, 70 Likes, 20 Retweets, 64.8K Retweet Reach. See yours with… https://t.co/dvLGjOXPH8
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Our biggest fans this week: SEforALLorg, femtech_, Crowd2Map. Thank you! via https://t.co/2yWUl47Rgd
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The latest The Solar Sister Daily! https://t.co/fm4ywwFlOe Thanks to @GenderAtState @HenrietteKolb @texasinafrica #ict4d #twitterstorians
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RT @DrKWilkinson: .@Sierra_Magazine’s current issue is all about gender, equity, and climate. Honored that this wide-ranging convo with 3 w…
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CONGRATS TO @DamilolaSDG7 ✨Looking forward to your leadership as new CEO of Sustainable Energy for All 🙌🌍💪… https://t.co/tYhPOWHM8N
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We're excited to have our wonderful fellow Alicia Oberholzer talk about how @Solarsister creates a movement of wome… https://t.co/g6DGFdNBTw