Publication date: 28 July 2020
Submission date: 10 August 2020
Category: Consultancy
Countries: Malawi/ Mozambique/ Zambia/ Zimbabwe
Entity: Africa Enterprise Challenge Fund
Description: The purpose of the study is to collect impact data that is useful to both development funders and Off-grid solar firms operating in Malawi, Mozambique, Zambia and Zimbabwe. The study not only seeks to quantify and compare the socio-economic impacts arising from off-grid solar in these countries but understand consumer profiles, how customers perceive their products and what challenges they face when accessing, paying or using them.
The assignment consists of four objectives:
- Gain a deeper understanding of the welfare impacts of AECF’s partner investees’ off-grid solar products on low-income consumers in Southern Africa. More specifically, impacts on health, education, safety, financial inclusion, productive use and other quality of life improvements. Other metrics on income levels, gender, location (rural vs. urban) and disability profiles will be expected. Furthermore, AECF would also like to understand the impacts that COVID-19 has had on off-grid solar consumers, and to what extent this has affected their livelihoods and ability to access off-grid solar.
- Provide individually packaged insights to up to four Off-grid solar firms working in target countries, highlighting their performance to customer experience, operations and impact. These should include insights on customer satisfaction, ability to pay, challenges experienced, barriers to access (for non-users), value for money and environmental impact.
- Compare and benchmark impact performance between each Southern African target country in the study. Through third party data and existing information, compare and benchmark performance in Southern Africa with the East and West African regions.
- Disseminate aggregate findings of this research to complement the current body of evidence on the impact of Off-grid solar in Eastern and Western Africa.
