Bangladesh Coastal Women's Electrification Project
Women in Business for Energy
In 1999, ESMAP initiated a $175,000 project in Char Montaz, Bangladesh, offering an “Opportunity for Women in Renewable Energy Technology Use.” With technical assistance offered by Prokaushali Sangsad Ltd, and social mobilisation and micro-credit provided by South Asia Partnership, 32 women received energy technology training. They then formed the Coastal Women’s Electrification and Development Microenterprise which has grown into a medium sized enterprise with 117 employees.
Initially, the enterprise focused on assembling DC lamps and providing
services through battery charging stations. It has now diversified into
assembling CFL and LED lamps, controllers and inverters of solar home
system (SHS), and mobile phone chargers. It has provided SHS to almost
30,000 households, small enterprises and markets in coastal areas, where
grid electrification is not a feasible option.
The lessons learned from this project were incorporated into the design of a larger project: Bangladesh Rural Electrification and Renewable Energy Development ($200m). In this project, nearly 200,000 SHS have been provided to poor households in remote areas. Grameen Shaki, Srijani, TMSS and other NGOs saw the benefits of this project and have now branched out to microfinance for Solar Home Systems.
Please click on the link below to watch a short video on the Bangladesh Coastal Women’s Electrification Project:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nsWGoRRY_Zs