In Phases 1 and 2 of Mercy Corps’ ‘Bidi Bidi for Solar’ project, Village Power systems are now empowering the lives of over 1500 camp residents by providing reliable clean power. Due to this success, Mercy Corps(https://www.mercycorps.org/) is supporting Village Power through market activation and system subsidies to drive access to solar systems for the a market based sales approach in all 5 Bidi Bidi zones.
Village Power initially begun Phase 3 implementation prior to the COVID-19 pandemic outbreak in February and March 2020 and was able to provide 54 households and 6 businesses with access to solar energy. Village Power had to adjust the implementation from the original group sales approach, to a safer and one-on-one, village-by-village sales approach due to the pandemic. In May 2020, Village Power returned to Phase 3, looking to empower more businesses with solar solutions and extend access to energy to more households thanks to the support of Mercy Corps.
Village Power is committed to serving the Bidi Bidi community, and believes that energy is an essential service and a key driver for development that will ensure communities are resilient and equipped to charge their phones and access information, for families to have the access to energy to allow their children to study at home, watch TV, have security lights and remain safe at home during the COVID-19 lockdown. To ensure our customers remain safe Village Power, scaled its sales and mobilizers team from 4 to 12, so that customers could access Village Power team within their zones without traveling long distances. The Village Power last mile service and distribution network supports the teams in the Zones to deliver and install the solar solutions safely and professionally in the homes of each of our customers.
Mercy Corps is a global team of humanitarians, working together on the front lines of today’s biggest crises to create a future of possibility, where everyone can prosper.
The Mercy Corps mission is to alleviate suffering, poverty and oppression by helping people build secure, productive and just communities.
Mercy Corps works in more than 40 countries around the world, with nearly 6,000 team members that work side by side with people living through poverty, disaster, violent conflict and the acute impacts of climate change.
In the coming years, Mercy Corps hopes to facilitate growth of sustainable solar energy markets within refugee settlements, expanding access to sustainable energy independent of availability of donor funding.