Akon Lighting Africa aims to double Africa's power generation capacity and access to electricity by 2030 by providing solar power solutions. Over 730 million Africans lack reliable access to electricity and rely on dangerous fuels for lighting and heating. The project has expanded solar power access to communities in 15 African countries and added programs for solar-powered water pumps, rural schools, and solar energy training. The model has received interest from other developing regions as a way to enable economic growth beyond only providing electricity and water.

2. Akon Lighting Africa
According to the World Bank, outside of South
Africa, the rest of sub-Saharan Africa has
electricity generation capacity of 28 Gigawatts,
the same capacity as Argentina. The global non-
profit organisation One, estimates 1/3 of African
health centers and schools have unreliable
access to electricity and 730 million Africans heat
and light their homes using traditional fuels like
wood,dung or kerosene which is expensive and
dangerous.

3. Akon Lighting Africa
Deaths from smoke inhalation are estimated at
four million per year. The founders of Akon
Lighting Africa (Samba Bathily and Thione
Niang), Dirk Muench, Managing Partner of
Persistent Energy Partners, LLC Ikenna
Emehelu, Partner at Chadbourne & Parke LLP,
are on the frontlines of the goal to double
Africa’s power generation capacity and access
by 2030. The need for power is intertwined with
capacity for economic growth in Africa.

4. Akon Lighting Africa
On November 30th 2015, the 21st Conference of
Parties on Climate (COP 21) opened in Paris,
with an objective to align all member countries
on clear targets and policies to address climate
change. The discussions focus on three main
issues: emission reductions, loss and damage
mechanisms to climate change and climate
financing (including technology development
and capacity building).

5. Akon Lighting Africa
Climate financing is a critical point for Solektra
International and its partners, who convey a
simple message: the fight against climate
change is an opportunity to rethink our
economies around green and clean
technologies. The Akon Lighting Africa project
is a project, which has proven this point. It has
already positively impacted communities within
15 African countries and is rapidly evolving from
a pure energy access program to a wider
initiative.

6. Akon Lighting Africa
The Akon Lighting Africa project is improving
water access with solar-powered water pumps,
it is enabling the set up of Smartschools in rural
areas, and it is promoting capacity building with
the launch of the Solektra Solar Academy in
Mali. It has received positive interest in other
developing countries in Africa, Asia, India and
Latin America – everywhere government
leaders and people understand that beyond
electricity and water, the model promoted is a
sure path to economic growth.

7. Akon Lighting Africa
The Akon Lighting Africa project is improving
water access with solar-powered water pumps,
it is enabling the set up of Smartschools in rural
areas, and it is promoting capacity building with
the launch of the Solektra Solar Academy in
Mali. It has received positive interest in other
developing countries in Africa, Asia, India and
Latin America – everywhere government
leaders and people understand that beyond
electricity and water, the model promoted is a
sure path to economic growth.