Namibia - Business creation project

Describe your project or startup in a few words

This is a business project with the aim of providing prepaid and rent to own solar energy systems and solutions to households (solar home systems), farmers (solar water pumps) and tuck shop owners (solar dc chest freezers) in rural and remote areas.

01.01 Describe your project in more detail

The business plans to start doing prepaid and rent to own solar home systems installations in off-grid and remote areas so that these people can have affordable access to electricity and potable water from solar water pumps. These solar home systems include, but not limited to, solar home systems for households, solar powered freezers for tuck shops and solar water pumps for farming activities as well as human consumption. These systems can be purchased either cash, prepaid on a monthly basis or rent to own model that uses mobile money, especially for business customers like tuck shops and farmers. Furthermore, the business also plans to operate a solar powered frozen food trailer, fully equipped with a solar freezer, powered by a solar panel and a battery which can sell frozen food such as meat and fish to different communities in rural areas that live far from town, on a daily basis. This trailer can then be pulled by a vehicle, selling from community to community on a daily basis.

01.02 What is the main problem you are trying to solve?

We plan to solve the main problems that off-grid and remote areas face when it comes to electricity and water access because some can't afford them. Affordability is an issue. Most of the people in rural areas of Namibia do not have access to electricity and adequate potable water, this also includes for farming activities. Problems caused by these includes, children can’t study or do homework at night, tuck shops in rural areas cannot operate at night. No watching TV, charging phones or refrigerating food or drinks. Climate change due to using kerosene lamps/generators. Expensive petrol- or diesel-powered water pumps for farming contribute to global warming. Noise pollution from generators. Fire hazards from the use of LPG Gas on freezers and fridges. Drought and flood caused by global warming also affect farming activities. New farmers can't afford farming equipment. Lack of or shortages of frozen food such as meat and fish in rural areas and remote areas leading to unbalanced diets.

01.03 Tell us the major benefits and/or advantages of using the product/service that your project intends to provide (at least 3).

Customers will enjoy benefits such as: Lighting and charging mobile phones (communication), watching TV, and refrigerating food and drinks (preservation) etc. School kids will study and do homework at night. Tuck shops can operate at night (long business hours). No noise from generators. Less effect on global warming due to cutting off kerosene lamps and generators. Farmers will have water for their animals and crops increasing yield and harvest. Solar energy is cheap and renewable compared to diesel and petrol water pumps. Some clients can also start their own businesses such as barber shops and charging phones for other community members without electricity, means extra income. Our products can be purchased in three ways, cash, prepaid or rent to own model, both via mobile money making it more affordable than other solar products in the market. This can be afforded by anyone earning as little as N$1500.00 per month. Farmers and tuck shops can pay from their weekly/monthly sales.

01.04 Please describe who exactly your project is aimed at serving. Who are the targeted beneficiaries?

The project has targeted people in rural and remote areas. This includes households, tuck shop owners as well as farmers. The main being female and youth who owns tuck shops and those engaging in farming activities but have difficulties in acquiring equipment such as solar water pumps and solar chest freezers to expand their business activities. The business also targets the unemployed female and youth with small businesses but do not have power to run their businesses especially at night. We also target households that do not have electricity in their homes but can afford to pay for a solar home system on a monthly basis. The main focus is to make solar home systems affordable to those who cannot afford them on cash. The other target is the rural people who have a desire for food such as meat and fish but live far from town and cannot afford to travel to go buy them on a daily basis, so we plan to bring them such products to their doorsteps through the mobile frozen food trailer.

01.05 When did you start working on your project?

2022-04-01

01.06 How many other partners are associated with your business venture?

0

01.07 Among the other partners, how many are female?

0

01.08 Please describe the profile of each of the other partners (skills, experience, etc.)

At the moment, there are no other partners in this project except me. I have a high school Grade 12 certificate and on top of that I also have a Diploma in Business Process Management. I have more than two years of experience working in the administration, warehousing and logistics operations industries. I also completed a short incubation program titled Access to Power, which is focused on the distribution of different types of renewable energy technologies in rural and urban areas, which was offered by the Green People's Energy in Namibia and GIZ. Currently, I am enrolled in a Solar Equipment Installation and Maintenance program at Windhoek Vocational Training Centre. I am in my second year, which is Level 2.

01.09 If you have a website, a social media page (Facebook, Instagram, Linkedin…), or app, please provide the link here:

01.10 Which industry best describes your project?

a) Energy (equipment, services, sustainable energy and fuel)

02.01.01 My project contributes to the No poverty goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.01.02 No poverty - Justification

The solar home systems that we are going to provide will encourage some community members to venture into business activities. These solar home systems can power equipment such as solar dc freezers, sewing machines as well as hair cutting machines. Therefore, community members with these equipment can use them to start or continue running their businesses. The solar dc freezers can be used to sell frozen food and drinks, sewing machines can be used to sew clothing for sale, and hair cutting machines can be used to cut other community members' hair on a certain price. Some community members with solar home systems can also charge other members' cellphones at a certain price. The solar home systems with solar water pumps can be used by farmers to harvest water for their animals and crops which will also increase yield and profits. All of these will assist in ending poverty in the communities we are going to operate. The project will also employ some few community members.

02.02.01 My project contributes to the Zero hunger goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.02.02 Zero hunger - Justification

The solar home systems that we are going to provide will encourage some community members to venture into business activities which will earn them some profits and use them to provide food for their families. The community members with solar dc freezers can sell frozen food such as fruits and meat to other community members therefore ending hunger in the community. Farmers with solar water pumps can also increase their crop yields and be able to sell their harvests in the communities where they are needed. These will even encourage farmers to grow more crops and raise more animals due to the availability of water. Our solar-powered frozen food trailer will provide frozen food such as meat and fruits to people in rural areas who live far from town but do not have the transport means to go buy such food. This will ensure everyone has a balanced diet. The project will employ some individuals who will be able to make a living for themselves and provide for their families.

02.03.01 My project contributes to the Good health and well-being goal

5

02.03.02 Good health and well-being - Justification

Most people in rural areas use LPG gas for cooking and refrigeration. LPG gas is harmful as it causes fires and health problems if inhaled by humans. Our project will cut off these problems whereby it can replace the gas-powered freezers with solar-powered freezers. The scarcity of rainfall often forces pregnant women to walk long distances to fetch water posing risks of pregnancy complications. This can be solved if there are solar water pumps in the communities providing water for them. In addition, floods that occur in rural areas prevent pregnant woman from accessing timely and emergency maternity services. If we fight climate change through solar energy, this can be reduced. The high prevalence of food insecurity among communities prevent women from eating balanced diets or forces them to skip meals,which have negative health issues. This can be solved by making food available in the communities through the mobile frozen food trailers as well as solar dc freezers.

02.04.01 My project contributes to the Quality education goal

5

02.04.02 Quality education - Justification

People in rural areas especially children, find it hard to do their educational activities such as studying and do their homework at night due to the unavailability of electricity. But,with our affordable solar home systems these problem can be solved. Everyone can be able to study and do homework at night. Some people also struggle to do their online studies or distance studies because there is a lack of electricity to power their equipment such as computers and WiFi routers. But,with our affordable solar home systems, once again, these problem can be solved. Members of the community who uses the solar home systems to run businesses can be able to use their profits to afford proper education for themselves and their family members. Some schools in rural areas do not have electricity .Therefore, they can use our solar home systems to make education easier at their school such as for printing and making copies or using computers and projectors as teaching aids.

02.05.01 My project contributes to the Gender equality goal

6

02.05.02 Gender equality - Justification

One of the main beneficiaries of this project is young women, single mothers and youth who are unemployed but have or want to have businesses such as tuck shops or farms and gardens. We have four potential female customers who want to use solar energy to run their business activities. Three of them, one in Windhoek, one in Rundu and one in Mariental, both need solar dc freezers to expand their business activities by selling frozen food such as meat and fish in their community. The fourth one is also in Windhoek, Goreangab, she plans to build shacks/rooms for rent and she wants to power them with solar energy because there is no electricity in the area. The project also plans to employ young women as sales agents once the project kicks off. We also plan to provide internship/job attachment to female students who are studying at vocational training centers in the areas of solar installation and office administration. We also plan to rent out solar water pumps to young female farmers.

02.06.01 My project contributes to the Clean water and sanitation goal

5

02.06.02 Clean water and sanitation - Justification

In arid regions like Namibia, water is a precious resource. Our project will be providing solar water pumps that can be used to harvest water from boreholes. This water can be used for drinking, bathing as well as cooking meals. People will no longer have to walk long distances to go fetch water or collect water from the river. The solar water pumps can also provide water to farmers and gardeners for their animals and crops. These will cut down the use of diesel or petrol powered water pumps which are expensive, noisy and environmentally unfriendly. Tuck shop owners who will buy the solar dc freezers and farmers who will buy the solar water pumps can use their profits to afford taps from town councils or village councils for water.

02.07.01 My project contributes to the Affordable and clean energy goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.07.02 Affordable and clean energy - Justification

The energy to be produced by our products, solar home systems and solar water pumps, are both affordable, reliable, sustainable and clean modern type of energy. Our solar home systems can be bought via a prepaid and rent to own model which will allow users to pay for them on a monthly installments using mobile money. This can be afforded by anyone earning as little as N$1500.00 per moth, including students and pensioners. In addition, solar energy is clean and renewable. For as long as the sun is shining during the day, users will enjoy unlimited energy and store the excess in batteries for use at night or during cloudy days. The solar water pumps are noise free and can also provide water for as long as the sun is shining. They are clean compared to diesel-powered or petrol-powered water pumps which releases harmful gases and pollute the environment. The solar home systems will cut down the use of candles and kerosene lamps which are old fashioned and environment pollutants.

02.08.01 My project contributes to the Decent work and economic growth

6

02.08.02 Decent work and economic growth - Justification

Our project will offer employment to some members of the the community. Most of the employment will be full time. Our solar home systems will enable us to employ professionals such solar installation technicians, sales agents and drivers. While our mobile frozen food trailer will employ sales agents and a driver as well. As the business grows, so will the number of employees. All these type of employment will be significant and productive in the community. We will also offer internships or job attachment to students studying courses such as solar installations and office administration to supplement their studies.

02.09.01 My project contributes to the Industry innovation and infrastructure

3

02.09.02 Industry innovation and infrastructure - Justification

02.10.01 My project contributes to the Reduced inequalities goal

2

02.10.02 Reduced inequalities - Justification

02.11.01 My project contributes to the Sustainable cities and communities goal

4

02.11.02 Sustainable cities and communities - Justification

02.12.01 My project contributes to the Responsible consumption and production goal

2

02.12.02 Responsible consumption and production - Justification

02.13.01 My project contributes to the Climate action goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.13.02 Climate action - Justification

Most people in rural areas depend on fossil fuels for lighting. They use candles and kerosene lamps. Not only do these light sources poses a threat of fire, but they are also environmental friendly as they emit gases that contribute to global warming. With our affordable solar home systems, community members no longer have to use kerosene lamps or paraffin lamps or candles for lighting purposes which will reduce the effect on global warming and climate change. Farmers on the other hand, depend on diesel powered and petrol powered water pumps to provide water for their animals and crops. But these type of pumps pollute the air and contribute to climate change. With our solar water pumps, this can be brought to an end. Solar power is clean as it does not pollute the environment. The more solar water pumps and solar home systems we install, the more we reduce the effect on climate change. Together we can create a greener and cleaner future for our future generations.

02.14.01 My project contributes to the Life below water goal

1 - Strongly Disagree

02.14.02 Life below water - Justification

02.15.01 My project contributes to the Life on land goal

1 - Strongly Disagree

02.15.02 Life on land - Justification

02.16.01 My project contributes to the Peace justice and strong institutions goal

1 - Strongly Disagree

02.16.02 Peace justice and strong institutions - Justification

02.17.01 My project contributes to the Partnerships for the goal

4

02.17.02 Partnerships for the goal - Justification

05.01 There are a large number of customers who already use a product/service very similar to the product/service we envision creating.

3

05.02 The product/service we envision creating represents an entirely new type of product/service.

6

05.03 The product/service we envision creating could be described as a new technology.

6

05.04 The product/service we envision creating is an improvement on an existing product or service.

7 - Strongly Agree

05.05 The product/service we envision creating could be described as an extension of a range of products or services.

6

05.06 The product/service we envision creating responds to a demand or need that has not been satisfied by other products/services.

7 - Strongly Agree

05.07 The product/service we envision creating is a new version of an old product/service.

7 - Strongly Agree

05.08 Justification

Prepaid or rent to own solar home systems are rare to find in Namibia. Most, if not all, of the solar home systems sold in the country are purchased on cash. There is only one company which does prepaid solar home systems for households but not for businesses such as tuck shops and farmers. And their tokens can be bought from a vending machine whereas we plan to sell ours through mobile money so that clients can receive them anytime, anywhere. The rent to own model type does not exist at all so we want to introduce it. All solar freezers and solar water pumps are sold cash, and we want to bring in prepaid or rent to own types through a very unique mechanism. And there is no company that sells frozen food through a mobile frozen food trailer with a freezer powered by a solar panel and a battery, we will be the first one!

05.09 Who are your main potential competitors and what makes you stand out from them?

Our competitors include all solar equipment retailers and installers who sell solar products such as solar home systems, solar freezers and solar water pumps. Many households, tuck shops and farmers do not have these products because they can't afford them cash, but with our unique service of prepaid or rent to own, they can afford them so they will choose us. Olusheno - the only company offering prepaid solar solutions in Namibia, DIY solar home systems, cheaper products but lacks flexibility/options, customers can only receive tokens from a vending machine. The company only sells prepaid solar home systems which can only power appliances up to a 24" TV and we plan to exceed these. We want to offer prepaid solar home systems that can power even a 32" or 42" TV, solar water pump, sewing machines and a refrigerator or freezer because refrigeration is very important in our daily lives. We buy our products from reputable well-known retailers who also buy from quality manufacturers.

10.06 Are you initiating actions within your community to promote the role of female entrepreneurs?

Yes, I have four potential female customers who want to use solar energy to run their business activities. The first one is in Kavango East, in a rural area called Tuhingireni. This lady is busy building a tuck shop and she wants a solar dc chest freezer so that she can start selling meat and fish in her community. The second one is at Mariental, she already has a tuck shop attached to her house and she also wants a solar dc chest freezer to expand her business activities by selling meat and fish to her customers. There is also another one in Windhoek, at an informal settlement called One nation, in Katutura. This one also has a tuck shop attached to her shack house and she also wants a solar dc chest freezer to expand her business activities by selling meat and fish to her customers, including cool drinks. The fourth one is also in Windhoek, Goreangab, she plans to build shacks/rooms for rent and she wants to power them with solar energy because there is no electricity in the area.