Case Studies – rise International

African Clean Energy – Addressing limited access to clean cooking energy solutions in Africa.

December 9, 2024By Chris Theko0 comment

DATE 04/12/2024

BY MINAH LEKAU- Monitoring Evaluation & Research Coordinator

BACKGROUND:

African Clean Energy (ACE) is an international social enterprise dedicated to providing off-grid communities in developing countries with access to clean and affordable energy cooking solutions. Through the manufacturing and distribution of the ACE 1 hybrid energy system, ACE offers users a cost-effective product that provides both clean thermal energy for cooking and essential electricity for device charging and lighting.

THE PROBLEM:

The project set out to address limited access to clean cooking energy solutions in remote and underserved communities where geographic isolation and infrastructure make it difficult for communities to obtain while also eradicating poverty levels due to limited job opportunities by providing local employment opportunities that empower communities economically and socially

THE SOLUTION

ACE commissioned rise to design and install 4 self-sufficient mobile shops in Nazareth, Motsekuoa, Mapoteng, and Mphaki. Each mobile unit has a full photovoltaic (PV) solar system, batteries, fridges, printers, and other essential tools, enabling them to function independently. These mobile shops brought efficient, smoke-free cooking technologies directly to off-grid households, expanding access to life-changing solutions designed for these communities, improving health, reducing fuel usage, and fostering environmental sustainability.

THE METHODOLOGY

With support from EU funds, the rise team, in collaboration with our 2018 and 2019 Pioneers (Pioneers are graduates from rise‘s 10-month Design, Build, and Entrepreneurship in loco Fellowship program. Upon completing the fellowship, these graduates enter a three-year business incubation program, which offers business coaching, mentorship, access to power tools and machinery, workspace, networking opportunities, and project referrals) designed and constructed four mobile shops.

THE IMPACT:

Since the handover of these mobile energy hubs in 2019 to date several key accomplishments have been realized:

Strong Relationships with Village Leaders:
ACE has successfully established a strong rapport with local village leaders, significantly improving their Know Your Customer (KYC) process. These relationships have facilitated smoother operations and increased trust in ACE’s products and services.
Enhanced Marketing and Customer Base Expansion:
The mobile energy hubs have served as effective marketing tools, helping ACE increase its customer base. By offering more direct access to remote rural areas, ACE has been able to onboard new customers, further expanding its reach and impact.
Improved Service Delivery:
The hubs have played a crucial role in maintaining a consistent and reliable fuel distribution network for ACE’s hybrid energy systems. Additionally, the mobile energy hubs have enabled ACE to respond to customer maintenance requests more efficiently and quickly.

After-Sales Support:
These hubs, among the oldest in ACE’s network, have proven invaluable for providing after-sales support. They serve as a critical point of contact for a large portion of ACE’s customer base, offering essential repair services and guidance on the use of renewable energy technologies.
Educational Opportunities:
The hubs have created spaces where locals can educate themselves about renewable energy solutions and the benefits of transitioning to more sustainable energy sources. This shift in mindset is crucial for promoting the long-term adoption of clean energy technologies.
Local Employment and Women Empowerment:
Since the completion of the mobile shops, ACE has consistently hired three field agents and a watchman for each hub at any given time, specifically from the local area.

TESTIMONIALS

Rethabile Mafura- Director of ACE

“This initiative has successfully expanded ACE’s reach into rural, underserved communities, improving service delivery and creating economic opportunities, particularly for women. By providing energy access and education, ACE is dedicated to scaling its impact and driving social and environmental change in these regions.”

Case Studies

A new Orphanage for God’s Love Center

September 27, 2022By Chris Theko0 comment

Background

God’s Love Centre is an orphanage for vulnerable children in the peri-urban area, called ‘Sekamaneng’.It was established in 2001 by Mme Neo Motants’i, and has become a refuge for over 60 orphans and children without families. Many of the children at God’s Love Centre have been orphaned by the AIDS epidemic. The center is located 20km outside of Maseru, the capital of Lesotho in a nearby district of Berea.

The Problem

The orphanage was highly overcrowded. With only 2 bedrooms, it was initially built with the aim of housing about 12 or 15 children but when we discovered it, there were 45 children living there. The grounds needed immediate improvement, the number of children was also increasing rapidly, and there was no privacy between the younger children and the adolescents. There was a desperate need for a new building.

The Solution

Watch the documentary here

rise built a new residence for GLC solely for those above the age of 18. This building was constructed as the first in loco project in 2018, and was officially handed over in February 2019. The residential area has a tuck shop for means of income, a computer laboratory for the residents and community to learn how to be tech-savvy, and food gardens for a sustainable means of food provision.

Methodology

rise purchased land about 10 km from the initial GLC site and then designed and built a new building for the orphanage. This building was designed for adolescents of ages 13 to 18. A shipping container was converted into a computer center and a tuck shop on the other end.

The Impact

Over 20 young boys and girls were given a home every year. The community computer center was a good resource for the community to have access to the internet and computer facilities, especially in this day and age of technology. The adolescents also got capacity training for financial independence. A group of young graduates from the Design, Architecture, and Built environment fields from local universities got relevant work experience as they designed and built the extension of the orphanage.

Testimonials

” We are so grateful to ‘M’e Daniela and rise for all of their help. Now the orphanage has dignity, the older children will now have privacy and I am hoping they get the independence they need to take on life as adults.” – Neo Motants’i, Founder of God’s Love Centre

Case Studies

An inclusive office for the Lesotho National Federation of Organizations of the Disabled

June 29, 2022By Chris Theko0 comment

Background

The Lesotho National Federation of Organizations of the Disabled (LNFOD) is an umbrella body of organizations dealing with disability in Lesotho. LNFOD advocates for, promotes, and defends the rights of people with disabilities and their families through provision of training, material and emotional support, and by representing their needs to government, development partners and the wider community.

The Problem

The building in which LNFOD used as their office was not accessible and inclusive of people living with disabilities. There were no ramps, sliding doors, or rails in the toilets. There were no pavements on the outside of the building making it difficult for people who use wheelchairs to access the building. There were also no guiding blocks to assist blind people and signage for general guidance and warnings. The building had poor ventilation and lacked thermal insulation. In essence, the office did not allow for the organization to employ people with disabilities nor fully carry out services for people with disabilities because of lack of accessibility.

The Solution

rise built a new all inclusive office in Naleli, Maseru the capital city of Lesotho. This building is the first one of its kind in the country catering completely for people with different disabilities. It has a ramp for easy access for people with physical disabilities, the doors are wide to allow wheelchair access, there are rails in the bathroom, the walls are made of textured tiles for guidance for people with blindness or eye sight impairment. The building has insulation in the ceiling as well as a cavity wall for insulation which makes it warm in winter and cool in summer. It is also designed such that there is a separate entrance for the boardroom and toilets allowing LNFOD to rent out the boardroom to external entities as an income generating source because social enterprise is the heart of rise.

Methodology

With the support of funds from Sedlak GmbH and Brotfür die Welt, the rise in loco cohort of 2020 designed and constructed this building. in loco is rise’s learning by doing program where

Young Basotho graduates from the design, architecture and built environment fields come together as a fellowship and learn practical skills. This way, graduates gained practical skills while the LNFOD community gained an inclusive office space.

Challenges

The site available for the building was very small, as was the budget for this project. Moreover this building was constructed during the Covid-19 pandemic, movement restrictions due to the pandemic restricted a lot of activities and decreased morale on site. People on site had to work with each other but still maintain Covid-19 protocol which was new and uncomfortable. Construction materials prices kept increasing due to high transport costs and restricted movements which further challenged an already budget-restricted project. Hardware stores would often run out of stock, which challenged progress on site. The International partners were not able to visit the project.

The Impact

LNFOD is a national umbrella body of organizations of persons with disabilities and therefore works for an estimated 56 000 people in Lesotho according to census (2016). LNFOD now employs more than 10 people with different disabilities and can provide even more services because of their fully inclusive new headquarters office building.

Testimonials

Nkhasi Sefuthi – Director of LNFOD

“We now have accessible toilets and ramps that make the office accessible for all people with disabilities including those using wheelchairs. We are now able to conduct our work efficiently even without the disturbances we used to have in our previous working space.”

SEDLAK GmbH and Diakonie/Brot für die Welt – Sponsors of the project

“We are proud to have supported the first accessible and inclusive office building in Lesotho. The construction of the LNFOD offices in Naleli is a milestone for disability organizations in Lesotho and will hopefully serve as a role model for other accessible buildings throughout the country.”