What We Do

Why Our Work Matters

Over 600 million people in sub-Saharan Africa live without electricity and about 940 million depend on harmful fuels such as firewood and charcoal for cooking. Globally, smoke from cooking over open fires causes 2.6 million premature deaths^[1] and a host of harmful health conditions, including respiratory and vision problems. Almost 490 000 premature deaths per year in sub-Sharan Africa are linked to household air pollution from the lack of access to clean cooking facilities, with women and children being the worst affected. Lack of access to power locks people into poverty and affects all areas of life. Energy poverty has a multitude of direct and indirect negative consequences on the health, education, and incomes of women in particular and of off-grid communities in general.