In sub-Saharan Africa, more than 940 million people still live without access to electricity, while over 700 million rely on hazardous fuels such as firewood and charcoal for cooking. Many rural communities depend on kerosene and wood for lighting and cooking, exposing families to harmful fumes and environmental degradation. Women are especially affected, spending long hours collecting firewood and inhaling toxic smoke, all while struggling with limited income opportunities.
To address these challenges, the Puma Energy Foundation has partnered with Solar Sister, an organization empowering women in sub-Saharan Africa to build sustainable businesses selling solar lamps and clean energy products within their communities.
Since its establishment in 2010, Solar Sister’s award-winning model has built a network of over 12,000 entrepreneurs, reaching more than 5.5 million people across Africa. In Tanzania, where the initiative launched in 2013, it has already transformed the lives of more than 2.3 million people through access to clean energy and economic empowerment.
Empowering Women, Expanding Energy Access
The partnership between Puma Energy Foundation and Solar Sister began in 2023 with the Business Booster Programme, which provided training and support to 579 women entrepreneurs in Tanzania. Participants received education in business management, digital literacy, and marketing — alongside access to smartphones and technology that enabled them to expand their customer base and increase sales.
Building on the success of this initiative, the partnership entered its second phase in 2025. The new phase aims to:
- Recruit and train 500 additional women entrepreneurs across three new regions,
- Provide 200 women with advanced digital business skills, and
- Facilitate the sale of 16,000 solar products, including 2,000 clean cookstoves.
“The goal is not just to sell energy products,” said Cesear Mloka, Solar Sister Tanzania’s Country Director. “It’s to empower women with confidence, financial independence, and a respected voice in their households and communities.”
Transforming Lives, One Entrepreneur at a Time
For Neema Ally from Songwe, southern Tanzania, the Solar Sister programme was life-changing. Once a farm labourer barely making ends meet, Neema joined Solar Sister and began her journey as an energy entrepreneur. With the profits from her solar sales, she was able to rent five acres of land, start her own maize farm, and now employs others in her community — ensuring her children can attend school.
Similarly, Theresia John Robert, from northern Tanzania, once broke rocks by hand to survive. After joining Solar Sister in 2017, she began selling solar lanterns and clean cookstoves. Initially shy and uncertain, Theresia’s confidence grew as she expanded her business, eventually earning enough to build her own home — a dream she once thought impossible.
Sustainable Impact for Communities and the Environment
Through the renewed partnership, Solar Sister and Puma Energy Foundation aim to reach 85,000 Tanzanians with clean and low-carbon energy products. The initiative not only helps reduce carbon emissions but also improves household health and strengthens climate resilience.
“We aim to improve livelihoods and make a meaningful difference in people’s lives,” said Laura Fruehwald, Programme Manager at Puma Energy Foundation. “Through this partnership, energy is not only a tool for daily living, but also a catalyst for empowerment and long-term development.”
Complementing the Foundation’s efforts, Puma Energy Tanzania is ensuring the availability of affordable and high-quality LPG products and services, further promoting clean cooking and reducing reliance on hazardous fuels like charcoal and kerosene.
By empowering women entrepreneurs and expanding access to clean energy, the Solar Sister–Puma Energy Foundation partnership is creating a powerful ripple effect — improving livelihoods, reducing poverty, and building healthier, more resilient communities across Tanzania.
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