Signing Ceremony of Solar Mtaji Program Partnership Agreement.
On August 28 th 2019, at the WIDE office, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, WIDE and SEPON Ltd
signed a Partnership Agreement to implement Solar Mtaji Program, that seeks to promote,
support rural and semi-urban off-grid women and youth to access renewable energy for
productive uses in three regions of Dar es Salaam, Pwani and Morogoro where WIDE
implements her development programs. The Chief Executive Office, of WIDE Mr. Jeremiah
Paul Wandili, and Mr. Arnold Ndimbo, Finance and Admin of WIDE attended. On the other
side, the Managing Director of SEPON Ltd, Mr. Benard Okech and Mr. Festo Mbando, Business
Development Manager were present during the signing of the Partnership Agreement Ceremony.
About “Solar Mtaji”
Solar-Mtaji the program comes from two words solar which mean Energy from the sun and
Mtaji is a Kiswahili word which means Capital. We see solar as capital to businesses and hence
offer it as capital to youth and women in Tanzanian Rural areas. Based on this case, SEPON
LTD has come up with a business model that would like to replicate the same principle but on a
large scale. The model will enable many young people and people with special needs to start and
manage their businesses right at their rural homes hence creating sustainable and equitable
development
The Project Objective
Solar Mtaji aims at facilitating a cross-sectoral dialogue, multi-stakeholder engagement and key
decision-makers participation in the transformation process from consumption to productive use
of Renewable energy in rural areas in Tanzania;
Specific objectives of Solar Mtaji
Demonstrate how productive use of renewable energy is enabled in rural areas by
community engagement and coordination between the private sector, LGAs and
decentralized multiple-level planning and decision-making in the energy sector in the
various district (s);
Provide a thorough technology understanding to stakeholders on the viability of
productive use of renewable energy, its implications for remote off-grid rural
community’s livelihood development and Poverty Reduction in those district (s) of
operation;
Inspire stakeholders and build up hands-on knowledge on how productive use of
renewable energy adds value to local economic development and community
sustainability
Create Employment opportunities for rural youth and women as well as people living
with special needs in order to economically empower them.
The Solar Mtaji Target
The proposed project intends to add value and build upon existing uses of renewable energy, but
in a productive way. SEPON Ltd targets to impact one thousand (1,000) youth and women-led
businesses that are run by solar power in Tanzania by August 2022. The initial entrepreneurs to
be identified will include the youth (both individuals and groups), women (both individuals and
groups) disabled and HIV/AIDS-affected individuals.
SOLAR MTAJI AND SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS
WIDE is implementing all her programs by linking the objectives with the Sustainable
Development Goals (SDG’s), since its inception, the organization has effectively participated in
the implementation of SDG’s 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 and other goals as cross cutting agenda. Our
commitment to achieving SDG’s has made it easy to accept the partnership with the profit
company for social impacts. SEPON Ltd mission and the objectives of Solar Mtaji, is directly
aligned with the organization Vision; to see economically stable, just, healthy and well-educated
community within a conducive environment,” it is our utmost believe that through Solar Mtaji,
the economic status of women and youth will be improved, health as well as the environment in
which the prospective business will be operating.
SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOAL 7
“Ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all, by 2030” The
business model designed for Solar Mtaji will ensure access to affordable, reliable and sustainable
use of renewable energy for productive uses at scale. In the three years of this partnership WIDE
in collaboration with Local Government Authorities (LGA’s), development partners and other
stakeholders will enhance skills training in business development to women and youth all over
the regions and link our stakeholders to adopt the Solar Mtaji program in their areas so that to
increases impacts. This is what we call smart Partnership….for People, Planet and Prosperity.
PARTNERS QOUTES OF POWER4CHANGE
Jeremiah Paul Wandili, WIDE-CEO
“This is a major milestone in WIDE development strategic engagement to advance women and
youth a smart business using solar technology. For us, women and youth are the most active and
promising market for productive uses of renewable energy." Using the government support of
10% non-interest loan for women, youth and people with disabilities we are going to transform
their business model through Business Development training, leadership, and financial
management so that they will be able to recover the loans timely and able to gain maximum
profits.
Okech Benard, SEPON Ltd -Managing Director
“SEPON Ltd is demonstrating today its willingness to lead the productive use of renewable
energy projects in Tanzania. We hope this project will allow us to establish on a long-term basis
in the country, along with our local partners, through the development and acquisition of stakes
of many more promising uses of renewable energy; Solar power productively.”
