SolarAid

SolarAid Pride Court, 80 - 82 White Lion Street London, London N1 9PF United Kingdom 02072780400 http://www.solar-aid.org

Mission

To combat climate change and poverty through solar power. SolarAid aims to enable the world’s poorest people to have clean, renewable power. Solar power leads to better education, health, safety and income by allowing poor communities to cook, pump water, run fridges, store vaccines, light homes, schools, clinics and businesses, power computers and homes, farm more effectively, and much more.

Programs

SolarAid is running programmes in Zambia, Tanzania, Malawi and Kenya. Both micro solar projects (supporting solar businesses) and macro solar projects (installing solar systems on schools, hospitals and community centres). Planned programmes include projects in South America including Peru, Bolivia and Argentina.

Personnel Overview

Abel Mbewe - Project Manager
Abel Mbewe has more than fifteen years experience in both urban and rural energy issues in Zambia and the Southern African region. Evaluated the World Solar Programme (WSP) 1994 – 2005 funded by the United Nations Education Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). Between 1987 and 2003, Abel was a principal energy researcher for the African Energy Policy Research Network (AFREPREN).

John Keane - Head of Programmes
As a volunteer with Student Partnerships Worldwide in Tanzania, he became acutely aware of the pressing need for affordable, renewable energy in the rural communities. Once back in the UK, he researched the concept of micro solar and raised his own funds to go back to Africa and train solar entrepreneurs in Kenya, Tanzania, Sierra Leone, Senegal, Malawi and a number of other countries.

Nick Sireau - Director
started out in financial journalism, working for thinktank Independent Economic Analysis (IDEA) and newswire Bridge News (now part of Reuters). He worked in charity communications and fundraising for mainline church charity CWM and for international development agency Progressio as Director of Communications.

Personnel Statistics

Dr Nick Sireau,
Director
Founded in 2006
Employees: 9
Volunteers: 50

Financial Statistics

Budget (2008): £ 1,281,616
Budget (2007): £ 514,662
Overhead: 0 %
Other funding sources: Funding from Global Cool/Vodafone, Lloyds, the City of London, the Foreign Office, Scottish and Southern Energy, TRAID, other organisations as well as an increasing number of venture philanthropists.
Religious Affiliation: None