On October 16-18, 2006, IFC presented and discussed a new $7 million, multiyear project, Lighting the Bottom of the Pyramid, at the Light Emitting Diodes conference in San Diego, California.
The objective of the initiative is to support LED companies in successfully entering the off-grid lighting markets in developing countries—estimated at $40 billion a year. IFC expects to mobilize the private sector to find a commercial solution to a global development challenge: 1.6 billion people without access to electricity, 500 million of them in Africa.
IFC will seek a market transformation that provides the poorest of the poor – or the “bottom of the pyramid” – with greater access to reliable and affordable lighting services. IFC will pilot the project in Ghana and Kenya and is seeking partners across a wide range of donors, private sector companies, and stakeholders to collaborate in the initiative.
Through participation in the seminar, companies:
- Learned the details of the initiative
- Gained a quick understanding of the market opportunity
- Were able to influence the shape and direction of the initiative to ensure that the program effectively meets the industry’s needs
- Learned about procurement opportunities associated with the early-stage field tests to be undertaken in selected African countries.
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For additional information contact:
Barbara Zhang
Program Officer
Tel: (202) 458-9601
