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Leveraging EEC’s BDS support to achieve further business success and industry recognition

By October 31, 2024November 1st, 2024News

Building on the previous month’s article whose focus was on how EEC’s business development services enhance SME attractiveness to investors, in this article we showcase the real-world impact of EEC’s support on SMEs, giving example of some EEC enterprises (Wisdom Energy Hub, ECOCA and Nyalore Impact) who have leveraged EEC’s support to grow their businesses, gain industry recognition, and extend their impact on communities and the environment.

The Energy Enterprise Coach (EEC) is an initiative offering business development services to small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in the clean energy sector across Africa and Asia, fostering their growth and strengthening their potential for industry impact. Conceptualised and funded by the Netherlands Enterprise Agency (RVO) and the Energising Development (EnDev) partnership, the EEC provides tailored support to help clean energy enterprises expand, professionalise, and increase their financial and operational readiness. The program is part of the SEE-Clean Cooking Program, which includes the Africa Biogas Component and the Higher Tier Clean Cooking Component and EnDev programme.

Wisdom Energy Hub
Located in Engineer Town, Kenya, Wisdom Energy Hub manufactures and distributes biomass stoves, producing around 100 units each month. The enterprise densifies biomass to generate a cooking flame and converts the residue into charcoal for future use. Since its inception, Wisdom Energy Hub has sold over nine thousand biomass stoves, created over 13,000 jobs, mitigated over 135,000 tons of carbon emissions, and saved over 60,000 trees.

With the EEC’s financial and governance advisory support, Wisdom Energy Hub has been able to scale its production, now targeting an output of 750 stoves monthly in collaboration with Burn Design Lab for technical improvements. Their efforts were recognized by the Energy Management Award for Improved Cooking Solutions in 2023, and they were further featured on Citizen TV, one of Kenya’s most popular national TV networks, where Daniel Waithaka, Wisdom Energy Hub’s Managing Director, spoke about the company’s innovation.

The company’s stoves are designed to increase profitability for small food businesses by reducing energy costs, cutting these costs by as much as 65%. This innovation is particularly significant because Nairobi’s informal food sector is a major source of employment, and its sustainability will help maintain affordable food prices. As one Wisdom Energy Hub customer put it, “Wisdom jiko saves me money and reduces my cooking time. It turned my business around.”

ECOCA
Founded in Uganda, ECOCA introduced the world’s first energy-efficient off-grid solar cook stoves, which were designed in the Bidi Bidi refugee settlement. This innovation, led by ECOCA’s director Ruth Komuntane, combines cooking functionality with USB charging ports for small devices, directly supporting the productivity of women in rural areas while reducing time spent gathering fuel. Speaking at the Clean Cooking Finance Masterclass on “Going to Scale,” Ruth shared how EEC’s support empowered her to deepen her engagement in financial management and investor relations—skills that have strengthened her leadership.

Her achievements were celebrated with the Women in Technology Award at the 2024 Women in Climate Change Conference, recognizing her commitment to transforming lives through sustainable technology across Africa. ECOCA’s impact continues to expand, with deployments now reaching communities in Burundi, Malawi, South Sudan, and Kenya.

Nyalore Impact
Based in Homa Bay, Kenya, Nyalore Impact has installed renewable energy solutions in over 500 households and businesses, reduced annual carbon emissions by over 1,000 tons, and created over 50 jobs in local communities. Specialising in improved cookstoves, Nyalore also manufactures energy-efficient electric pressure cookers and induction stoves, helping reduce dependency on biomass fuel.

EEC’s group training sessions and e-learning courses provided Nyalore with invaluable expertise, enabling the team to navigate operational obstacles with confidence. “The skills we gained have significantly improved many aspects of our operations,” says Dorothy, CEO of Nyalore Impact.

Dorothy received an Entrepreneurship Award at the African Queen of Energy Awards, an apt recognition for their efforts toward helping low-income households and small businesses access energy-efficient appliances. They’ve achieved this by offering instalment payment options and implementing a pay-as-you-go system, making sustainable energy more accessible to their community.

These success stories illustrate how EEC’s customised support, from financial advisory and governance guidance to operational training, has supported and empowered SMEs to achieve industry recognition and further their mission to provide clean energy solutions across communities. Each of these enterprises demonstrates the transformative effect of targeted capacity-building on their growth trajectories and lasting impact.

As EEC continues to work alongside clean energy SMEs, these stories serve as an inspiration, showing how support can translate into tangible, far-reaching results.

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