IFC and World Bank Mobilize Lighting Industry

Contacts in Washington, D.C.
IFC - Lucie Giraud  +1 202 458 4662
lgiraud@ifc.org
Cell phone Ghana: +233 27 385 2768 (May 2-9) 
IFC - Katia Theriault +1 202 458 4662
ktheriault@ifc.org
Cell phone Ghana: +233 27 385 2769 (May 2-9) 
Africa Energy Unit, The World Bank - Chris Walsh +1 202 473-4594
cwalsh@worldbank.org 
Sustainable Development Vice Presidency, The World Bank - Roger Morier +1-202 473-5675
rmorier@worldbank.org

WASHINGTON, May 2, 2008 —More than 500 representatives of the lighting industry, governments, and nongovernmental organizations are meeting in Ghana, from May 6 to 8, 2008, for the Lighting Africa 2008 conference. The event, the first global business conference for off-grid lighting in Africa, is part of the World Bank Group's Lighting Africa program. The goal is to mobilize the private sector to provide modern off-grid lighting – such as Light Emitting Diodes (LEDs) and Compact Fluorescent Lamps (CFLs) - to more than 250 million people in sub-Saharan Africa by 2030.
 
The conference provides a forum for international and local lighting industry entrepreneurs to learn more about the emerging off-grid lighting market in sub-Saharan Africa and innovations in the field, while also developing strategic business partnerships.

"Increasing access to affordable and clean lighting is essential to Africa's development. Waiting for an expansion of the electricity grid is not an option, given today's energy concerns. The region's lighting needs are critical and require innovation and alternative business models," said Anil Cabraal, World Bank Lead Energy Specialist.

Fuel prices are soaring in Africa and access to electricity remains limited to only 26 percent of the population. To help address the energy crisis and respond to consumer needs, the World Bank Group is mobilizing the global lighting industry and helping entrepreneurs innovate and develop off-grid non-fuel based lighting solutions, while reducing barriers that interfere with the private sector's efforts to penetrate the market.

"We expect the Lighting Africa conference to expose some of the many business opportunities in the Sub-Saharan off-grid lighting market. By building a coalition between all parties in the industry, we hope to reduce hurdles and perceived uncertainties that accompany the development of a market as undiscovered as this one," said Monika Weber-Fahr, IFC Manager of the Sustainability Business Innovator Group.
      
Conference highlights will include:

• A Development Marketplace grant competition for the most innovative off-grid lighting solutions and business models. Companies will compete for about 20 awards of up to $200,000 each.
• The unveiling of pilot market research in Ghana and Kenya that will provide critical market and consumer information to entrepreneurs and investors. Research is also being conducted in Ethiopia, Tanzania, and Zambia.
• A trade fair where more than 50 lighting businesses will exhibit their innovative products.

Lead sponsors include the Energy Sector Management Assistance Program, the Global Environment Facility, and the Public-Private Infrastructure Advisory Facility. Other supporters include Good Energies Inc.; the governments of Luxemburg, the Netherlands, Norway, and the United Kingdom; the European Commission; and the Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Partnership.