Regions:
  • Central Africa
  • Eastern Africa
  • South East Asia
  • Southern Africa


Countries:
  • Eswatini
  • Kenya
  • Lesotho
  • Malaysia
  • Nigeria
  • Rwanda
  • Somalia
  • South Africa
  • South Sudan
  • Tanzania
  • Uganda
Organisation type:
    Consulting Firms & Advisory Services
    Engineering, Procurement, Construction
    Project developers
    Technology Suppliers & Innovators
Technology type:
    Energy Storage
    Solar PV
Business model:
    Build Operate Transfer (BOT)
    Community-based Models
    Hybrid Models
    Installers & Contractors
    Pay-to-Own & Ownership Models
    Philanthropic & NGOs
    Public Utility & Municipal (Grid/Mini-grid/Microgrid/Standalone Systems)
Member

Smart Villages

Smart Villages Research Group (SVRG) has been active in energy access and rural development since 2012, including large-scale global research and engagement to establish the most effective business models, technologies and community engagement models for sustainable energy access which generates lasting and broad development impact.

The SVRG model for integrated community-led rural development uses energy as a catalyst for complementary productive uses and innovative community services, maximising development impact across SDGs. SVRG now works with partners globally to implement this model, develop new technologies to improve functionality for communities, and collect rigorous impact data to evidence its benefits. We have active grant and investor-funded rural development and energy access projects in Tanzania, Uganda, Kenya, Somaliland, Nigeria and Lesotho, and are currently completing discussions to open market presence in additional African and South/Southeast Asian markets too.

SVRG also has projects to develop innovative rural healthcare, education and cold storage solutions in East Africa and beyond. We have particular strengths in offgrid energy systems, solar borehole technology and business models, and sustainable community-wide systems for agricultural value addition and livelihood improvement.