22 October 2012: Lighting Africa, a market development programme implemented by the World Bank and the International Finance Corporation, has released a Donor Update, announcing that demand for pollution-free lighting products is steadily growing, with Lighting Africa helping 4 million people access to clean lighting this year, surpassing the 2.5 million person goal for that period.

The Donor Update further highlights the health, security and educational benefits accrued from installing the clean lighting products, and notes that demand for clean lighting grew by 115% compared to sales recorded in the previous year.

Another story highlights the Program’s efforts in meeting the UN Secretary-General’s target of Sustainable Energy for All (SE4ALL) by 2030, noting that these efforts were highlighted at the UN Conference on Sustainable Development (UNCSD or Rio+20) in June this year. At the Conference, Lighting Africa and the Global Lighting and Energy Partnership (Global LEAP) were credited with assisting in the transition away from kerosene and other carbon-intensive lighting options, and increasing the uptake of sustainable solar lighting.

The Update then provides “on the ground” stories from Kenya and Tanzania, which highlight the impact of clean lighting products, as well as applaud the efforts of Appropriate Rural Technology Institute of Tanzania (ARTI-TZ), an NGO working to provide credit for solar lamp purchases to rural consumers. The Update also provides information on clean lighting efforts in Liberia, describing the work of the country’s Rural and Renewable Energy Agency to commercialize off-grid solar lighting products.

Finally, it contains a section on new products, featuring lanterns and solar kits among others. [Publication (direct download): Lighting Africa Donor Update]