Electric Bankers: Empowering Households Through Utility-Enabled Financing
Webinar
Access to electricity can be transformational, but only if people also have access to the appliances and technologies needed for its use. In Sub-Saharan Africa, only 1 in 3 households has a television, 1 in 6 has a refrigerator, and 1 in 9 owns a computer. Increasing ownership of electrical appliances can turn energy access into development impact by reducing drudgery, saving time, and unlocking greater economic potential. But high-quality appliances are unaffordable for many people, particularly those who do not have access to consumer finance. Enabling consumer financing that drives appliance ownership and higher levels of electricity demand is part of a larger shift that utilities can make toward a customer-centric, service-based approach. A new paper from CGAP and CLASP, “Electric Bankers: Utility-Enabled Finance in Sub-Saharan Africa" (2020), explores how energy providers can close the credit gap and provide value for their customers.
This webinar, organized by CGAP and CLASP, explored the opportunities and challenges of utility-enabled financing along with the spectrum of options available to energy providers. Presenters summarized the findings from the new paper before discussing their implications with guest experts from African utilities and asset finance companies.
Resources
Presenters
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Siena Hacker | Clean Energy Access Coordinator, CLASP Siena Hacker is a coordinator at CLASP supporting the Efficiency for Access Coalition, which accelerates global clean energy access through high-performing appliances. She focuses on the intersections of gender, access to finance, and the uptake of efficient appliances. Siena graduated from Scripps College with a BA in Environment, Economics, and Politics and a thesis on US utility markets, "A Western Interconnection Regional System Operator: Benefits and Barriers". |
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Daniel Waldron | Financial Sector Specialist, CGAP Daniel Waldron leads CGAP's work on energy and asset finance. He has worked with financial services providers and government stakeholders in Sub-Saharan Africa, Latin America, and Southeast Asia. He has collaborated closely with numerous firms in the off-grid energy space, helping them to optimize their consumer finance and digital collection operations. Before joining CGAP, Daniel worked as a research analyst for Petrides & Co., an energy investment bank. He also served as a research and data analyst for Better Than Cash Alliance and worked for BFA and Mastercard Foundation on the Financial Inclusion on Business Runways Initiative. |
Panelists
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Martha Kamanu Mutugi | Principle Marketing Officer, Sales Growth, Kenya Power Martha is the principal marketing officer, sales growth, at Kenya Power. Her overall responsibility is to enhance electricity sales through marketing of electricity and related services. Martha has over 20 years of experience in the electricity sector. She holds an MBA from the University of Nairobi and is a recipient of a Head of State Commendation due to her role in the improvement of the Ease of Getting Electricity Index, which significantly contributed to the improvement of the country’s Ease of Doing Business ranking. |
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Carlued Leon | Research Director, MANAUS Carlued Leon is the research director at MANAUS, a research firm that provides evaluation and strategy services in the areas of corporate social responsibility and international development. Carlued is responsible for designing, implementing, and overseeing qualitative and quantitative research projects worldwide. She has presented articles in international forums like the Better Work Conference of the International Finance Corporation and the Inclusive Business Forum for Asia of the Asian Development Bank. She has also published articles in journals like the Americas Quarterly and the OECD’s Selected Papers Compendium. Carlued holds an MIA in public policy and development economics from the University of California, San Diego and a BA in international studies from the Universidad Central de Venezuela. |
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Angus Marjoribanks | Chief Operating Officer, EnerGrow Angus Marjoribanks is the chief operating officer of EnerGrow, an innovative asset financing company in Uganda with a focus on driving energy demand stimulation to accelerate access to energy in East Africa. He is leading their expansion and development in Uganda. He is an experienced development and management consultant, working on multi-sector intervention programmes including informal sector impact, energy access projects, and clean energy solutions. He studied mechanical engineering at Imperial College London before moving to Uganda in 2014. |