is one of the women featured in Secrets of the World’s Inspirational Women. Author and social campaigner Zerbanoo Gifford meeting and documented the lives and careers of hundreds of inspirational women, from 60 countries and every field of endeavour.

Update FEB 2008 Agropark Assoc, Recyclo proposal Petra selected among 54 finalists for worldbank Lighting Africa program fighting poverty CLIMATE CHANGE with Solar Home Lighting produced in the Solar mini factory

COMMENT OF A MONACO BASED BANK: "You make people feel suddenly getting connected"
(with the plug&play solar home electricity 230 V Socket included)
COMMENT OF A FRENCH BANK: "We thinking of a FARM project doing with you"
(La petite Ferme / The family Farm of the Future, self sustaining agriculture energy and agriculture fuel cell)
COMMENT OF THE WORLDBANK: "Interesting Solar Lighting project, even with solar hybrid cooker, makes sense..

IFC WORLDBANK LIGHTING AFRICA

Washington, D.C, January 31, 2008 –The World Bank Group officially announced today the selection of 54 finalists to its grant competition on innovative solutions for off-grid lighting products and services in Sub-Saharan Africa. The Development Marketplace Grant Competition is part of the Lighting Africa program, which aims to mobilize the private sector to provide modern off-grid lighting to 250 million people in Sub-Saharan Africa. The 54 finalists will present their ideas to a panel of jurors during Lighting Africa 2008, the first global business conference for off-grid lighting in Africa, to be held in Accra, Ghana, on May 5-8, 2008. The panel will select 10 to 20 winners, who will receive up to $200,000 in seed funding to develop and implement their ideas.

The Development Marketplace team received more than 400 proposals from a number of organizations, including private businesses, nongovernmental organizations, universities, government entities, and individuals. The popularity of the competition highlights the vast potential for the market and is the latest indication of the magnitude of global entrepreneurial interest in tackling energy issues and developing solutions for off-grid lighting in Sub-Saharan Africa.

Examples of finalists’ projects include: the distribution of affordable solar lamps through used clothing networks; a landfill gas system and plant based on animal waste; the creation of supply chains and distribution networks for solar energy systems and light-emitting diodes; and solar electric street lighting. The projects could be implemented in as many as 23 countries, including Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria, Rwanda, South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda, and Zambia.

off-grid lighting in Africa

As part of the conference, Development Marketplace contenders will have the opportunity to showcase their projects. About 300 participants are expected, from the lighting industry, international financial institutions, the private sector, government agencies, and nongovernmental organizations. Participants will have opportunities to share market and industry knowledge; establish strategic business partnerships; and gain the skills, tools, and capacity to tap into this evolving market area. Registration is ongoing until May 2008;

Anil Cabraal, World Bank Lead Energy Specialist, said, “The competition can assist entrepreneurs in moving from innovation to impact. It provides a platform for the World Bank Group to team up with the global lighting industry and local entrepreneurs to offer cheaper, cleaner, more consumer-friendly products and services into the budding market for off-grid lighting in Africa.”