Weza Development Marketplace - Rwanda

During the past decade, Rwanda has made great strides in rebuilding economic, administrative and judicial infrastructures. It has also made advances in rebuilding the country’s health service and educational system.

Less than 5% of Rwanda’s 8.6 million people have access to electricity. The capital, Kigali (the fastest growing city in Africa) is home to roughly 5% of the total population, yet consumes 80% of the country’s energy. It also suffers power outages that can last for days. An estimated 93% of Rwandans live in rural areas without access to any form of modern energy. 

The Weza Generator is a foot-powered portable energy source, offering power of up to 12v anywhere and at anytime.

We launched the Weza World Bank Development Marketplace initiative project in January 2007 and by the end of February, 128 Weza Pioneers had been trained to use the Weza and manage a business selling power to community members.Our implementating partner organisation, CARE had already trained associations to manage savings and loan programmes, and encouraged them to join the Weza project. A low interest credit line was set up to enable 40 Weza Enterprise groups to start their own rural energy businesses and provide valuable community services. Groups repay their micro-loans out of income generated by cell phone and hair clipper charging and LED light rentals.

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Freeplay’s Portable Energy Device Wins Major World Bank Competition, 9 May 2006

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