Female Micro-preneurs Fighting Poverty with Clean Energy

In this episode, we talk with Sujatha Ramani from Pollinate Group. We explore how this nonprofit is empowering female entrepreneurs, known as "Suryamukhi", by financing affordable clean energy technology. This boosts the livelihoods of underprivileged women living in the slums and villages of India and Nepal, fostering hope and financial independence.

"99% of the women that are part of the program invest their earnings from clean energy products. Which is transformational to having a better quality of life and pulling themselves out of intergenerational cycles of poverty."

Sujatha anticipates that through the program, all the women participating as Suryamukhis—which means "sunflower" in Hindi—will be able to distribute clean energy and pull themselves out of poverty, achieving a dignified income. 

Pollinate Group's impact model addresses the global energy crisis by providing access to essential clean energy products while creating female micro-entrepreneurs to help tackle poverty. To date, this program has empowered more than 2,200 women and positively impacted over 802,000 people in their communities.

  INTERVIEW CONDUCTED ON BEHALF OF IRENA FOR DECENTRALIZED SOLAR PV: A GENDER PERSPECTIVE (2024) REPORT