On April 28, 2017, during the quarterly meeting of the Liberia Energy Access Practioner (LEAP) network, Mercy Corps announced the three best performing solar retailers for the first quarter of 2017. It was the first time that this quarterly award based on the sales figures was given out. The best retailer of the year 2017 will receive a motorbike.
The first winner, Vision Awake Africa for Development (VAAfD), is an NGO that operates a school in Paynesville. To generate additional funding, they started selling solar products. The second winner is Jerrut Enterprise, the third Sjedi Green energies. All can be found in the Renewables Stakeholders Directory.
The winner received a trophy and the opportunity to select products worth $1,500 USD, sell them and then pay it back or return products. The second winner received a loan in solar products of $1,000 USD, the third of $500 USD. Additionally, all received a toolkit for repairing solar lamps.
Other topics on the LEAP network meeting were updates from all present members, a debrief on the First Renewable Energy Fair in Gbarnga, upcoming events and opportunities. The retailers also discussed the key challenges that they face so that RREA, EnDev and Mercy Corps can focus their activities on relevant issues. The three key challenges that retailers agreed on were access to finance, awareness about renewables products and repair and maintenance.
Participants of the LEAP network meeting on April 28, 2017, with the three awarded retailers in front