Pay-as-you-go (PAYGo) solar is one of the most exciting trends in both energy access and financial inclusion. PAYGo's value proposition for the consumer has often been explained purely in terms of net savings and reduced kerosene spending. But results from research funded by CGAP and FIBR present a more nuanced picture of a financing model that provides great value to customers but can leave them vulnerable to exploitation.

In this webinar, CGAP and FIBR will present the results of our research in Kenya, Tanzania, Cote d'Ivoire and Ghana, taking a close look at some of the more controversial insights. Are customers saving money, or are they in debt over their heads? Can providers find a way to encourage joint spousal loan decisions, or is that asking too much, too soon? And is there a way to bring this model to the lowest income households? With input from the PAYGo sector and CGAP's Gender and Financial Inclusion Community of Practice, a frank and open discussion will ultimately focus on the question: Does this model work for the end consumer?

Date: March 6th, 2018

Time: 10:00 - 11:00 a.m. (U.S. EST)

Speakers

Julie Zollmann (BFA) was lead researcher into PAYGo consumer insights for this project. She works both independently and with BFA to understand the demand side of retail financial service markets. As a senior associate at BFA, she worked on research to better understand consumer responses to electronic government transfer payments, consumer needs and preferences in savings devices, and financial capability in the context of branchless banking. 

Daniel Waldron (CGAP) is a researcher specializing in business models that leverage digital finance to achieve development objectives. He heads the water and energy work done by CGAP under Digital Finance Plus and managed the CGAP-FIBR research into PAYGo. He has authored numerous publications on the potential of PAYGo solar and has managed digital finance research in Asia and Africa. He holds a bachelor of fine arts and a masters in international development.

Paul Warnars (Off Grid Electric) is the head of Customer and Market Intelligence at Off Grid Electric, a pay-as-you-go solar provider operating in East and West Africa. Paul is in charge of new market scoping, customer insight studies, baseline country profiles, competitor analysis, and quarterly customer metrics. He has been with Off Grid Electric for four and a half years, and has lived in East Africa for six years. He holds a bachelor of business economics, bachelor of philosophy, and master of science in international development studies.

Yasmin Bin-Humam (CGAP) is a financial sector specialist at CGAP focusing on gender issues. She facilitates a community of practice on women's financial inclusion. Before joining CGAP, Yasmin developed indicators measuring women's equality under the law for the World Bank's Women, Business and the Law project and contributed to publications on legal barriers to women's economic empowerment. Her prior work experience spans the public, private, and non-governmental sectors. Yasmin holds JD and MSFS degrees from Georgetown University and a bachelor's degree in economics from Harvard.

Resources

Read the report: Escaping Darkness: Understanding Consumer Value in PAYGo Solar

Our other work focusing on PAYGo Solar: PAYGO Solar Briefing Note

Learn more about CGAP's work: PAYGo Solar