Providing African households with affordable electricity
NOTS Solar Lamps improves the lives of African households by providing them with electricity, through a Made-in-Africa MUTIMAX Solar System (‘MSS’), consisting of a solar panel, battery, 3 lamps and charger for mobile phone and radio. To make the MSS affordable for also the lowest income households, we offer it for USD 0.60 per week for a 100-week period.
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Vorige
Volgende
NOTS Solar Lamps is a social enterprise, founded in 2010. We started in Mali but unfortunately, we had to close down in 2015 due to the negative effects of the coup d’état in 2012. In 2014 we opened an office and hired a team in Rwanda. In 2019 we entered into an agreement with the Government of Rwanda under which we will set up a factory in Kigali for manufacturing MSS units.
Since most of the 125M African households that currently don’t have electricity (they use kerosene lamps and candles for lighting and walk to a kiosk to charge their feature phones) are low income households, we have geared our business model to provide these households with affordable electricity.
Organization
The ‘top holding’ of the NOTS organization is NOTS Foundation, a Dutch charitable foundation, founded in 2003 by Bart Hartman. In 2010, when we started selling and distributing solar systems in Mali, we founded NOTS Solar Lamps BV. In 2014 we started our activities in Rwanda. BBA Solar Loans (Rwanda) Ltd is our Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) for holding and funding the loans to Rwandan households that can’t afford to pay with cash for their solar system.
MUTIMAX Solar System
MUTIMAX is the Rwandan brand of NOTS Solar Lamps. ‘Mutima’ means heart in Kinyarwanda. Currently the product range of NOTS in Rwanda consists of one product: the 3-lamp MUTIMAX Solar System (‘MSS’). NOTS sells the MSS for about USD 60, to be paid via mobile money in 100 weekly instalments of USD 0.60 each. Only one product because most of the 1.5M Rwandan households that currently don’t have electricity are well served with this MSS. It really improves their lives and it is affordable, even for the lowest income households. The MSS is Lighting Global certified.
Vorige
Volgende
Milestones
Since 2003
MARCH 2020
Partnership to provide 1.5M Rwandese households with affordable electricity and internet access
The goal of the partnership between NOTS Solar Lamps and the Ministry of ICT & Innovation is to provide by 2021 the 1.5M Rwandese households that currently don’t have electricity (they use kerosene lamp and candles for lighting and charge their phones in kiosks) with a package consisting of (1) MUTIMAX Solar System; (2) smartphone; (3) relevant content; and (4) data bundle. NOTS will provide this package for USD 0,90 – 1,50 per week (Silver and Gold Package), to be paid during 100 weeks via mobile money. For more information see the attached document.
SEPTEMBER 2019
NOTS executes pilot with 2,000 Rwandan households.
In the objective of this pilot is to test the NOTS’ MUTIMAX Solar System, ICT platform, marketing and promotion strategy and payment system. The initial results are very positive. Clients rate their system with a ‘8’ (on a scale of 1 to 10).
Click here for the video
AUGUST 2019
Power for All in conversation with NOTS Solar Lamps.
Dutch company NOTS Solar Lamps plans to establish a factory in Rwanda to manufacture solar lighting solutions for home and business. CEO Bart Hartman discusses the reasons why, and plans for future market expansion.
Click here to listen to the conversation
JULY 2019
Sociaal ondernemer steekt $70 mln in groene stroom in Rwanda
Click here for the article or read at FD.nl.
-Dutch article-
JULY 2019
EAF125 becomes Smart Africa Flagship Project
The Government of Rwanda and Smart Africa (smartafrica.org) decided to list the NOTS EAF125 project (‘Electricity for 125M African Families’) as a Rwanda endorsed Smart Africa Flagship Project. For more information on EAF125 click here for the pdf
JUNE 2019
NOTS Solar Lamps’ Bart Hartman on improving access to electricity in Rwanda
Rwanda has set to achieve 100 per cent electricity across the country by 2024 and the private sector is expected to work hand in hand with the government towards achieving this goal.
JUNE 2019
Cabinet Rwanda approves agreement between government of Rwanda and NOTS Solar Lamps
JUNE 2019
MUTIMAX Launched
Finally Low-income Rwandans Can Get Electricity, As Cheapest Solar System Hits The Market.
Click here to watch the video
MAY 2019
Interview with Bart Hartman during transform Africa summit may 2019
Rwandans who are off-grid will soon get access to electricity for just Rwf 525 per week. This unique proposition is an initiative of NOTS Solar Lamps Ltd, an impact enterprise with the goal of providing affordable electricity to about 900,000 Rwandan families through a NOTS’ MUTIMAX Solar System (MSS) for Rwf 52,500 on credit. Once the payment is completed, the family will enjoy free electricity.
Click here to watch the video
AUGUST 2018
Investing in green bonds
NOTS is featured prominently in an article in ‘De Geldgids’; a booklet about investments that is annually published by the ‘Consumentenbond’, the largest consumer / investor interest organization in The Netherlands. The article describes NOTS’ green bonds, which NOTS uses to fund the loans for Rwandese households that want to buy a solar home system on credit.
JUNE 2018
ComzAfrica partnership
NOTS entered into a partnership with ComzAfrica Ltd, a company that sells airtime on credit in Rwanda and 13 other Sub-Saharan countries. The purpose of the NOTS – ComzAfrica partnership is to provide NOTS with an ICT platform for credit assessment, prospect selection, auto-withdrawal and default rate management. The NOTS platform will be an adapted version of the platform ComzAfrica is using for selling airtime on credit.
SEPTEMBER 2016
MTN partnership
NOTS Solar Lamps Rwanda Ltd signed a partnership agreement with MTN Rwanda. The main elements of this exclusive agreement are: the NOTS solar products will be MTN co-branded; the NOTS products will be distributed via 1.500 – 2.000 selected MTN stores; NOTS will utilize the MTN mobile money platform for selling the solar products on credit; creditworthy MTN clients (MTN Rwanda has about 4,1 mln clients) will receive an offer for a solar product on credit; and MTN will implement a nationwide publicity campaign to stimulate consumers to go to an MTN store to buy a solar product.
JUNE 2016
Bye Bye Agatadowa Agreement
On June 30 NOTS signed an agreement with the Government of Rwanda (‘GoR’) for the implementation of Bye Bye Agatadowa (Bye Bye Kerosene Lamps), the program developed by NOTS to replace all kerosene lamps with solar lamps and home systems by 2020.
With Bye Bye Agatadowa, NOTS commits to provide at least 940.000 households with a suitable solar product before mid 2018, while the GoR will implement a national awareness campaign and will provide 380.000 low-income households with a subsidy to buy a solar home system.
JUNE 2016
Government of Rwanda publishes Rural Electrification Strategy
The Government of Rwanda published a Rural Electrification Strategy containing ambitious targets, the realisation of which necessitates a big role for off-grid solar. The main aspects of this strategy are in line with what NOTS proposed as part of the Bye Bye Agatadowa program. The main aspects are: a National Campaign to make the population aware of the benefits of solar home systems; a subsidy for low income households to make a solar home systems affordable; and a risk mitigation facility for selected solar product distributors.
JUNE 2016
Article in de Volkskrant
On June 29, 2016 De Volkskrant published an article on the Bye Bye Agatadowa (Bye Bye Kerosene Lamps) program in Rwanda. Under this program the Government of Rwanda will implement a national campaign to explain to the population that replacing a kerosene lamp with a solar lamp has big advantages. Because of Bye Bye Agatadowa the penetration of solar lamps and solar home systems will go from 2% today to 45% in 2018 and 70% in 2020. This is unprecedented; nowhere in Africa is the penetration of solar systems is higher than 5%
MAY 2016
Bart Hartman gives an update to Kagame
Bart Hartman gives President Kagame an update on the NOTS Bye Bye Agatadowa (Bye Bye Kerosene Lamps) program during the World Economic Forum in Kigali.
OCTOBER 2015
Bart Hartman meets president Kagame
During a diner in The Hague Bart Hartman, Founder & Chief Entrepreneur of NOTS, got the opportunity to present a solar lamp to President Kagame of Rwanda. Bart also talked with the President about Bye Bye Agatadowa, a program developed by NOTS to replace all kerosene in Rwanda with solar lamps. Bart will meet in the near future with the minister of Energy of Rwanda to discuss how the Government of Rwanda and NOTS could collaborate to optimize and implement Bye Bye Agatadowa.
SEPTEMBER 2015
NOTS Mali closed
Because of the safety and economic situation in Mali we took the very difficult decision to close the activities of NOTS in Mali. Hopefully in the future we can restart our activities because we are still convinced that both our solar lamp and sustainable charcoal activities can have a very positive impact on the livelihood of the Malian population.
MARCH 2015
Article on Virgin
Read about the vision of NOTS’ founder Bart Harman on Impact Enterprises in a featured article on Virgin.com.
JANUARY 2015
Interview with Filanthropium
In an interview with Filanthropium, the Dutch platform for directors of charities, NOTS founder, Bart Hartman, speaks about the role of charities, impact enterprises and traditional companies in solving the big problems of this world.
Watch the interview here (in Dutch).
JANUARY 2015
NOTS sign RBF agreement
NOTS is the first solar lamp company to sign a contract for the Results Based Financing program in Rwanda. The program, which is financed by DFID, will provide NOTS with a financial incentive of € 1,40 to € 6,40 for every lamp sold, contributing to our goal to replace all kerosene lamps by 2020!
NOTS is also featured in a New Times article which can be found here.
DECEMBER 2014
We raise $49,250 through Kiva
In just 3 weeks, NOTS raises $49,250 through Kiva for one of our solar lamp distributors in Mali. This is one of the largest and fastest funded loans to-date on Kiva and will bring light to about 10,000 people. Thank you the thousands of Kiva donors from all over the world who made this happen!
Meet Daniel, our solar lamp distributor in Mali who will receive the funds by clicking here.
NOVEMBER 2014
NOTS Brings solar light to cotton farmers
SEPTEMBER 2014
Blue Charcoal introduced at Un forum
Bart Hartman, founder of NOTS, speaks on a panel at the UN Business Call to Action forum in NYC. The panel, titled “Inclusive Business, Climate Change and Green Leap”, also included speakers from BASF and Panasonic. Watch Bart’s presentation here (starts at 05:17).
Following his visit to the big apple, Bart was invited to speak on BNR about his experience. Listen to the program here.
Also, we have completed the editing of the interview at this event, and it is now posted on the Business Call to Action’s YouTube account. Watch the interview here.
AUGUST 2014
First batches of Blue Charcoal produced in Rwanda
NOTS builds the first five Adam retorts in Rwanda and launches production of Blue Charcoal. The retorts are owned and run by a local entrepreneur who, in partnership, with NOTS aims to make charcoal production sustainable in Rwanda.
MAY 2014
President of Mali visits NOTS at Salon de L’agriculture
The president of Mali, Ibrahim Boubacar Keita, visited the NOTS booth at the “Salon de l’agriculture”. He was enthusiastic to learn about the business and hear how his government can support NOTS on issues like taxes and human resources.
MAY 2014
The government of Mali adopts Blue Charcoal
It’s official! The Ministry of Environment adopts Blue Charcoal as the model for sustainable charcoal production in Mali. Supported by the minister and a formal committee dedicated to Blue Charcoal, we are ready to roll out.
FEBRUARY 2014
Open an office in Rwanda
NOTS opens an office in Rwanda and hires a team to set up the solar lamp distribution and sustainable charcoal production businesses.
NOVEMBER 2013
Charcoal workshops in Mali and Rwanda
NOTS holds workshops in Mali and Rwanda where 60 leaders from the charcoal sector, including government officials and producers, give input on the Blue Charcoal business model. NOTS creates, together with the minister of Environment, a high level task force to plan the roll-out of Blue Charcoal in both Mali and Rwanda.
NOVEMBER 2013
NOTS makes primetime news
NOTS and Bart Hartman were featured on primetime national TV news in Rwanda after the Blue Charcoal workshop, which was co-organized with the Government of Rwanda.
OCTOBER 2013
World Bank recognizes NOTS as top solar lamp distributor
Based on a survey of the Malian solar lamp sector, the World Bank concludes that NOTS is the number one solar lamp distributor in Mali, in both the number of lamps sold and in professionalism, and one of the top distributors in Sub-Saharan Africa.
AUGUST 2013
UNDP recognizes NOTS as front runner in sustainable charcoal
The leader of sustainable charcoal production activities for UNDP in Africa recognizes the NOTS Blue Charcoal business model as a front runner in Sub-Saharan Africa for making charcoal production sustainable.
MARCH 2013
Partner with cooperatives to sell solar lamps
With a new Country Director from Mali experienced in marketing and sales, NOTS significantly increases distribution coverage, adding cooperatives and women’s associations to our wholesaler network. In 2013 we sell 48.000 lamps.
DECEMBER 2012
Solar lamp sales grow by 200%
NOTS Mali sells 11.000 solar lamps in 2012, a significant increase over 2011, by adding new wholesalers, small retailers and entrepreneurs to the distribution network.
MARCH 2012
Coup d’ etat in mali: business goes on
Solar lamp sales continues during the military coup in Mali. NOTS’ Canadian managing director decides to stay and continues leading our local team.
NOVEMBER 2012
Interview with Bart in Dutch Financial Times
In a 2-page interview Bart talks about his journey with NOTS, development aid via building enterprises and impact investing.
– Interview FD page 1
– Interview FD page 2
OCTOBER 2011
Launch pilot to produce sustainable Charcoal
In partnership with three local charcoal cooperatives, NOTS builds and tests six high-efficiency charcoal production ovens. Pilot results indicate that charcoal can be sustainably produced with these ovens.
MARCH 2011
Open an office in Mali
NOTS opens an office in Mali and hires a team to set up two businesses: sales and distribution of solar lamps and sustainable charcoal production.
JANUARY 2011
Bart speaks at Ondernemerscafe 020 event
Bart speaks at the Ondernemerscafe 020 (a club for student entrepreneurs) where he motivates students to start businesses abroad and offers up his support.
Watch the speech
NOVEMBER 2010
Launch solar lamp sales pilot in Mali
NOTS conducts a pilot to test the market for solar lamps, selecting Mali as the first country. In one month, 1.700 solar lamps are sold, inspiring NOTS to set up a full-time sales and distribution business.
AUGUST 2010
Co-finance deal with FMO
NOTS closes a co-investment deal with FMO. For each euro NOTS raises with the NOTS Microfinance Bonds, FMO invests 0,40 EUR in the form of a subordinated loan.
NOVEMBER 2009
NOTS refocuses activities
After pilot projects with various renewable energies, NOTS learns that one of the main bottlenecks to renewable energy in Africa is financially sustainable distribution. We decide to focus our activities on solar lamp distribution and sustainable charcoal production and distribution.
MAY 2009
Invest in microfinance institutions
NOTS invests 1 million euros, via Triple Jump BV, in four microfinance institutions in Latin America and Africa and learns first-hand about the power of entrepreneurship and loans to reduce poverty.
OCTOBER 2008
Launch of NOTS microfinance bond
NOTS creates the first of its kind microfinance bond enabling NOTS to raise 1 million euros as an impact enterprise.
MAY 2007
Expansion into renewable energy
Through involvement with Triple Jump BV, NOTS learns that many micro-entrepreneurs do not have access to energy, especially in Africa. NOTS expands into renewable energy and sets up pilot projects for Japropha, biogas, concentrated solar power and solar lamps.
JUNE 2006
Creation of Triple Jump BV
Together with ASN Bank and Oxfam Novib, NOTS co-founds Triple Jump BV, a microfinance investment management firm that today has EUR 300 million under management. NOTS is 25% shareholder.
NOVEMBER 2004
Launch of Not-One-The-Same (NOTS) Watches
NOTS develops a line of unique watches to raise money for the scholarship programs in Argentina and other developing countries.
AUGUST 2004
Scholarship program created in Argentina
Together with a local NGO, NOTS develops a scholarship program for children from slums in Argentina. The scholarships reduce the high dropout rates as children no longer need to leave school to make money for their family.
OCTOBER 2003
Creation of NOTS Foundation
After working in the private sector for nearly 20 years, Dutch entrepreneur Bart Hartman founds NOTS with the ambition to make a positive impact on people in developing countries. NOTS stands for Not-One-The-Same, referring to the philosophy that every individual is unique with unique needs. NOTS aims to fulfil these needs.
FEBRUARY 2002
Inspiration for NOTS
Bart meets an experienced development expert from Africa who inspires Bart to use his entrepreneurial skills to improve lives of the poor.
Leadership Team
MT NOTS Solar Lamps (Rwanda) Plc
Solange Mutezintare, COO
Solange is an accomplished program developer and manager with 12 years of experience in strategic, financial and administration management. Prior to joining NOTS Solar Lamps Ltd., Solange served as the Education Development Center Inc. (EDC) Deputy Chief of Party for a $ 25 million large-scale literacy and numeracy USAID funded project.
Email: solange.mutezintare@notsrwanda.com
Jean-Marie Bournazaud, CFO
Jean-Marie is a multilingual professional with over 20 years’ experience as CFO and Controller in a range of companies in Europe, Central and South America and East Africa (over 8 years). He holds a Master in Finance from E.S.I.A.E in Paris and Holborn Business School in London.
Issa Karamage, Sales Director
Business leader with over 20 years’ experience in the public and private sector in Rwanda. Issa holds a master’s degree in Communication Management and a bachelor’s degree in Finance & IT from the University of Rwanda. Issa is founder and CEO of Fidelity Resilient, a consultancy firm focused on advising non-African firms on entering African markets.
Email: issa.karamage@notsrwanda.com
Board NOTS Solar Lamps (Rwanda) Plc
Sam Barnett
Sam is a New Zealand national with 25 years of international executive experience. He started his career in management consulting working for PwC in East Africa. In 2002, he joined the MBC group, the largest media group in the Middle East. In 2011 Sam became CEO of MBC and recently he moved to an advisory role. Sam has a first-class degree in Economics from Cambridge University and an MBA from INSEAD.
Dr. Albert Rutare
Albert is a Rwandan national with over 30 years of experience in the energy, water and communications sector. He is former Minister of State for Infrastructure and Minister of State for Energy and Communication. Since 2010 he has been the CEO of Africa Energy Services Group Ltd based in Kigali. Albert holds a PhD in Energy Policies from Glasgow Caledonian University in Scotland and a Master of Science in Engineering from the University of Flensburg (Germany).
Ignace Rusenga Mihigo Bacyaha
Ignace is a Rwandan national with over 25 years of experience in both development banking and the private sector. For 12 years Ignace worked for IFC, private sector arm of the World Bank Group, in Rwanda and Kenya. Prior to joining IFC, Ignace worked for 13 years in the private sector, particularly in the Aga Khan Group. He holds an Executive MPA from ENAP in Quebec, a Master in Project Management from the University of Quebec and an Engineering degree in Industrial Electronics from the University of DRC.
MT NOTS Solar Lamps (Netherlands) BV
Bart Hartman, Founder & CEO
Bart Hartman is the founder of NOTS Solar Lamps. He started his career as a consultant with McKinsey & Company and then worked as an entrepreneur, transforming and building about 15 businesses, including a successful over-the-counter medical products company. Bart holds an MBA from INSEAD.
Email: bart.hartman@nots.nl
Bas Maassen, CFO
Bas worked for 5 years in management consultancy, 12 years in banking, 13 years in private equity and now for 4 years as entrepreneur and (non-executive) board member at various companies and NGO’s. In relation to Africa, Bas is chairman of the supervisory board of Amref Flying Doctors and board member of DOB equity (Dutch impact investor in East Africa). Bas has a masters degree in econometrics.
Email: bas.maassen@nots.nl
Roland Tabor, Chief Marketing and Data Officer
Roland is an experienced CMO in the Retail and online areas. In the last 4 years Roland worked as a partner of the Data Analytics agency MIcompany. Roland started his career at McKinsey & Company, after obtaining his PhD in Chemistry.
Email: roland.tabor@nots.nl
Miguel Stief, Chief Manufacturing & Supply Chain Officer
Miguel, a Brazilian national, has a MBA from Toronto University and Bachelors in Electronic Engineering from FEI University and Business Administration from University of Sao Paulo. During the past 28 years he worked in CEO, Global Business Development Director and Senior VP positions in Philips (USA), NXP Semiconductors (Germany), LiteOn (China) and Positivo BGH (Argentina).
Email: miguel.stief@nots.nl
Martin Bauman, Controller
Martin Bauman has worked for 40 years as auditor with PWC in The Netherlands, the last 19 years as partner. His auditing activities focused on NGO’s, social enterprises, education institutions and SME’s. He was founder and leader of the NGO-practice of PWC in The Netherlands. Since 2017 he has his own firm for advising NGO’s and social enterprises on finance and control related issues.
Email: martin.bauman@nots.nl
Board NOTS Foundation
Eric Rahusen
Has had a 27 year career in Investment and commercial Banking in the Netherlands. He currently holds a number of advisory position with Dutch family offices and Dutch foundations. He is the co-owner of “Saar aan Huis” a company which renders care services for the elderly.
Paul Bijleveld
Paul is a Managing Director at Aké Partners, a corporate advisory firm active in sub-Saharan Africa with local representation in Lagos, Nairobi, Abidjan and Johannesburg. He has 25 years of investment banking experience with Morgan Stanley, Barclays, UBS and ABN Amro and was head of African Investment Banking for Barclays/Absa Capital in Johannesburg.
Peter Rutgers
Peter is Director at Waterman Ventures, a technology investment fund. Before that, he worked with Boston Consulting Group for 8 years, where he specialized in Marketing and Sales as well as Corporate Venturing. Peter holds an MSc. in Industrial Engineering and Management, specialized in Product and Process Technology, and he holds an MBA from INSEAD.
