"[We] recorded our highest sales ever, and a big part of that was thanks to [our mentor's] push for us to refine our brand identity, messaging, and overall sense of who we are as a company," says Kicente EcoLogic.
Clean energy solutions are often sustained through support that may not be grand but is indispensable to the success of those who champion them. This support can take the form of mentorship or guidance, and the following vignettes show how Energy Enterprise Coach (EEC) – a business development services coaching programme – is doing just that: making green enterprises last for the long haul through seemingly small yet fundamental capacity building.
Inside a bright classroom in La Salle in Homa Bay, Kenya, students are learning to cook with brand-new equipment, something they did not have before. The aroma of fresh food wafts in the air along with the sound of their new electric pressure cookers, steaming meals in an efficient and eco-friendly way.
“After we met Nyalore Impact, they came with the idea of revamping and improving our home science room using very modern electronic [equipment],” says School Director Bro. Antony Oloo.
For Dorothy Otieno, founder of the woman-led clean cooking enterprise Nyalore Impact Ltd., this is precisely the impact she wants her business to make. Her company enables households and establishments to embrace energy-efficient yet modern cooking technologies, “customised to our traditional [Kenyan] dishes”, she says.
A few hundred miles east of Homa Bay, Mazao Organic in Meru, has a similar mission: to make green technology affordable for everyday use, from home cooking to waste management. “Ever since we got Mazao’s biogas, it has really made [things] easier for us because it has cut [our energy] costs,” says customer Kirote Roseline.
Behind the stories of Nyalore Impact Ltd. and Mazao Organic is the empowering support of EEC, a programme co-implemented by NIRAS and Intellecap and funded by The Netherlands Enterprise Agency.
The initiative provides African and Asian small- to medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in the clean energy space with targeted business development services to help them professionalise operations and make their business sustainable.
For Dorothy, EEC was instrumental in sharpening her business’ messaging and reaching customers more effectively. “Our EEC journey has been understanding the value proposition of our product and our unique selling point,” she says.
Likewise, Thurainira Thiaine, CEO of Mazao Organic, explains how training changed their approach: “Initially, we were only offering the general biogas offering, but then once we were able to reshape our thinking and focus on the community and affordability, which were key training areas of EEC, we were able to come up with Kadogo Biogas.”
Since its inception in 2022, EEC has supported many SMEs like Mazao Organic and Nyalore Impact across Africa and Asia. These Kenyan examples are only a snapshot of its broader impact.
In Uganda, Kicente EcoLogic SV — a farmer-led enterprise producing organic inputs — benefitted from EEC mentor Bwire Ancel.
Through improved messaging, storytelling, digital tools, and partnerships with cooperatives and influencers, the enterprise is now reaching farmers more directly and helping them adopt environmentally friendly practices.
ZASOLAR, a Malawi-based company for inclusive access to renewable energy, also experienced gains from their participation in EEC.
The programme’s mentorship empowered ZASOLAR not only to thrive long-term but also helped them succeed in their immediate endeavours.
“[EEC] helped us improve our internal systems and positioned us to succeed in several initiatives — including becoming runners-up in the SEED Awards and joining subsidy programmes supported by GIZ,” shares ZASOLAR CEO Fishani Msiska.
It strengthened our team’s confidence to lead activities independently, which has been a major step toward long-term sustainability.
Fishani Msiska, CEO of ZASOLAR
Primarily implemented in Cambodia, EEC is also producing encouraging results. For Va Leomhang, founder of the household goods shop Van Lim Hang, financial management and marketing skills acquired through EEC have already strengthened her customer retention and sales. "Proper bookkeeping has transformed my record-keeping, helping me track profits and expenses accurately,” she says.
Fellow entrepreneur Chan Samphors, who runs another kitchenware shop called Vannak Sampors selling eco-friendly electric stoves, highlights how the programme has helped her. “Through EEC, I’ve learned how to identify the issues affecting my business and find practical solutions,” she shares. “I feel more confident managing my finances, understanding balance sheets, and using digital tools to grow.”
Similarly CHHN Chheang, owner of Che Botom, says the training “significantly accelerated our growth,” equipping him with tools for market research, branding, and strategy refinement.
His business now promotes renewable energy solutions such as high-quality cookstoves to a wider audience.
As these SMEs continue to adapt, equipped with the essential knowledge and skills to run their businesses sustainably, their impact extends well beyond the enterprises themselves.
Farms, kitchens, and households across Kenya, Uganda, and Cambodia are beginning to embrace clean technologies that make their homes, communities, and the planet cleaner.
Learn more about the Energy Enterprise Coach programme
