As a social enterprise, we offer sustainable energy solutions to empower people to achieve more self-determination and growth.
WE DO.
Our holistic and self-sufficient system, the ImpactSite, provides an intelligent combination of sustainable energy production, cooling, water treatment and communication designed to empower people.
With ImpactProducts, we not only make the use of electricity much more efficient, but also achieve a sustainable and holistic impact for our customers and the climate.
With the Solartainer we focus on solar energy, a sustainable and at the same time the most logical energy source in Africa. We have developed two different containerized systems.
With the Cooltainer, we minimize food spoilage and offer new opportunities for food distribution.
The solar powered Watertainer is a containerized water treatment system for all common water sources.
We support African farmers with our solar-powered, innovative and highly efficient borehole pumps.
We have developed an innovative and efficient refrigerator specially designed to run on solar power.
Solar powered street lighting for safe communities.
Our employees and sales partners in the respective countries will provide you with information about which ImpactProducts are available in which country and under what conditions.
We offer commercial and industrial customers customized solar installations to make their business more sustainable and scalable.
As a social enterprise, we combine ecological and social goals with returns. We offer you the chance to invest in Africa and renewable energies as a private or institutional investor.
BE PART OF THE CHANGE.
Do you own an electric vehicle and want to generate even more impact together with Africa GreenTec? The German government’s GHG quota makes it possible and with our partner fairnergy we have the perfect solution for you!
Explore how our clients’ lives are changing in Africa – stories about people, impact, innovation, investment and purpose.
We are impact-driven – electricity is the main driver for sustainable development. With our impact management system, we provide reliable data on the development of the SDGs to measure our impact.
As a social enterprise, we offer sustainable energy solutions to empower people to achieve more self-determination and growth.
Key factors for the success of our work are our local experience and how we implement our projects in the communities.
Press articles, video reports, radio shows, podcasts and news about our projects, company goals and visions – you can find them here.
Would you like to make a positive impact with your job? Work in an international team? And use your talents and interests for a climate-friendly future? Then apply with us!
The team in Germany supports our country subsidiaries in the areas of financial acquisition, crowdfunding and product development.
Our country subsidiary AGT Mali was founded in August 2017. Its headquarters is located in the capital Bamako.
Our country subsidiary AGT Niger was founded in August 2016. Its headquarter is in the capital Niamey.
Our country subsidiary AGT Senegal was founded in January 2021. Its headquarter is located in the capital, Dakar.
Our country subsidiary AGT Madagascar was founded in April 2021. The head office of the national company is located in the capital Antananarivo.
Mali, located in the heart of West Africa, is host to a vibrant culture, historical significance and stunning landscapes, but is also plagued by economic problems and structural difficulties.
Mali has a very special significance for us; it is the birthplace of the Africa GreenTec idea and the country of our very first pilot project. Despite the current tense situation in the country, our connection to Mali remains constant and our projects continue to operate.
Mali is a multi-ethnic country, home to a large number of ethnic groups. More than 15 different languages are spoken, each of which is broken down into different variants and dialects. The official language is French, although it is not widely spoken among the rural population. The lingua franca is Bambara, which is spoken by about 60–80 % of the population.
Each ethnic group has their own unique traditions, languages, and customs. The Bambara, Dogon, Tuareg, and Fulani are just a few of the vibrant communities that contribute to Mali's cultural fabric. The Bambara are the largest ethnic group in Mali, accounting for 35 % of the population. However, one should not think of Mali's various ethnic groups as strictly separate societies: Overlapping habitats and constant cultural exchange are the rule.
Islam is the dominant religion in Mali, with the majority of the population adhering to the Sunni branch of Islam. It was introduced to the region in the 9th century, primarily through the efforts of Arab and Berber traders and scholars.
Due to the special geographic location on the Sahara, special climatic conditions prevail. Characterized by long periods of drought and infrequent heavy rainfall, which cannot be absorbed by the dry and hard soil, agriculture is difficult. Due to non-existent or unreliable, expensive water pumps, rain-fed agriculture is often the only option. This is a form of agriculture in which the water for the crops is provided by the rainfall and no additional artificial irrigation is used.
As a result, farmers are forced to move every 2 years to avoid overuse of the soil. This is usually not possible for financial reasons and lack of food, so after a few years of use, the field becomes 'dead'. Thus, the usable land is not only subjected to severe circumstances, but also becomes smaller and smaller. In addition, according to FAO, about 40 percent of fruit and vegetable harvests spoil because people lack the possibility of refrigeration.
As the climate crisis continues, so does desertification. Desertification describes the spread of the desert, which particularly affects farmers in Mali (about 62% of the population is active in agriculture).
Due to a lack of infrastructure and resources, Mali is ranked 186 out of 191 on the Human Development Index in 2022, according to the BMZ.
Mali is a beautifully diverse country full of possibilities for a better future, one must not ignore the problems. Especially politically the situation is getting worse and worse in the last few years.
Since the 1960s, there have been repeated rebellions by the Tuareg people, wandering settlers in the country. But in 2012, the Tuareg invaded Mali armed to enforce Sharia law. Other armed groups also invaded the country over time. The United Nations, or UN, has been trying to help the people of Mali since 2012. German soldiers are also there to support them. However, the Malian government refuses to accept the help of the UN.
This experience laid the foundation for Africa GreenTec and the dream of empowering people through sustainable energy solutions, such as solar energy.
In 2016, we installed the world's first Solartainer in Mourdiah, Mali. Since then, a lot has happened: In the next few years, 19 more electrification projects have been added in Mali. At those ImpactSites we want to extend our services with our ImpactProducts such as the Cooltainer, Watertainer and PumpUPs to increase our impact and support to the communities.
The various Wolof kingdoms were destroyed in the takeover. However, one people, the Serer, consistently rejected the takeover in central and western Senegal. The Serer are a farming people and are known for their blacksmithing skills.
Senegal became independent on August 20, 1960, a year after its foundation as a republic. The first president was Léopold Sédar Senghor, who had already fought for the country’s freedom under the French colonial administration. He presented the country with a new constitution in 1963 and, after vocal demands, carried out numerous democratic reforms in the years that followed. Since the last elections in 2012, the government has been taken over by the rap musicians “Y’en a marre,” which means “We’re fed up.” They have managed to make the internationally known musician Youssou N’Dour the minister of education in today’s Senegal.
Senegal has few mineral resources. As a result, there is little industry in Senegal except for textile and food processing companies. Most people work in agriculture. Therefore, agriculture is a natural livelihood for the rapidly growing population and employs over two-thirds of the Senegalese. Smallholder farms grow millet, rice, cassava, potatoes, vegetables and cotton for subsistence. However, droughts, overgrazing and soil erosion pose particular challenges to the Senegalese and lead to reduced yields, leaving the country’s population unable to feed itself. Therefore, some food products have to be imported. Mainly from Nigeria, for example, fish, fish products and peanuts are imported.
It is not only the individuals who suffer from too few well-educated people, but also the country’s infrastructure, as there are also often not enough jobs for specialists. Africa GreenTec tries to empower people and to play a supporting role in building an infrastructure. That’s why we are moving our production facility to Dakar to create more local jobs. Our first Cooltainer ‘made in Africa’ has already been put into operation in the Senegalese village of N’diob (if you want to know more about N’diob, check out the other articles on our ImpactBlog).
Overall, Senegal has great potential, due to the steadily growing population, a large part of which is under 20 years old. The problem remains that many people are not offered the chance to develop their own and the communities’ potential. The chance to find work in their own village and thus not having to flee to the big cities for a job is often not given due to a lack of electricity and cooling infrastructure as well as too few economic opportunities. We at Africa GreenTec want to support the individual cultures of the Senegalese. We want to support the people, whether they are farmers, technicians or school children, in their activities and help them to achieve more self-determination.
The Africa GreenTec Team in Senegal
Local man from Mahavelona
Local girl from Mahavelona selling food
This population of cosmopolitan origin already presents part of the cultural richness of the big island through their union in diversity. Another cultural good that unites Malagasy is the idea of Fady. These are fixed rules about what one should not do in certain places or at certain times, or at least what one should rather not do out of consideration for expected negative consequences. Fady means “forbidden” and it varies mostly depending on the history, the region, the ethnic group. For a foreigner, following the Fady is showing respect to the local people.
As an example, many regions follow the Fady kisoa where it is forbidden to bring or eat pork meat. One of the reasons for this can be that during the time of Andrianampoinimerina (1800), the Merina’s King forbade people and farmers to bring pigs into the territory because they eat vegetables and products in the fields and as consequence: starvation for his people.
There are also other Fady, like
Common practice among all Malagasy is not only Fady, but also ancestor worship. It is part of the religion for almost all Malagasy people, even though officially only 52 % of the population lives according to indigenous beliefs (animism, ancestor worship). The other religions are Christianity with 41 % and Islam with 7 %.
Another specification of Malagasy Behaviour is to follow “Ohabolana”. These are proverbs said by the ancestor “Ny Ntaolo” where their words are full of wisdom and that everyone could apply or use in their everyday life. Like the Fady, each region and ethnic group also have their characteristical proverbs.
“Ny valala tsy in-droa mandry am-bavahady”: The grasshopper doesn’t stand two times near the gate. This proverb is used to tell someone that an opportunity is offered to him and it won’t come back if he/she doesn’t take it.
“Izay mitambatra vato, izay misaraka fasika”: Those who unite are rocks, those who separate themselves are sand. The message is clear.
The zebus pull the cart
Zebus stroll around
Carts are the main transportation means in rural areas
The average Malagasy consumes 130 kg of rice per year. The staple food being rice, the main agricultural activity in rural areas is rice cultivation. Madagascar has two large rice granaries: Alaotra and Marovoay. Rice can be grown in naturally irrigated areas (rice fields, basins, terraced rice fields) and there is rainfed rice cultivation (on the land). Despite the extent of cultivable land, rice production is not enough to feed the entire population. Indeed, the cultivation methods are mostly non-motorized, thus limiting the production yield. Through different programs, the government helps farmers to improve the yield and Madagascar imports rice from other countries like India.
Farmers working on the fields
The farmers work a lot with their hands
In urban settings, everyday life is f more strongly influenced by globalization, but cultural identities are brought to light during special ceremonies. Indeed, in cities, economic activities are mainly tertiary activities and the lifestyle of Malagasy closely resembles that of developed countries.
With an electrification rate of 23 %, but only 18 % in rural areas, the inadequacy of infrastructure in rural areas generates an exodus to large cities where farmers aspire to find better conditions. However, cities, such as the capital, are increasingly saturated and people who have not found economic opportunities and a place to stay are becoming homeless, thus showing the contrast between the country’s wealth with all its potential and poverty.
Capital City
Antananarivo is a busy city
Madagascar is also known for its tourism potential. Between 80 % to 90 % of the fauna and flora are endemic species.Among the most known endemic species in Madagascar are:
Madagascar also has a special flora. The most known species are the Baobabs and we can find 7 of the 9 species there, of which 6 are endemic to the Big Island. Those trees could reach 40 meters in height and are sacred to the local people. The Baobabs Alley in the west is a very well-known tourist attraction.
The varied climate and geological history creates a unique landscape for each region. We can find several Protected Areas among the National Parks such as The National Park of Andasibe-Mantadia, the Tsingy of Bemaraha, The Ankarafantsika National Park in the North West and National Park of Isalo.
These specific characteristics make the Island a very attractive place for Eco-tourism.
We also have on the East Coast in Sainte-Marie the Whales Festival where we can watch the yearly migration of whales. Overall, the landscapes of the different regions offer real life-size artistic canvases that must be preserved.
Rural area Mahavelona
People working on the fields
With the “Empower Madagascar’s Rural Areas (E.M.R.A)” project, one of the objectives of Africa GreenTec in Madagascar is to make an impact on rural development. The first phase – electrification – will increase the potential for rural areas and allow the creation of new jobs, thus allowing the rural municipality to flourish while conserving the environment through the use of renewable energies.These projects will bring light both to everyday life and to the intellectual through access to communication and knowledge.
Woman pours out the harvest
People working
Madagascar has different climates: equatorial, humid, sub-humid, subtropical, semi-arid, sub-desertic. At the moment of writing, the world is looking at the South of Madagascar, which has a very big problem of malnutrition and famine. This region has a semi-arid climate and has for several years been experiencing a period of intense drought. Agricultural production always depends on the weather. Because of climate change, the problem has become higher than ever.
The Map shows the different climate zones and the location of our pilot project in Mahavelona.
Africa GreenTec also addresses the needs of farmers. Using Solar pumps, the fields can be watered with groundwater which helps to harvest more rice and vegetables. The Cooltainer helps to store vegetables and crops, so the farmers can sell it for better prices and we prevent food loss.
Market day in Mahavelona
Local products are sold
Africa GreenTec cares deeply about these harmful effects, which is why it wants to invest in the energy transition of the Big Island towards renewable energies in order to preserve its cultural and environmental values as well as possible. In Madagascar, all the essential aspects of sustainable development are still to be done and to be built.
The young generation is becoming more and more aware of this and wants to work in the right direction for a better future.
School in Mahavelona
The kids have a football match
Evening atmosphere on the Niger River
In this article, we would like to give you a brief insight into the Republic of Niger. We report on special features, the current economic situation and what Africa GreenTec can achieve in the country. As a little special, our colleague Mahamadou gives you some interesting insider information.
Since we began transforming numerous villages in Mali into ImpactSites thanks to our holistic solutions, we have also been looking around for new opportunities in neighbouring countries. Very often, people from African countries write to us asking us to electrify villages in their country too. We are now receiving more and more messages from governments and authorities themselves who want us to help their rural populations achieve greater self-determination and growth through electricity.
This is what happened in Niger and we were able to sign a memorandum of understanding with the government in which we agreed to electrify 50 villages.
We are now focussing all our efforts on examining and evaluating suitable villages. Above all, we are looking for partners, investors and institutions that will support us in financing the projects and participate in our sustainable business model.
Our team in conversation with the villagers
We were welcomed with open arms
The Republic of Niger is home to almost 23 million inhabitants in an area roughly three times the size of Germany. In addition to the capital Niamey with around 1 million inhabitants, there are a handful of larger cities and 80% of the population live in rural areas.
The official language is French and the majority of the population is Muslim. The country is characterized by a savannah and desert landscape with small mountains and oases. The Niger River, after which the country is named, flows through the relatively densely populated south-west.
Through the electrification of villages, including the provision of water and cold chains, people in rural areas can achieve better and more sustainable crop yields and higher incomes, develop their structures and thus live more self-determined lives.
Since independence from France in 1960, Niger's population has grown from 3.2 million to 23.3 million people. Almost half of all people living in Niger today are under the age of 16. At 15.2 years, the country had the youngest median age in the world in 2012. The Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (bmz) aptly describes the major challenges this poses:
Sustainable development progress is made massively more difficult by the extremely high population growth of just under four per cent per year: economic successes are not sufficient to offer the growing young population adequate prospects for the future. Every year, around 400,000 additional young people need to be provided with work, services and food.
The structures in the country have not been able to keep up with the rapid growth, which is why Niger ranks last out of the 189 countries listed on the current United Nations Human Development Index (HDI). The HDI index analyses the education, income and life expectancy/health of the population together.
The disadvantages are particularly serious for the non-urban population, whose existence is constantly threatened by natural disasters and food shortages. Droughts, erosion and over-utilised soils also cause major problems for agriculture. Climate change and unsustainable farming methods are having an impact:
Education is an important foundation for a self-determined life
Most hospital wards are medically inadequately equipped
The young and motivated population in combination with a functioning and committed government also offers incredible opportunities. If the people in rural areas are given the foundations to develop themselves and their village, they will seize them with great enthusiasm. We at Africa GreenTec also pursue this approach. We meet the local people at eye level and sense their drive. We are therefore confident that, together with you and the authorities, our electricity, water, cooling and internet solutions can create the conditions that will enable them and future generations to lead a better life.
Even though only around 15 % of the country's land area can be used for agriculture, this is sufficient for such a large country that agriculture is the largest economic sector in terms of GDP, accounting for almost 42 %. The main crops are millet, beans and peanuts. Vegetables, henna, tobacco and capsicum are other important sources of income alongside livestock.
Mining is another major economic sector thanks to the country's rich mineral resources. Uranium is at the top of the list, followed by oil, coal, gold, iron, nickel, copper and phosphate. The often uncontrolled mining leads to environmental damage in the surrounding area.
Agriculture as well as micro-enterprises and production very often only serve to cover personal needs and do not contribute to the income of the communities and the country. In most cases, there is a lack of the prerequisites to be able to operate effectively, which means that farms and farmers are unable to develop and build up structures.
Here too, Africa GreenTec directly addresses the problems. With electricity, water and cooling, farmers and entrepreneurs can work more efficiently, expand their business, create work for the young population and thus give themselves and their village a more self-determined future. Our products and concepts can be adapted to the circumstances of each village to maximize their impact.
At the same time, the low cloud cover and many hours of sunshine provide the perfect conditions for solar power generation. Water pumps and cooling facilities powered by solar energy help farmers to grow, store and sell their produce even in dry and hot areas. This is where Africa GreenTec comes in - with technologies that make it possible to better deal with the consequences of climate change and provide clean energy through solar technology.
The most widespread sport is football. A ball and enough players can be found all over the world and in Niger, too, football is played in all towns and villages and is enjoyed by young and old alike. In addition to football, the "Lutte traditionnelle" is particularly well known in the media. This is a type of wrestling match in which individual fighters from different villages compete against each other and are accompanied by musicians and griots. Camel races in the deserts of the Agadez and Tahoua regions and horse races are also popular and school sports include table tennis, volleyball and basketball.
No one can talk about the everyday life of people in Niger as authentically as someone who grew up and was born there, such as our colleague Mahamadou:
People in Niger love to share and always think about their fellow human beings. Our motto in life: what is enough for one person is also enough for five! We also love lamb. Sometimes so much that we have it for breakfast. We are very spontaneous. Although almost everyone has a phone, nobody calls before they visit someone. You just pop round to their house or work and hope they're there. One of the things we don't like is that Niger is very often confused with Nigeria. Of course, we don't hold this against anyone for long, as we are not vindictive people and the names are really very similar. Nevertheless, they are two completely different countries with different cultures.
If you would like to find out more about Niger and, above all, learn more about the country's history and population groups, we recommend the following websites: