Smiling Through Light Announces Grant and New Partnership with ECOWAS ROGEAP
We are proud to share an exciting milestone in our journey toward inclusive, sustainable energy access: Smiling Through Light has been awarded a grant amount of USD23,000, and thus, entered a new partnership with the ECOWAS Regional Off-Grid Electrification Project (ROGEAP). This collaboration marks a significant step forward in our mission to expand reliable, clean energy solutions for underserved communities in Sierra Leone and across West Africa.
"We at ROGEAP, are glad to partner with the Smiling Through Light team to implement this project, ensuring that, clean and green electricity solutions are extended to the off-grid rural communities in Sierra Leone." – Samuel Kojo Darko, Financial Specialist, ECOWAS ROGEAP
Powering Opportunity Through Partnership
ECOWAS ROGEAP is a flagship regional off-grid electricity access initiative funded by The World Bank to accelerate off-grid electrification, strengthen local energy markets and improve access to modern energy services—particularly for women-led enterprises and vulnerable communities. Through this partnership, Smiling Through Light will deepen its impact by scaling community-centred energy solutions that are affordable, resilient and designed for long-term growth.
With ROGEAP’s support, we will advance projects that prioritise:
Equitable access to clean, reliable off-grid energy
Women’s economic empowerment and leadership in the energy value chain
Climate-resilient solutions that strengthen local livelihoods
Capacity building for communities, technicians, and entrepreneurs
Alexandros Germanis, Non-Executive Director of Smiling Through Light said "It's great to marry up the ECOWAS ROGEAP funding objectives and Smiling Through Light's to increase access to sustainable electricity services in Sierra Leone. We look forward to supporting our team in building upon their hard work - reaching more customers and having a greater impact."
What This Grant Enables
The grant will support the deployment and expansion of off-grid energy solutions tailored to local needs. This includes piloting innovative delivery models, strengthening community engagement, and building local capacity to ensure sustainability beyond installation.
Key focus areas include:
Expanding access to solar-powered systems for households and small businesses
Supporting women-led micro and small enterprises with productive-use energy
Training and mentorship for staff, local technicians and energy entrepreneurs
Data-driven monitoring to measure impact and continuously improve outcomes
Centering Communities, Scaling Impact
At Smiling Through Light, we believe energy access is not just about infrastructure—it’s about dignity, opportunity and resilience. Our approach centres communities at every stage, from co-design and implementation to maintenance and governance. This partnership with ROGEAP strengthens our ability to deliver solutions that are both technically sound and socially inclusive.
“This partnership represents a powerful alignment of vision and action. With ROGEAP’s support, we can scale proven models, reach more communities and accelerate pathways to economic empowerment—especially for women and youth.” – Mariama Kamara, Founder & Director, Smiling Through Light
Looking Ahead
As we begin this new chapter, we are energised by the possibilities ahead. Together with ECOWAS ROGEAP and our local partners, we will work to demonstrate how off-grid electrification can unlock economic opportunity, improve essential services and contribute to a more just energy transition across the region.
We are grateful to our partners, supporters and the communities we serve for making this milestone possible. This grant is not just an investment in projects—it is an investment in people, partnerships and a brighter, more sustainable future for West Africa.
