SDG7: Affordable and clean energy

A woman demonstrates how she uses Mkopa, a Pay as you go solar electricity provider, to make jewellery at night and to charge a portable light at her home near Nairobi, Kenya (Photo: Kate Holt / AECF)

Societal access to affordable, clean energy is essential for progress in Africa. This is why many NGOs and charities focus their efforts on providing at least a basic electrical infrastructure to communities who can’t get access to the national grid.

Carrying out any task after dark, whether it is doing homework or preparing food, becomes impossible and security at night is a constant concern. Without access to mobile phones or the internet, communities are isolated.

Young boys do their homework by the light of a lamp which uses electricity that is powered through a Mobisol Solar Unit at their home near Arusha, Tanzania (Photo: Kate Holt / AECF)

Documenting the theme of this sustainable development goal can prove challenging. When trying to elicit a connection with the reader, a photojournalist should focus on telling the story of all the new opportunities access to electricity can bring. In addition, it is important to capture the emotions of the people who have access to power for the first time.

Any person, anywhere in the world, can connect with these positive emotions captured on camera. Our client for these photographs wanted to show the positive impact electricity was having — and the photos were widely used in company reports and for external communications.

In the run up to the first UN summit on the SDGs on 24th and 25th September, we are publishing a daily blog on how we help organisations to meet the Sustainable Development Goals. Check out our blogs here.