Jiro-VE: Making Renewable Energy Accessible in Madagascar

What is Jiro-VE?

Jiro-VE, which means “Do you want light? We got light!” in Malagasy, is a groundbreaking project founded in 2014 with a clear mission: to make renewable energy accessible to people in Madagascar. It’s all about providing great quality lights to those who currently rely on candles and kerosene, which are not only costly but also unsafe and unhealthy. Jiro-VE has crafted an innovative, inclusive business model that rents out rechargeable LED lights at a price cheaper than candles or kerosene. For just 200 Ariary per day (about €0.06), people get a fully charged light delivered right to their doorstep, whether they live in rural areas or city neighborhoods. The project hires local entrepreneurs and taps into existing networks, supporting and growing entrepreneurship along the way.

Main Benefits of Jiro-VE’s Model

Jiro-VE’s approach isn’t just about lights; it’s about transforming lives and communities. Here are some key figures and facts that highlight its impact:

• 16,000 members benefiting from clean energy
• 119,999 total beneficiaries reached
• 168 franchisees empowered as local entrepreneurs
• 200 jobs created through the franchise network
• 79 schools electrified, impacting 6,000 students
• 69% of customers climbing the energy ladder
• 168 entrepreneurs trained in IT skills

A Unique Franchise Model Empowering Local Entrepreneurs

Jiro-VE’s story is a true reflection of starting small and dreaming big. In Madagascar, entrepreneurship is everywhere, but scaling up is often blocked by lack of education, capital, and quality products. Jiro-VE taps into this immense human potential by giving local entrepreneurs the tools and support they need to thrive. The franchise model relies on passionate local entrepreneurs who find customers and share the vision for impact. Meanwhile, Jiro-VE provides high-quality solar equipment, training, and ongoing support to help franchisees maximize their potential while earning a stable income. It’s a win-win that fuels both economic growth and clean energy access.

Decentralized Solar Charging Stations: Reaching Remote Areas

Many people without clean energy live in remote places, with limited purchasing power and homes not suited for solar installation. To tackle this, Jiro-VE developed decentralized solar charging stations tailored to specific locations and market demands. These stations are smart and digitized, featuring a ‘pay as you go’ system that tracks recharges and can be monitored remotely. This innovation ensures entire communities can benefit from clean energy, even when traditional solar setups aren’t feasible. It’s a clever way to bring power where it’s needed most.

Powering the Next Generation Through Schools

Jiro-VE partners with local and international NGOs to electrify schools, recognizing that education is key to a sustainable future. Many schools lack proper lighting, forcing students to do homework by candlelight. With clean energy, classrooms get bright, safe lighting and screens for educational videos. After school, the same solar systems recharge lanterns that students take home, lighting their way for homework and family time. This approach benefits both students and parents, while teaching the importance of environmental preservation in a country rich in biodiversity. It’s about lighting up minds and homes alike.

Jiro-VE’s Impact on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

• SDG 7: Affordable and Clean Energy – Providing accessible solar lighting and power solutions
• SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth – Creating jobs and empowering entrepreneurs
• SDG 4: Quality Education – Electrifying schools and enhancing learning environments
• SDG 13: Climate Action – Reducing reliance on polluting fuels like kerosene and candles
• SDG 1: No Poverty – Offering affordable energy options to low-income communities

Looking Ahead: The Future of Jiro-VE

Jiro-VE knows that tackling energy poverty and climate change is a huge challenge—one that can’t be solved alone. That’s why it actively seeks partnerships with NGOs and organizations that share its mission. The school program, for example, is run in collaboration with groups like Money for Madagascar, Feedback Madagascar, SEED, and SolarAid through the Solar United consortium. Together, they create sustainable models that reinvest revenue back into schools and communities. Jiro-VE continues to innovate, develop new technologies, and expand its reach to ensure that the hardest-to-reach and most vulnerable populations get access to clean energy. Because, at the end of the day, everyone deserves light—and a brighter future.

What Jiro Ve actually does

Jiro Ve rents solar lanterns and power packs to off-grid households and small businesses in Madagascar for less than the cost of candles or kerosene. Rather than owning stores itself, it equips and trains local entrepreneurs as franchisees, who distribute and recharge the solar products directly for customers in their communities.

“Renewable energy is the answer for millions of rural families with no access to electricity, especially the most vulnerable.”

Rik Stamhuis, Co-founder and CEO, Jiro Ve

Where Jiro Ve shows up

• Franchised solar shops: 168 trained franchisees distributing solar lanterns and power packs across Madagascar.
• Schools: 79 schools electrified, giving students access to light for studying after dark.

Proof, not just claims

Jiro Ve reports that 69% of its customers are climbing the “energy ladder,” moving from kerosene and candles toward more reliable solar access, and that 79 schools now have solar-powered electricity reaching 6,000 students.

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Why this belongs on a sustainability directory

Jiro Ve connects to SDG7 (Affordable and Clean Energy) by giving off-grid Malagasy households and businesses an affordable alternative to kerosene and candles, and to SDG4 (Quality Education) through the schools its solar systems power.