I’m Kat Harrison, the Social Impact & Research Manager at SolarAid. I started at SolarAid just over a year ago to set up our impact measurement and research function; if you’ve been following my blog, you’ll know all of this, of course.
In just one year, we’ve made incredible progress and today marks the release of SolarAid’s first ever Impact Report so this week we’re going to be sharing loads of great stories, facts and interviews. In the last year, we’ve recruited and trained a research team across Kenya, Malawi, Tanzania, Zambia and Senegal who’ve conducted thousands of interviews with solar light users, head-teachers and the public to find out what the impact of having a solar light is and what life is like for those who don’t have one.
Our research function at SolarAid is now at the very heart of our decision-making and is an integral part of our programme management, strategy and development. We know that our research will make us a more efficient and effective organisation and that’ll get us even closer to achieving our mission to eradicate the kerosene lamp from Africa.
What’s more, we’ve been shortlisted for a Best Practice Award in Research (we’ll find out on Friday so keep your fingers crossed), so while we’ve got lots more to learn, develop and act on at SolarAid we’re proud of how far we’ve come.
So, I invite you to follow us on our journey as we improve our research and to join in the conversation this week as we celebrate and share our learning about the impact SolarAid’s work is having. Take a read of the report today, visit our website tomorrow to hear from our Research Assistants on the ground and if you want to know more then you can chat to me live online on Thursday 24th October via a Business Fights Poverty online discussion forum. I’ll happy to answer any of your questions about our research and its role here at SolarAid.
Thanks for your support!
Click here to see our impact page and down load our Impact Report.
Watch the video below to find out more about Kat’s work.