GoodGeist
A podcast on sustainability, hosted by Damla Özlüer and Steve Connor, brought to you by the DNS Network. Looking at sustainability issues, communications, and featuring global guests from a wide variety of sectors such as business, NGOs and government.
GoodGeist
Africa Moving Towards Sustainability, with Claire Bakhita and Lisa Mare
In this episode we talk to two remarkable women who are helping to revolutionise transportation across Africa, proving that climate solutions can be powerful economic engines when communities are put at the centre of innovation.
Claire Bakhita from GoGo Electric is transforming Uganda's massive motorcycle taxi industry, where 1.5 million riders form the backbone of daily mobility. By replacing conventional motorcycles with electric alternatives, riders save a staggering 40% on operating costs – money that goes directly to supporting families and building futures. "We're creating local jobs in battery swapping, vehicle assembly, maintenance and customer support," Claire explains.
Meanwhile, in Zimbabwe, Lisa Mare and Mobility for Africa have developed a solar-powered electric tricycle specifically designed for rural women who have been overlooked by traditional transportation systems. With a remarkable 400kg carrying capacity and 100km range, these vehicles are doing far more than moving people and goods. "It's doubling and tripling incomes," Lisa reveals, pointing to concrete evidence that sustainable mobility directly translates to economic empowerment.
Ready to support Africa's clean mobility revolution? These proven, scalable solutions deliver both measurable climate benefits and transformative social impact. As Claire aptly puts it: "When we focus on the people, when it's about getting more money in their pockets, meeting their basic needs – that makes our business model even more sustainable."
Follow GoodGeist for more episodes on sustainability, communications and how creativity can help make the world a better place.
Good Geist, a podcast series on sustainability hosted by Damla Özler and Steve Connor, brought to you by the DNS Network.
Damla Özlüer:Hello, hello everyone. You are listening to Good Ge Guys, the message on sustainability which is brought to you by the DNS Network, the global network of agencies dedicated to making the world a better place. This is Damla from Mira Agency, Istanbul, and.
Steve Connor:This is Steve from Creative Concern in Manchester. This podcast series explores global sustainability issues, how they're communicated and what creativity can do to make positive change happen.
Damla Özlüer:So in this episode we have really exciting guests and we're going to talk to Claire Bakita, Projects and Development Manager at GoGo Electric in Uganda, and Lisa Marie, Project Coordinator at Mobility for Africa in Zimbabwe.
Steve Connor:So, claire and Lisa this week been appearing alongside other clean energy leaders from Africa as part of the Ashton Charities Powering Clean Energy Investment Program, which itself is part of London Climate Action Week, so really exciting. The event has been acting as a showcase for those who are transforming energy access for communities left behind by traditional systems. So, claire and Lisa, it is so lovely to meet you. Thanks for taking the time to talk to us.
Damla Özlüer:Thank you for having us Tamla and Steve. It is really exciting. Claire, let's start with you. First of all, tell us a bit about yourself and how you got involved in the GoGo Electric project in Uganda, about yourself and how you got involved in the Gogo Electric Project in Uganda.
Claire Bakhita:Okay, my work focuses on accelerating adoption of electric two-wheelers in transport in Uganda, and it sits at the intersection of clean energy, mobility and community empowerment. I got into this because I am passionate about building inclusive systems that connect climate action to everyday livelihoods, and I am a strong advocate for green workforce development and gender equity in the electric mobility sector.
Damla Özlüer:So, Claire, you talked about the things that we hold very dear, especially the gender equity. Steve, you know that.
Steve Connor:I have to say Damna, just while we're on, that this is becoming a women-only podcast.
Claire Bakhita:No it is Lisa and.
Steve Connor:Claire must be the latest in an almost uninterrupted line of female guests.
Damla Özlüer:Always on the front line.
Steve Connor:Anyway, I'm sorry I interrupted Back to you.
Damla Özlüer:No problem. So, Claire, you said that GoGo is about putting people at the heart of the clean energy transition, fighting climate change, but also creating a ripple throughout the economy. That is the main hardcore issue of GoGo. Tell us more about that, please.
Claire Bakhita:Absolutely At GoGo. We believe that clean energy transition shouldn't just be about the technology, it's about the people. Our work with electric trailers is helping reduce climate emissions and air pollution. Yes, and air pollution, yes. But just as importantly, it's opening up new economic activities for riders, the technicians that repair and maintain the bikes, that do assembly, and the local entrepreneurs as well.
Steve Connor:Amazing. See, it's so holistic, actually, for both of you. These projects are so holistic. It's nuts, lisa, I'd like to talk to you because I love both of you. There's a focus on sustainable mobility, so if we come to you, let's kick off again with you telling us about Well, tell us about yourself and how you got involved in your amazing project in Zimbabwe.
Lisa Marie:Oh, thank you so much, Steve. So my journey with Mobility for Africa actually started somewhat by chance in 2021. By training, I am an environmentalist, deeply passionate about climate change and the role transportation plays in that broader context. So before joining, I had a lot of experience supporting climate change policy development as well as project management, but I knew little about electric mobility itself, to be honest. So in 2021, when the Zimbabwean government actually asked Mobility for Africa to support the development of an electric mobility policy framework, it felt like a perfect match, you know, combining my background in climate policy with the emerging need for sustainable transport solutions. So since then I've been leading our policy and partnerships efforts to help scale clean, affordable and sustainable mobility options across rural Africa.
Steve Connor:Totally amazing. So, a bit like Claire, you've got your project, and I'm sure this is why Ashton was so keen to have you as part of their showcase. Your project really joins together key issues like rural development, empowerment of women, as well as sustainability. So paint us a bit more of a picture about how Mobility for Africa works and what it's delivering how Mobility for Africa works and what it's delivering.
Lisa Marie:Absolutely so. Mobility for Africa focuses on unlocking economic opportunities through sustainable transport. Our flagship solution is a solar-powered tricycle called the Humber, and it is designed specifically for the rural African context. So our focus, or our main clientele, are women who are juggling childcare and are trying to get the approaches to the market. Most of these women face huge, huge mobility challenges, and sometimes motorbikes, which are like the most common and available option, are just not enough. So the Humber not only presents itself as a solution that is clean, affordable and scalable, but is a solution that can sort of address the problem that these women are facing. So the tricycle itself actually has a carrying capacity of 400 kgs and has a range of 100 kilometers on a full charge.
Lisa Marie:If anything, the Humber has such a transformational effect on our clients because you know from the studies that we've seen it's doubling and tripling incomes as well. At present we have a fleet of about 300 tricycles spread across five geographical locations. However, the demand significantly outpaces what we can currently provide. Our ambitious goal is to scale up to 22 sites, with each site maybe hosting anywhere from 5 to 50 tricycles, and all this is to better serve rural women, cooperatives and local enterprises as well. Our work goes beyond transportation. It's a catalyst for community empowerment and a driver of sustainable economic development. Steve.
Steve Connor:Amazing.
Damla Özlüer:Wow, Actually that was the pitch itself, but I really want to narrow that down to just one sentence, if possible. So, Lisa, what's really clear about your project is that it is a scalable solution if the investment is there. So you're in the UK for London Climate Week with a clear message that we need to invest in Africa's green entrepreneurs. What's your investment pitch in?
Lisa Marie:one sentence, so I won't make it one, but I can make it three. My pitch is very simple Investing in mobility for Africa means investing in a proven, scalable solution that delivers both social impact and financial returns. Our model very simple, based on recurring weekly payments from users, diversified client segments and revenue streams from sales, spare parts and battery swaps. We tackle challenges like affordability and maintenance through local partnerships and training, ensuring sustainability.
Steve Connor:There you go, damla, I think you need to invest now. This is an audio-only only podcast, so just to disappoint uk listeners if this isn't like drag, we have a tv program guys called dragons den where people sit and they listen to your pitch and they have this big stack of money and then they say, right, lisa, I'm gonna invest. But that was very compelling and I'd like to try school claire. I want to come to you, um, and talk a little. I mean, you both talked about this already, but both of you in your projects have talked about economic impact and for people in your case, like motorcycle taxi drivers, are really delivering a direct economic impact for the people who are part of your project and that that can be itself part of a driver for green growth. So, sustainable economic growth. Tell us a bit more about the economic impact here.
Claire Bakhita:Um, for instance, in Uganda we have about 1.5 million motorcycle taxi riders, so that is a very huge part of the transport ecosystem in Uganda and having them shift from electric to I mean from a petrol powered bike to an electric bike means a real economic shift, because one they are able to save about 40 percent more money because they're saving on operating costs, that's, energy and maintenance costs. That is a significant boost in their take-home income. But then, beyond the individual savings of the motorcycle taxi riders, projects like ours help build an entire new green economy. We're creating local jobs in battery swapping, in vehicle assembly, in battery assembly, vehicle maintenance and customer support. And then we also work together with training institutions to upskill young people, upskill women to be able to support this growing ecosystem so that they can really meet the needs of private sector actors. So I mean, when we talk about green growth, we are basically building an ecosystem that is inclusive, it's locally driven it's economically empowering and it's not just sustainable in theory, but it's in practice.
Steve Connor:And I've got a follow-up question, both for you, claire, and for you, lisa, which I'm sure people would love to know is you're at London Climate Action Week and talking about investment in exactly the same sort of solutions, that you're at London Climate Action Week and talking about investment in exactly the same sort of solutions that you're doing. Could you tell us about how both of your projects got off the ground? What sort of starting investment have you managed to put in? Where did the funding come to start this all off, claire, if you go first and then Lisa, I'll come to you. It'd be good to hear about that.
Claire Bakhita:Okay. So ideally, the average motorcycle rider cannot afford an electric motorcycle, so we partnered with a local asset financing company that provides uh financing of these assets to riders so that they can be able to make weekly payments. So they can and but we also support them with training to operate the asset and then figure out how they can financially they can sustainably maintain and then help them to improve their livelihoods. So in terms of investment, that was great for us. We have a business model that works. So we sell the motorcycles directly to an asset financer and then together we run these battery swapping locations that are already profit. It's a profitable business on its own.
Claire Bakhita:And then also being able to share our story, this opportunity with Ashton supporting us to be able to come to Climate Week, our story, this opportunity with Ashton supporting us to be able to come to Climate Week and share our story and connect with the bigger global climate conversation. Ashton has been a great partner. It has not only recognized our work at COGO, but it has also actively helped us amplify it and this has attracted significant investment for us. For instance, we just got a working capital facility from africa, go green that is managed by signum capital and, yeah, I think providing visibility and just connecting us with other innovators and funders and creating process space to tell our story from a local perspective has been very pivotal in shaping and positioning us for investment.
Steve Connor:Thanks, claire. That's really clear, and yet again that Ashton ecosystem is working its magic. So same question to you, lisa, if you don't mind. I mean, how did you get, how did mobility for africa get off the ground and how does the economic model work?
Lisa Marie:so, um you know, in terms of the honest truth is, I would just like to double click on something that clear said and that's that the africa, the average african individual cannot afford.
Lisa Marie:Um, putting money towards transportation solutions and Mobility for Africa. Taking off honestly took a little bit of time. Most of the money that was put in taking the company off was mostly from crowdfunding, and I know our CEO put a little chunk in that. But I think for us, one of the bigger things was actually proving that rural women are bankable, and it took a lot of time and a lot of effort for us to be able to, you know, do our research and ensure that we sort of have something that we could show then to the investors and be like look, what we're doing is working and we would like you to invest in us. So you'd find that after we actually proved our model, we actually started getting a little bit of funding rolling in, and I'll just name a few. We've had some funding from EEP Africa, infraco Africa as well.
Lisa Marie:The momentum is still being pushed from our end because three-wheelers are different from two-wheelers. When it comes to two-wheeler acceptability in Africa, you'd find that we've got players like Kenya and even Uganda. There are a sizable amount of tricycles that are actually on the road already, but with three-wheelers now it's a whole different segment. You're trying to prove something that no one necessarily does. So you'd find that three-wheeler companies that are doing electric mobility in Africa or even in general are quite few, and in our context in Zimbabwe, we're the only one. So that's something that we've had to prove the viability of over time.
Damla Özlüer:Well, I too have a question for both of you. Maybe this time we can start with Lisa and then go to Claire, but in both of your cases and in all of the sentences you are saying to us at the moment, there's a clear emphasis on people and community. In everything you're doing actually and we have been talking to other projects from Africa, from the continent, and this emphasis was always there, from the continent, and this emphasis was always there. In fact, it feels like. For Africa, the energy transition is very much about communities coming together, empowered through smart investment. Do you think this is a fair assessment?
Lisa Marie:Absolutely, demla. I would like to believe that the energy transition in Africa is fundamentally a people-driven movement. It's not just about switching technologies or infrastructure, but it's about empowering communities, going to the grassroots levels of things, taking control, giving communities the opportunity for them to control their own sustainable futures. In many rural areas, as I mentioned, like, traditional technology and transport systems have left people more isolated and economically vulnerable, if anything, especially for women, who are often, you know, the backbone of these local economies, who are often the backbone of these local economies. Most of these individuals face mobility challenges on a daily basis, so our work at Mobility for Africa is a perfect example of how clean mobility can serve as a catalyst for broader social and economic transformation.
Damla Özlüer:Wonderful. And Claire, do you agree with that? Because your work is also a community building work?
Claire Bakhita:Absolutely, I agree. I really feel that embedding sustainable transport at the heart of local communities is, you know, it's what we are about, because when we focus on the people, when it's about, you know, getting more money in their pockets, getting them to be able to pay for food, for school fees, meeting their basic needs, that makes our business model even more sustainable. Because we are empowering entrepreneurs, we are growing a business, we are scaling a business with smart investment. It helps us to create the impact that we can see, because the people that we are working with their lives are getting better. They see real change.
Claire Bakhita:We have people that we build capacity for that are able to have a future-proof, green job. They have a job today that they know they will have in the next 20, 30 years. It's decent, it provides, you know, it's a quality job they can save for their retirement. So that is what we are trying to do, because when we grow the people, we build a better business for ourselves, but we also improve their livelihood. So we know we can do this at scale. We know that we can do this, you know, for many more years to come, which is pretty exciting for us at Google.
Steve Connor:Yeah.
Damla Özlüer:I wish I was there just to rub my hands on both of them and get their enthusiasm and energy a bit on myself. I mean, you're amazing.
Steve Connor:I know you can totally, totally hear that excitement in your voice claire, it's amazing. So I almost, um, we're almost the final question. I've got one last, uh, one almost final question for both of you, um, which is how's this week been here in the uk working with ashton and taking part in london climate week? Lisa, you go first. What's what's the week like been for you?
Lisa Marie:so I think, if anything, the the London Climate Week has been incredibly energising and inspiring, especially for me.
Lisa Marie:I think my biggest takeaway, the networking, knowledge sharing.
Lisa Marie:I found them to be very invaluable because I got to connect with you know, potential investors, partners, peers and it's different when you're connecting with just random people, but people that sort of understand the urgency of scaling green technologies, and not just here in the UK, but being willing to replicate what is here to African communities and also like buttress the work that we're already doing in Africa.
Lisa Marie:And I think also what sort of curated my experience was the fact that we were looking at everything from an Ashton lens because, as you know, we we're part of the Ashton Powering Clean Energy Investment Program. So I feel like also my experience was very curated in a sense and it has sort of given me like a unique opportunity to showcase our innovations. And this week has just given me a chance to tell a story, if anything, tell a story of the real people that are in Africa, that sort of depend on our work, that are benefiting from our work, um, the people that are being transformed through these clean energy solutions. So it's been, it's been, it's been awesome really it was excellent.
Steve Connor:That's amazing. That's so amazing. Claire same to you. How's the week been?
Claire Bakhita:um, it's been a really, like lisa said, it's been very inspiring. It's been great being part of a conversation where your voice can be heard in what it means to shape a more inclusive energy transition in the transport sector. It's, um, it's, it's been great. I mean we can be part of this conversation. We can can tell our story, because our story is powerful and that's what gets us into the room to have, you know, conversations that would lead to, maybe, investment, to scale our work, to grow, to do that. It's been great. And now we can go back with a new energy to, you know, push ahead and keep growing, doing what we like to do, what we enjoy doing, and, you know, expanding to other regions. So that's what we're looking forward to.
Damla Özlüer:Now, claire, you're a gem. By the way. You saved me because I was just coughing a little bit and couldn't come. Thank you for realizing it.
Damla Özlüer:I'm so happy that the three of you are here. I have a question again, and this is not planned, but I have to ask. Both of you are talking about inclusive transition. So when we're talking about green transition, we always, always talk about the climate justice too. So you're in a unique position helping communities in Africa towards a better and sustainable future with green mobility, but also seeking some investment in the UK at the moment and all around the world. So when you're looking at the situation and the picture, the big picture, how do you think should we frame our efforts for inclusive sustainability?
Lisa Marie:I think, when it comes to framing the cause of inclusive sustainability, you know, know we should take a like, take a step back and look at who needs the most assistance, like who is most facing the brunt of climate change, who needs the help and where do they need it.
Lisa Marie:I think, if anything, working with ashen has actually made me realize something, because, in as much as they sort of help us with you know, our messaging, finance and, if anything they've been there to address our problems, so they have been able to look at us, step back and say where do you need the most assistance? How do we make it happen? And I feel like that should be everybody's approach when looking at inclusivity, when looking at how best we tackle the issue of climate change in general, when looking at how best do we bring the solutions to the people that need them. I think most people are just you know, when we look at climate change, it's a doomsday story and sometimes people get stuck in the rut of you know we've got how many years to live, what are we going to do on planet Earth? But I think it's about stepping back and actually looking at who needs the most help and how best to get it to them.
Damla Özlüer:Great and Claire.
Claire Bakhita:I think I would say, like, for us, it's about leading with a solution and not with a problem, because that's what grabs attention.
Claire Bakhita:That's what I mean. That's what people connect to. What is the solution, what can we do about it and what efforts can everybody make in order for us to achieve a just transition where we have the benefits and have diverse voices from women, from people that work in the informal sector, rural communities, and how can we include them in conversations like this? I mean, it's just being around this climate week and hearing diverse perspectives and how we can incorporate that in what we do and having our what we do being presented to the world in a way that they understand when we take our story from a local perspective and people can get it and say, okay, now I need to be involved, now I need to, you know, make a step towards this. So, yeah, it's, it's. It's an opportunity for us to get the money to scale our solution, but also to meet people where they are so that they can understand you know that they need to be part of the impact that we are making. Yeah, Amazing.
Steve Connor:So, claire, I will admit I'm inspired. That's it, I'm buying in. We've got one last question for both of you. So our network of agencies is ironically called Do Not Smile, because we know that we need to make sustainability a subject that brings happiness into the world. So what object, place or person always makes both of you smile. So, lisa, let's go with you first. What always makes you smile?
Lisa Marie:I would like to say it's the smiles of the women that we serve, the smiles of the women that we work with, because you'd find that, predominantly, mobility for Africa's team is largely women. We've got 73% of our clients as women as well. So when our clients tell us their stories and you see how much we're changing their lives and just providing better mobility, that motivates me and makes me smile.
Steve Connor:Good answer, Lisa. And because we're audio, only there's a big smile on your face right now, as there me and makes me smile. Good answer, Lisa. And because we're audio, only there's a big smile on your face right now, as there is for you, Claire. So what always makes you smile?
Claire Bakhita:For me it's, I think, the motorcycle taxi riders that I work with every day, seeing them being able to make more money, to be able to take pride in their work, to build better futures, to be able to meet the basic needs of their family, education, food that makes me smile. It's a reminder of what I do and the I don't know the planet that I want to see, just having these people's lives being better, their families being better. Yeah, so I can see, you know, a better future for them. But for, also, I don't know even the people that support our ecosystem every day, the people that are assembling the bikes, the people that are just providing an opportunity for them to get decent work. It's, yeah, it gets me up in the morning every day with a smile on my face, so that's really great that's why we're becoming an all women podcast, because solidarity runs in our ways don't, I don't, I know it, damla, don't, I know it?
Steve Connor:no, honestly, lisa and claire, I mean listening to you. What is love, what lovely and I'm sure people listening to this will agree is that you've painted a very vivid picture of real change happening on the ground. It's not abstract, it's not theoretical. It is climate solutions happening that are better for the economy, better for people and empower women. It's been a really inspiring talk, amazing. Damla, do you want to finish? Finish up for us?
Damla Özlüer:so thanks to everyone who has listened to our good guys podcast, brought to you by the do not smile network of agencies and make sure you listen to future episodes.
Steve Connor:We'll be talking to more amazing people like lisa and claire about how we can work together to create a more sustainable future. So, damla, claire, lisa, see you soon thank you bye.
Introduction:Good geist, a podcast series on sustainability hosted by damla ozer and steve connor, brought to you by the DNS Network.
