The Solar Giraffe Project offers an innovative solution to energy poverty in remote communities like Mangunze. Solar Giraffe, or Girafa Solar in Portuguese, was implemented by the Carlos Morgado Foundation with funding from the Irish Embassy in Mozambique. This initiative has successfully installed 9 Solar Giraffes across three provinces in the country: Gaza, Cabo Delgado, and Niassa, providing standalone solar structures that serve communities still waiting for connection to the national grid. Each Solar Giraffe features ten mobile charging outlets and a radio player beneath a covered community space, collectively charging an impressive 2,500 phones monthly. The original €7,000 project was developed through strategic partnerships with local organizations including Nyikani Mavoko Association and Mozambique Women of Energy.
What distinguishes this initiative is its dual functionality, beyond providing essential charging services, each Solar Giraffe creates a social hub where community members gather, listen to radio, and discuss local issues while waiting for their devices to charge. At night, the installed lights transform these structures into safety beacons for surrounding areas. The systems are operated by trained female community members who provide user assistance. Though initially grant funded, the project team is now exploring partnerships with mobile communications companies to expand the model further and investigating pay as you go solutions for future sustainability.
For more information about the Solar Giraffe Project, visit: girafasolar.carlosmorgado.org
