Applications Invited for Channel partners for Scaling DRE Livelihood technologies across India

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About the Organization

The Powering Livelihoods (PL) programme, a joint initiative by CEEW and Villgro, aims to catalyse India’s rural economy through distributed renewable energy (DRE)-powered livelihood technologies. At its core, the programme adopts a market-driven approach with gender-inclusive strategies to scale DRE technologies at the last mile and establish a robust end-to-end support ecosystem. To date, the programme has incubated over 18 cleantech enterprises that offer innovative solutions such as solar dryers, solar refrigerators, energy-efficient multi-purpose food processors, solar silk reeling machines, solar sprayers, solar-powered cold storage units, among others. These technologies cater to six key value chains—on-farm activities, post-harvest processing, dairying, fisheries, animal husbandry, and textiles. Through enterprise support, evidence generation, knowledge dissemination, and sectoral engagement, the programme works to drive widespread adoption of these solutions while unlocking a potential USD 50 billion market opportunity in India’s clean energy-livelihoods sector. Our portfolio includes market-tested, income-enhancing technologies such as:

Solar dryers

• Small horticulture processors
• Biomass/Solar-powered cold storage units
• Solar DC refrigerators
• Solar silk reeling machines
• Solar sprayers
• Solar-powered hydroponic fodder units

These solutions serve value chains in agriculture, food processing, animal husbandry, dairy, fisheries, and textiles — with proven impact on rural incomes and women's enterprise development. We’re looking for serious collaborators with a clear strategy, operational bandwidth, and commercial orientation to take these products to market at scale.

What We’re Looking For

We invite applications from organisations with the intent and capacity to achieve ambitious sales targets over a 6–12 month period. Partners should have:

 Minimum Requirements

• Proven track record in rural product sales, with verifiable annual turnover from commercial sales over the past three years. Technology sales preferred.
• Existing distribution channels across a minimum of 5 districts
• Strong rural presence with active connections to Self-help groups (SHGs), Farmer Producer Organisations (FPOs), cooperatives, Village-level Entrepreneurs (VLEs), agri-input dealers, or other grassroots organisations.
• Field sales teams with experience in demand generation and lead conversion.
• Ability to train, deploy, and support a women-inclusive agent network.
• (Preferred) Experience with rural financing or credit facilitation.

What You Will Be Expected to Do

As a strategic partner, you will be responsible for the end-to-end sales lifecycle of DRE technologies:

• Design and execute a sales and distribution plan with a product-specific target of at least 200 units for your geography.
• Identify and prioritise high-potential value chains and districts for product deployment.
• Build awareness through community engagement, farmer demos, village meetings, and local events.
• Recruit, train, and manage a network of local sales agents (with at least 33% women).
• Ensure qualified lead generation, conversion tracking, and field-level data reporting.
• Facilitate financing or EMI options through our partner NBFCs, MFIs, banks, etc.

What We Offer

• Access to an exclusive portfolio of tested, innovative DRE livelihood products.
• Attractive distribution margins over and above enterprise offerings.
• Demo units and select capital support for establishing Experience Centres.
• Continuous product training, strategic support, and marketing assets from the Powering Livelihoods team.
• Recognition and visibility through PR as a key partner in India's clean energy livelihood movement.

Offerings are decided on a case by case basis as well as availability of funds. This is not a grant or subsidy-driven engagement. We seek commercial/business growth partners who can grow in our portfolio on performance-based models. Salaries, travel, and staffing costs are not covered.

Engagement Duration

Initial engagement period: 6 to 12 months, extendable based on performance and mutual alignment.

How to Apply

Deadline: 31st July, 2025

Link to Application Form

For more information please check the Link

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Tags Innovations and Technology Livelihood Others