ABSTRACT

OSRAM has run a pilot off-grid project in the form of a social business in Kenya. The prevailing view on social businesses is that they are enterprises with a social goal, targeting a need that is not yet satisfied by society, government or non-governmental organizations (NGO). The idea for the project in Kenya came from different directions. The Global Nature Fund, an international NGO for environmental protection, observed Lake Victoria being heavily polluted by the fishermen's kerosene, which is used for illumination in order to attract fish at night. With this idea, it felt that it could materialize the theory of a self-sustaining social business and target people living at the bottom of the pyramid. However, OSRAM identifies other aspects as the greatest constraints for its social business: firstly, the local culture, which is completely different to the western culture OSRAM, is normally used to.