8.2)   Achieve higher levels of economic productivity through diversification, technological upgrading and innovation, including through a focus on high-value added and labor intensive sectors

In several African countries, up to 90% of urban and rural workers have informal jobs. On average, for all of Africa, 84% of women are informally employed compared to 63% of men. This informal sector is an under-estimated and under-recognized driver of local economic growth.  ABZESOLAR S.A.’s ‘MAMA-LIGHT® Initiative for Sustainable Energy’ provides access to affordable energy for women, small business, and children. This empowers local and informal businesses, drives the generation of new jobs, and creates a sound basis for gender equality and women's empowerment.  The ‘MAMA-LIGHT® Initiative’ will create 1000 cooperatives in combination with the Multifunction Platforms (MFPs) per country. It will provide 20,000 jobs per country and over 200,000 people will benefit in each area.  ABZESOLAR S.A. also launched the Global Expertise Hub for the Informal Sector as a means of implementation of the 2030 Agenda. This Hub works with and on behalf of the informal sector. It brings together the Top Down actions and the Bottom Up needs and challenges in a structured and integrated manner.