Inclusive Employment at African Clean Energy

Persons with disabilities are often under-represented in the workforce. Prejudice continues to limit understanding and acceptance of disability in workplaces everywhere. Article 27 of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities recognises the right of persons with disabilities to work on an equal basis with others; this includes the right to the opportunity to gain a living by work freely chosen or accepted in a labour market and work environment that is open, inclusive, and accessible to persons with disabilities.

African Clean Energy (ACE) intentionally provides inclusive employment opportunities for persons with disabilities as they deliver decentralised access to sustainable energy for rural households in Sub-Saharan Africa and Southeast Asia through the manufacture and distribution of a proprietary product, the ACE One cookstove. The new ACE One cookstove has a built-in microprocessor, which allows it to communicate with smartphones. The cookstoves are sold in a bundle with smart phones that have the ACE app pre-installed and also comes with a light and phone charging port.

Moratua Manthatisi Raliete is a mother of two and works as a technician at the factory. Moratua is deaf and communicates with her colleagues in basic sign language which they have all learnt from interacting with her. Her role is to assemble and repair the ACE One stove. Prior to joining ACE, Moratua was unemployed.

Rethabile Mafura, Country Director of ACE in Lesotho emphasised that their work culture is based on teamwork, harmony, unity and being each other’s keeper.

Judith Joan Walker, COO at ACE passionately spoke on how the enterprise is intentional on inclusive employment opportunities,