Off-grid solar solutions are playing a vital role in delivering energy access to millions of people in low- and middle-income countries. While innovative financing models like pay-as-you-go (PAYGo) have made OGS products and services more affordable and accessible, they also introduce new risks—particularly for financially vulnerable consumers. As the industry grows, so too does the need to ensure that customers not only gain access to energy but also have positive experiences with the products and services they use.

The Consumer Protection (CP) Code is the industry’s de facto standard for safeguarding consumer rights and driving long-term, positive impact – it helps companies minimize risk and improve customer experience. The CP Code includes six core Principles and 37 Indicators, which are assessed through a Self-Assessment or a more robust and independent Third-Party Assessment.

This report highlights findings from ten Third-Party Assessments conducted across Africa, offering a detailed picture of how businesses are currently performing against the Consumer Protection Code and revealing both strong practices and areas of improvement.

These insights are helping businesses refine their operations, while enabling investors to better manage consumer protection risks across their portfolios. Sector support and collaboration is crucial to raise standards of consumer protection industry wide. As the sector matures, consumer protection must be seen not as a compliance issue, but as a core driver of business performance and impact.