For this project, pilot regions have been selected in Namibia, Botswana, South Africa and Sambia, where the business advisory service for SME producing goods and services - the potential demand side of RE – have been implemented. For each pilot region, interdisciplinary advisors have been identified who conduct market studies on marketable goods and services that can be produces/provided with renewable energy adding value to the process. Based on these studies, SME have been coached and advised. Criteria for the selection of the pilot regions were:

• The region has viable renewable energy sources

• Infrastructure exists to provide renewable energy technologies and to give access to markets

• Potential members (experts) for the interdisciplinary advisory teams can be found within the region

• The local project partner knows the region and should have ongoing projects there

• A critical mass of existing or potential producers of marketable goods and services with business instinct can be identified in the region

• The availability of subsidies for energy and/or agriculture or the existence of rural or urban development programmes could be an additional selection criteria