SELF’s Micro-Enterprise Center (MEC) in Bessassi, Benin offers a bustling commerce hub, powered by entrepreneurial spirit and a little bit of sunshine. Customers visit the MEC to access a variety of goods and services—many of which were not available before solar electricity was installed in 2014. Economic activity has increased in Bessassi and the local area. 

In 2025, the SELF team returned to the Bessassi MEC and implemented exciting upgrades that have increased the impact of the center, with benefits to the surrounding community of 11,500 people. 

About the Micro-Enterprise Centers  

SELF’s MECs function as solar-powered commerce hubs where local entrepreneurs can set up shop, access electricity, and grow their businesses. Over the past decade, SELF has successfully deployed and replicated the model in northern Benin, demonstrating how decentralized renewable energy can help strengthen rural economies. 

Bessassi Upgrades 

Several recent upgrades amplify the impact of the Bessassi MEC. 

Improvements were made to the MEC’s electrical system, increasing both energy capacity and reliability. This electricity enables businesses to extend operating hours, power machinery, refrigerate products, access communications technology, and provide services that would otherwise be impossible in off-grid communities. 

In rural Benin, electricity access continues to lag behind urban areas. Benin has made progress in recent years, but major gaps remain in reliable rural energy access and economic infrastructure. For communities like Bessassi, decentralized solar energy can help bridge those gaps more quickly and affordably while supporting local entrepreneurship.  

One of the most transformative additions to the MEC was the introduction of WASH (Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene) services. The project added restroom facilities, a clean drinking water station, and a vehicle washing enterprise. These services support the needs of the community and make the MEC more attractive as a commercial hub. People stop into the MEC to fill their water containers or wash their motorbike. While there, they may browse the merchants or grab a bite to eat. The customers benefit from improved access to services, and local entrepreneurs can expand their offerings and grow their bottom line. 

SELF also procured new agricultural processing equipment for the site, including milling, husking, and oil-pressing machinery. These additions will further integrate the Bessassi MEC with the Bessassi Solar Market Garden (SMG). The SMG program equips farmers with solar-powered drip irrigation, helping them grow their yield and increase their resilience. With the new agricultural equipment, SMG farmers can visit the MEC and process their crops locally to produce higher-value goods, helping communities retain more economic value within the local economy.  

The Impact 

We checked in with local business owners to see the impact of the upgrades. 

The story of the Bessassi MEC reflects SELF’s broader approach to energy access—one that integrates solar power with vital community services to unlock sustainable progress. With the right tools, rural and low-income communities can build stronger local economies while improving resilience in the face of growing climate pressures. Bessassi is just the start.