IEEE Smart Village focuses on multi-year projects where funding is provided to local entrepreneurs to establish community enterprises to create financially sustainable businesses. The mission is to improve community livelihoods through

Productive use of technology

Education

Enterprise

IEEE Smart Village provides seed funding to local enterprises in underserved communities around the world. Funded enterprises develop and implement renewable energy and sustainable energy solutions. Solar energy is particularly useful since many communities are in remote geographic locations with no reliable connectivity to a traditional power grid. IEEE Smart Village provides education and mentorship to local community members to help ensure the success of community projects. For example, trained local experts, fluent in local dialects and familiar with local cultures and customs, are used to educate community members who will then build, operate and maintain project resources. Since 2009 IEEE Smart Village has funded > $5.5M USD projects globally, impacting the lives of > 2M people. Over 170 projects have been funded in nearly 25 countries. Smart Village has grown from funding ~5 projects per year to >12 per year post-COVID.