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[[Image: solar pump icon.png|right]]
[[Image:SolarGrid.jpg|thumb|right|250px200px|Kalalé District consists of 44 villages (~100,000 people), none of which are connected to the town of Benin’s electric power grid. They use solar instead. <br>Photo: [http://www.bobfreling.com/2009/08/solar-energy-powering-food-sec.htm Bob Freling's Solar Blog.]]][[Image:SolarPump.jpg|thumb|right|250px200px| Solar pumping system. <br>Photo: UNICEF.]]
The climate in many countries in the developing world is suitable for solar pumping. Solar energy is a valid option for small-scale water pumping in rural areas where the demand is regular, such as for drinking water, but it may also be used for irrigation. Applications of solar systems are growing at steady rate.
==Construction, operations and maintenance==
[[Image:SolarPumpDiagram.jpg|thumb|right|250px200px| Solar pumping system diagram. <br>Photo: UNICEF.]]
Solar panels are a very reliable piece of equipment and many manufacturers sell the panels with a guarantee of 25 years. It should be noted that such a warranty can only be honoured if the supplier is still in business in 25 years. Therefore, it is advisable to select reliable suppliers rather than to choose the cheapest source.
==Field experiences==
[[Image:solar market garden.jpg|thumb|right|250px200px|Solar Market Garden project hooks up solar panels to a drip-system. Photo: [http://www.self.org/benin.shtml Solar Electric Light Fund.]]]
For the first time, women farmers in the rural villages of Bessassi and Dunkassa, in northern Benin, are able to grow vegetables and fruits during the six month dry season, improving food security and nutrition for themselves and their families. Farmers are also increasing their income by selling excess crops in the market. Now entering its third year, [http://www.self.org/benin.shtml SELF's Solar Market Garden project] has proved that solar energy can provide long term solutions to hunger, malnutrition and poverty in developing nations.
In addition, since December 2010, the villagers of Bessassi and Dunkassa now have access to clean drinking water via water wells powered by custom arrays of solar-panels ranging from 1.2 - 4 kW. This particular combination is not only a long-term solution, but can also be replicated all over the African continent.
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|[[Image:rsr 789.jpg|thumb|none|200px|<font size="2"><center>Project 789</center></font>|link=http://www.akvo.org/rsr/project/789/]]
|'''AKVO RSR Project:''' [http://www.akvo.org/rsr/project/789/ MWA-LAP: Colombia]
Positively impact 8,000 people in La Guajira, Colombia by:
* Installing appropriate water technologies (solar pump, household filters) to improve access and water quality
* Piloting and adapting composting latrines for effective use
* Strengthening Aguayuda’s Mobile WASH Support Service Model to ensure sustainability of clean water
* Providing WASH education to communities and school
|}
==Manuals, videos, and links==