UL Unilever PLC

By Dieter Holger

Azuri Technologies Ltd. said Thursday that it would boost the number of rural women working in the off-grid solar power industry in Africa, in partnership with Unilever PLC.

Azuri, a privately-owned British company focused on off-grid solar power in rural Africa, said its new initiative would train and hire 250 women recruits. Women make up 35% of Azuri's rural workforce in Kenya and the company aims for 50% of its new hires to be women in 2020.

Justin Apsey, chief executive of Unilever East Africa, said the British consumer-goods company would expand its "partnership in rolling out renewable energy and sustainable solutions that respect gender equality." Unilever first partnered with Azuri in 2018.

Azuri has raised $53.5 million, according to Crunchbase.

Write to Dieter Holger at dieter.holger@wsj.com; @dieterholger

(END) Dow Jones Newswires

February 20, 2020 06:30 ET (11:30 GMT)

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