d.light, a company dedicated to delivering vital household products and financing to communities with limited resources, has recently unveiled an ambitious project aimed at enhancing the quality of life for refugees in Ugandan camps by providing them with solar-powered home systems. This initiative is not only set to improve the day-to-day living conditions for these displaced individuals but also to create new economic possibilities for them.
In a targeted effort, d.light has committed to supplying 10,000 solar home systems at a subsidized rate to refugees hailing from South Sudan, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and other nations who have found refuge in the Northern and Western regions of Uganda. This initiative is a significant component of a broader campaign that seeks to deploy a total of 23,000 solar systems across various refugee settlements.
The funding for this project comes in the form of a generous $3.4 million grant provided by the Private Sector Foundation Uganda (PSFU) and Energising Development (EnDev), a collaborative international program supported by the governments of Germany, the Netherlands, Norway, and Switzerland.
Douglas Gavala, the Managing Director for Uganda at d.light, expressed his enthusiasm for the project, stating, “This grant allows us to expand our work and significantly improve the lives of refugees in Uganda.” He highlighted the benefits of the solar systems, which include affordable and dependable lighting, the capability to charge mobile phones, and the promotion of safety, education, and economic activities within the refugee communities.
The project is designed to operate on a 12-month timeline and is structured around a results-based financing model. This means that d.light will only receive payments once the solar systems have been successfully installed and are operational.
Each solar home system provided by d.light is equipped with energy-efficient LED lights, an FM radio that also supports MP3 playback, facilities for charging mobile phones, and a portable solar flashlight. These features are intended to meet a variety of needs within the households of the refugee camps.
Despite Africa being home to 60% of the world’s most potent solar resources, as noted by the International Energy Agency (IEA), the continent’s capacity to harness solar power is still relatively untapped. d.light’s project is a step towards leveraging these abundant solar resources to empower communities with limited access to electricity.
Furthermore, d.light continues to reinforce its commitment to aiding low-income populations through its Pay-Go financing model. This model has recently been strengthened by an additional investment of $7.4 million, which is aimed at making solar products more accessible and affordable for those who are most in need.
