UGANDA – d.light, a provider of transformational household products and affordable finance, has received a US$3.4 million grant from the Private Sector Foundation Uganda (PSFU) and Energising Development (EnDev) to provide access to affordable, reliable, and sustainable energy solutions to underserved refugee populations.
d.light will supply 10,000 subsidized solar home systems to refugees from South Sudan and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) currently residing in Northern and Western Uganda refugee camps.
This initiative is part of a larger effort to deliver 23,000 solar home systems to refugee communities across Uganda.
The project commenced in April and is scheduled to span 12 months. Funds from the grant are contingent upon results-based financing (RBF), with d.light receiving funding only upon installation of the solar home systems.
Each system features three high-efficiency LED lights, an FM radio with MP3 playback, mobile phone charging capability, and a portable solar flashlight.
As noted by the International Energy Agency (IEA), Africa is home to 60% of the world’s most potent solar resources. However, 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 reinforcing its commitment to aiding low-income populations through its Pay-Go financing model.
This model has recently been strengthened by an additional investment of US$7.4 million, which aims to make solar products more accessible and affordable for those who need them most.
Douglas Gavala, Managing Director for d.light Uganda, emphasized the initiative’s positive impact on the living conditions of refugee communities.
He highlighted how access to solar energy improves household well-being by providing entertainment, enabling education after dark, and extending working hours for small businesses in refugee settlements.
Furthermore, d.light’s products enhance the quality of life and stimulate economic activity within the settlements, offering residents employment opportunities as d.light salespeople.
Gavala concluded by underlining d.light’s commitment to improving the lives of displaced individuals while fostering economic empowerment at the grassroots level in Uganda’s refugee settlements.
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