d.light recieves $3.4M to provide 10,000 solar home systems

In 2006, Ned Tozun and Sam Goldman founded d.light, an off-grid solar company that powered homes in Africa. d.light provides affordable solar products for low-income households across Kenya, Nigeria, and many other African countries and over 70 countries worldwide, with nearly 30 million sold products, including TVs, radios, smartphones, and more.

To increase it’s impact, the Private Sector Foundation Uganda and Energising Development granted d.light $3.4M to provide 10,000 subsidized solar home systems to refugees living in the Nothern and Western refugee camps in Uganda.

The 10,000 units form part of a broader endeavor to furnish 23,000 solar-powered domestic systems to Ugandan refugee communities who have fled conflicts in South Sudan and the Democratic Republic of Congo.

In a statement, d.light’s Managing Director for Uganda, Douglas Gavala, remarked, “Through this grant, we can broaden the crucial work we’re undertaking to enhance living conditions for underserved refugee communities from South Sudan, the DRC, and elsewhere, residing in Ugandan refugee camps.”

Globally, 675 million individuals live without electricity and approximately 2.3 billion lack access to clean cooking facilities. This situation profoundly impacts livelihoods and the environment. d.light’s solar solutions address this issue by making clean energy products accessible and affordable. d.light envisions a brighter future where everyone can enjoy the benefits of affordable energy while uplifting their communities.

The project commenced in April and is scheduled to span 12 months. Funding from the grant is subject to results-based financing (RBF), and d.light will only receive remuneration for solar home systems that have been installed. Each solar home system from d.light features three high-efficiency LED lights, an FM radio with MP3 playback capability, mobile phone charging functionality, and a portable solar flashlight.

The solar home systems are expected to significantly enhance households’ quality of life and well-being – by providing entertainment with local and global news through the radio or enabling children to continue reading and studying after nightfall. d.light products also bolster household income in Uganda’s refugee settlements by extending working hours for tradespeople and small businesses and providing an income for residents who work as d.light salespeople in the settlements.