Access to reliable energy and clean water remains a critical challenge for many rural communities in Rwanda, especially those that are affected by climate change. In partnership with the Society for Family Health (SFH), OffGridBox has taken a significant step forward in addressing these challenges by solarising 12 health clinics across the country, and providing access to clean water. This initiative leverages our well-known containerized OffGridBox Pioneer, as well as our cutting-edge FLEX solar power module and the Chiara water purification system, delivering sustainable energy, clean water, and new opportunities for community development. We have been fortunate to be able to use funding from Grand Challenges Canada as well as the EDP Access to Energy program.

In a landmark initiative to revolutionize healthcare delivery in North Kivu and Kasai Orientale in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), OffGridBox, in collaboration with our esteemed partners, the Renewable and Appropriate Energy Laboratory (RAEL) at UC Berkeley, and the Research Centre for Humanitarian Aid (RCHA-DRC), has successfully installed our advanced FLEX and CHIARA systems along with a selection of vital biomedical equipment in 10 health clinics across the region.

OffGridBox is providing income generating opportunities in the Rwandan refugee camps that we operate in. Both for so-called BoxKeepers: women from the refugee community who are hired as daily operators, and for entrepreneurs, that use the energy for their small businesses.

At the end of October 2023, OffGridBox installed its FLEX solar power modules at 4 health clinics in Kagera region in Tanzania. Mabira, Kamuli, Rutunguru and Murongo health centres now have access to 24/7 solar energy.

OffGridBox was a proud winner of the SolarX Startup Challenge, organised and funded by the International Solar Alliance (ISA). ISA supports its Member Countries in increasing solar deployment as a means for bringing energy access, security, & transition towards low-carbon growth trajectories.

We’re happy to inform you about another great OffGridBox project related to Agroforestry in Somalia! We’d love to replicate this in other parts of Sub-Saharan Africa, so get in touch if you are interested.

A recent WHO/IRENA report states that at least one billion people globally are served by health facilities that lack reliable access to electricity. In our efforts to provide power and clean water for health, we recently installed our new OffGridBox M!NI in 4 health centres in Rugu and Kayanga in Karagwe district, Northwestern Tanzania. Funding was provided by All People Be Happy.

In June, OffGridBox expanded to another country: Zambia! We installed the first OffGridBox under the SNV-sponsored program Innovations Against Poverty. We are working together with the Women’s Initiative for Delivering clean Energy to Africa ( Widenergy Africa Ltd ), which is a women-led company, registered in Zambia, dedicated to the last-mile distribution of clean, reliable, and affordable energy solutions.

Nearly 60 percent of all healthcare facilities in sub-Saharan Africa have no access to electricity, and of those that do, only 34 percent of hospitals and 28 percent of health clinics have reliable, 24-hour access. Energy is critical for powering essential devices, medical and sterilization equipment, diagnostics, cold storage for vaccines and medication, information technology, and lights to enable the delivery of continuous health care services. Efficient health services and responses to diseases — including COVID-19 — depend on reliable access to electricity.