How SunFunder and IKEA Foundation are energising families in rural communities

March 24, 2019

The IKEA Foundation is happy to award a grant to SunFunder to help 6 million people across east and west Africa and India get to access renewable energy.

SunFunder provides loans for solar energy companies that serve people and businesses in rural areas. By offering loans to emerging solar energy companies that struggle to raise the investment they need, SunFunder will reach people living in off-grid and weak-grid communities.

Since 2012, SunFunder has provided loans to innovative solar companies that distribute last-mile solar products and services. Five million people now have better access to renewable energy thanks to SunFunder’s financing—and our grant will help them reach another 6 million people.

Power to support a family

Fatuma lives in Kamuli, a rural town in eastern Uganda. Her husband purchased a 50W solar system from SolarNow, one of the many innovative solar companies supported by SunFunder. This helped Fatuma and her husband light their home at night, instead of using kerosene lamps.

However, soon after purchasing the solar system, Fatuma’s husband fell ill and could no longer support the family. The responsibility to earn a living fell on Fatuma. She decided to upgrade their 50W household system to a 150W small business solution, so she could start her own business. Through this, she earned 10,000-15,000 Ugandan shillings a day (around $3-5), enabling her to support her family for seven months while her husband was recovering. She also saved a little money for the future.

Fatuma says: “I bought a SolarNow system so that I can financially sustain my family. I charge 20-30 phones a day, run a small barbershop, operate a small cinema hall, and offer computer lessons all on the same system. I can generate income from my SolarNow system to maintain my family and pay school fees for my children. I am very proud of my solar system and my clients are very happy.”

Better opportunities

The solar systems installed by companies like Solar Now have significant impact. Children have light to do their homework by at night and households are no longer reliant on toxic and dangerous kerosene, improving health, safety and air quality. These companies also promote gender equality in their hiring processes and in the local communities where they operate, providing women with employment opportunities and enhancing their economic empowerment.

SolarNow has been a customer of SunFunder since 2014. It is a for-profit social business which sells and installs modular solar systems and appliances for households and businesses in east Africa. It provides last-mile distribution, financing and after-sales servicing to its clients.

Jolanda van Ginkel, Programme Manager for Renewable Energy at the IKEA Foundation, adds: ‘We are happy to support our partner SunFunder with a grant because we believe that helping women like Fatuma access renewable energy will enable them to afford a better everyday life for their families, while also protecting the planet.’

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SunFunder
https://www.sunfunder.com/

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Behind every climate solution are people making it happen. It was a privilege to visit @Cooperpac, based in the south of the city of São Paulo, and meet founder Valquíria Cândido da Silva, and the cooperative members whose work is helping give waste a second life. Thank you for welcoming our IKEA Foundation Ambassadors and sharing your inspiring story. Cooperpac is a powerful reminder that climate action can create opportunities for people while protecting the planet. This visit was made possible through our partner Global Methane Hub and its support for @InstitutoPólis, whose work helps strengthen community-led solutions like Cooperpac across Brazil. Swipe to learn more ➡️
Behind every climate solution are people making it happen. It was a privilege to visit @Cooperpac, based in the south of the city of São Paulo, and meet founder Valquíria Cândido da Silva, and the cooperative members whose work is helping give waste a second life. Thank you for welcoming our IKEA Foundation Ambassadors and sharing your inspiring story. Cooperpac is a powerful reminder that climate action can create opportunities for people while protecting the planet. This visit was made possible through our partner Global Methane Hub and its support for @InstitutoPólis, whose work helps strengthen community-led solutions like Cooperpac across Brazil. Swipe to learn more ➡️
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Behind every climate solution are people making it happen. It was a privilege to visit @Cooperpac, based in the south of the city of São Paulo, and meet founder Valquíria Cândido da Silva, and the cooperative members whose work is helping give waste a second life. Thank you for welcoming our IKEA Foundation Ambassadors and sharing your inspiring story. Cooperpac is a powerful reminder that climate action can create opportunities for people while protecting the planet. This visit was made possible through our partner Global Methane Hub and its support for @InstitutoPólis, whose work helps strengthen community-led solutions like Cooperpac across Brazil. Swipe to learn more ➡️
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Behind every climate solution are people making it happen. It was a privilege to visit @Cooperpac, based in the south of the city of São Paulo, and meet founder Valquíria Cândido da Silva, and the cooperative members whose work is helping give waste a second life. Thank you for welcoming our IKEA Foundation Ambassadors and sharing your inspiring story. Cooperpac is a powerful reminder that climate action can create opportunities for people while protecting the planet. This visit was made possible through our partner Global Methane Hub and its support for @InstitutoPólis, whose work helps strengthen community-led solutions like Cooperpac across Brazil. Swipe to learn more ➡️
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📢 We just helped launch The Shift at @ldnclimateweek — a campaign to make climate progress visible. Too often, the organisations driving climate solutions don’t have the same access to influential media as those with the greatest resources. 🌍 The Shift is our way of helping change that, supporting our partners to bring their evidence, stories and solutions to new audiences, and shift the climate conversation towards progress already happening. The campaign features an incredible group of partners working across some of the world’s most pressing climate challenges, including Climate Analytics, Global Methane Hub, InfluenceMap, NewClimate Institute, @fossilfueltreaty, UMI Fund and Youth Climate Justice Fund. Explore the stories, meet the organisations behind them, and share with your network. Together, we can help more people see the climate solutions already making a difference: 🔗 link in bio! #LCAW2026 #TheShift
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📢 We just helped launch The Shift at @ldnclimateweek — a campaign to make climate progress visible. Too often, the organisations driving climate solutions don’t have the same access to influential media as those with the greatest resources. 🌍 The Shift is our way of helping change that, supporting our partners to bring their evidence, stories and solutions to new audiences, and shift the climate conversation towards progress already happening. The campaign features an incredible group of partners working across some of the world’s most pressing climate challenges, including Climate Analytics, Global Methane Hub, InfluenceMap, NewClimate Institute, @fossilfueltreaty, UMI Fund and Youth Climate Justice Fund. Explore the stories, meet the organisations behind them, and share with your network. Together, we can help more people see the climate solutions already making a difference: 🔗 link in bio! #LCAW2026 #TheShift
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🪰 What if a tiny insect could help tackle food waste, support farmers, and reduce emissions? The black soldier fly is doing exactly that. ♻️ Across Kenya, partners like @_icipe are scaling insect-based innovations that transform organic waste into valuable resources such as animal feed and organic fertiliser — supporting healthier ecosystems, stronger livelihoods and more resilient food systems. 🍅 And in Indonesia, @magifarm.id, supported through partners like @viriyaenb, is using the same nature-based approach to rethink food waste management, turning waste into value for businesses and households. This is what people-centred climate action looks like in practice: solutions that work for people, planet and business. 💬 Had you heard of black soldier flies before? What other unexpected climate solutions have caught your attention? Let us know in the comments.
🪰 What if a tiny insect could help tackle food waste, support farmers, and reduce emissions? The black soldier fly is doing exactly that. ♻️ Across Kenya, partners like @_icipe are scaling insect-based innovations that transform organic waste into valuable resources such as animal feed and organic fertiliser — supporting healthier ecosystems, stronger livelihoods and more resilient food systems. 🍅 And in Indonesia, @magifarm.id, supported through partners like @viriyaenb, is using the same nature-based approach to rethink food waste management, turning waste into value for businesses and households. This is what people-centred climate action looks like in practice: solutions that work for people, planet and business. 💬 Had you heard of black soldier flies before? What other unexpected climate solutions have caught your attention? Let us know in the comments.
🪰 What if a tiny insect could help tackle food waste, support farmers, and reduce emissions? The black soldier fly is doing exactly that. ♻️ Across Kenya, partners like @_icipe are scaling insect-based innovations that transform organic waste into valuable resources such as animal feed and organic fertiliser — supporting healthier ecosystems, stronger livelihoods and more resilient food systems. 🍅 And in Indonesia, @magifarm.id, supported through partners like @viriyaenb, is using the same nature-based approach to rethink food waste management, turning waste into value for businesses and households. This is what people-centred climate action looks like in practice: solutions that work for people, planet and business. 💬 Had you heard of black soldier flies before? What other unexpected climate solutions have caught your attention? Let us know in the comments.
🪰 What if a tiny insect could help tackle food waste, support farmers, and reduce emissions? The black soldier fly is doing exactly that. ♻️ Across Kenya, partners like @_icipe are scaling insect-based innovations that transform organic waste into valuable resources such as animal feed and organic fertiliser — supporting healthier ecosystems, stronger livelihoods and more resilient food systems. 🍅 And in Indonesia, @magifarm.id, supported through partners like @viriyaenb, is using the same nature-based approach to rethink food waste management, turning waste into value for businesses and households. This is what people-centred climate action looks like in practice: solutions that work for people, planet and business. 💬 Had you heard of black soldier flies before? What other unexpected climate solutions have caught your attention? Let us know in the comments.
🪰 What if a tiny insect could help tackle food waste, support farmers, and reduce emissions? The black soldier fly is doing exactly that. ♻️ Across Kenya, partners like @_icipe are scaling insect-based innovations that transform organic waste into valuable resources such as animal feed and organic fertiliser — supporting healthier ecosystems, stronger livelihoods and more resilient food systems. 🍅 And in Indonesia, @magifarm.id, supported through partners like @viriyaenb, is using the same nature-based approach to rethink food waste management, turning waste into value for businesses and households. This is what people-centred climate action looks like in practice: solutions that work for people, planet and business. 💬 Had you heard of black soldier flies before? What other unexpected climate solutions have caught your attention? Let us know in the comments.
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🪰 What if a tiny insect could help tackle food waste, support farmers, and reduce emissions? The black soldier fly is doing exactly that. ♻️ Across Kenya, partners like @_icipe are scaling insect-based innovations that transform organic waste into valuable resources such as animal feed and organic fertiliser — supporting healthier ecosystems, stronger livelihoods and more resilient food systems. 🍅 And in Indonesia, @magifarm.id, supported through partners like @viriyaenb, is using the same nature-based approach to rethink food waste management, turning waste into value for businesses and households. This is what people-centred climate action looks like in practice: solutions that work for people, planet and business. 💬 Had you heard of black soldier flies before? What other unexpected climate solutions have caught your attention? Let us know in the comments.
4 weeks ago
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This is cool — literally! 🧊 Denis Karema, CEO of @sokofreshkenya and a strong advocate for expanding access to solar-powered cooling in Kenya, showed us how these solutions make a real difference in farmers’ everyday lives. By keeping food cold, less goes to waste — a key climate solution as temperatures continue to rise across many regions. We had the opportunity to document how SokoFresh’s cold rooms are used in Kenya as part of our upcoming IKEA Foundation Week campaign, which will focus on food systems. This work is supported by the IKEA Foundation and our partner @claspappliances, who are helping bring renewable energy to smallholder farmers in East Africa and India. SokoFresh is also supported by our partners #PREO and @enviu, as part of a strong nexus solution across renewable energy and agriculture work. A huge thank you to Denis for sharing his inspiring work, and to our fantastic production team in Nairobi for bringing this story to life. 📅 More to come during #IKEAFoundationWeek, Autumn 2026. #ikeafoundation
This is cool — literally! 🧊 Denis Karema, CEO of @sokofreshkenya and a strong advocate for expanding access to solar-powered cooling in Kenya, showed us how these solutions make a real difference in farmers’ everyday lives. By keeping food cold, less goes to waste — a key climate solution as temperatures continue to rise across many regions. We had the opportunity to document how SokoFresh’s cold rooms are used in Kenya as part of our upcoming IKEA Foundation Week campaign, which will focus on food systems. This work is supported by the IKEA Foundation and our partner @claspappliances, who are helping bring renewable energy to smallholder farmers in East Africa and India. SokoFresh is also supported by our partners #PREO and @enviu, as part of a strong nexus solution across renewable energy and agriculture work. A huge thank you to Denis for sharing his inspiring work, and to our fantastic production team in Nairobi for bringing this story to life. 📅 More to come during #IKEAFoundationWeek, Autumn 2026. #ikeafoundation
This is cool — literally! 🧊 Denis Karema, CEO of @sokofreshkenya and a strong advocate for expanding access to solar-powered cooling in Kenya, showed us how these solutions make a real difference in farmers’ everyday lives. By keeping food cold, less goes to waste — a key climate solution as temperatures continue to rise across many regions. We had the opportunity to document how SokoFresh’s cold rooms are used in Kenya as part of our upcoming IKEA Foundation Week campaign, which will focus on food systems. This work is supported by the IKEA Foundation and our partner @claspappliances, who are helping bring renewable energy to smallholder farmers in East Africa and India. SokoFresh is also supported by our partners #PREO and @enviu, as part of a strong nexus solution across renewable energy and agriculture work. A huge thank you to Denis for sharing his inspiring work, and to our fantastic production team in Nairobi for bringing this story to life. 📅 More to come during #IKEAFoundationWeek, Autumn 2026. #ikeafoundation
This is cool — literally! 🧊 Denis Karema, CEO of @sokofreshkenya and a strong advocate for expanding access to solar-powered cooling in Kenya, showed us how these solutions make a real difference in farmers’ everyday lives. By keeping food cold, less goes to waste — a key climate solution as temperatures continue to rise across many regions. We had the opportunity to document how SokoFresh’s cold rooms are used in Kenya as part of our upcoming IKEA Foundation Week campaign, which will focus on food systems. This work is supported by the IKEA Foundation and our partner @claspappliances, who are helping bring renewable energy to smallholder farmers in East Africa and India. SokoFresh is also supported by our partners #PREO and @enviu, as part of a strong nexus solution across renewable energy and agriculture work. A huge thank you to Denis for sharing his inspiring work, and to our fantastic production team in Nairobi for bringing this story to life. 📅 More to come during #IKEAFoundationWeek, Autumn 2026. #ikeafoundation
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This is cool — literally! 🧊 Denis Karema, CEO of @sokofreshkenya and a strong advocate for expanding access to solar-powered cooling in Kenya, showed us how these solutions make a real difference in farmers’ everyday lives. By keeping food cold, less goes to waste — a key climate solution as temperatures continue to rise across many regions. We had the opportunity to document how SokoFresh’s cold rooms are used in Kenya as part of our upcoming IKEA Foundation Week campaign, which will focus on food systems. This work is supported by the IKEA Foundation and our partner @claspappliances, who are helping bring renewable energy to smallholder farmers in East Africa and India. SokoFresh is also supported by our partners #PREO and @enviu, as part of a strong nexus solution across renewable energy and agriculture work. A huge thank you to Denis for sharing his inspiring work, and to our fantastic production team in Nairobi for bringing this story to life. 📅 More to come during #IKEAFoundationWeek, Autumn 2026. #ikeafoundation
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