This is the final installment of our three-part series detailing how FINCA International’s New Year’s resolution ties into the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). With only 10 years left to achieve the 17 SDGs, we as a global community have accomplished a less than proportionate amount of progress toward each goal. It is our hope that this series educates and inspires others to look at how they too can contribute to the achievement of the SDGs. Because only through worldwide cooperation and action will we be able to accomplish these ambitious goals by 2030.

With our 2020 resolution to continue working toward our mission to alleviate poverty, the first two installments of this series looked at how our microfinance, fintech, and impact investing programs collectively contribute to 15 of the 17 SDGs. You can read these first two installments here: FINCA’s New Year’s Resolution: Microfinance, Fintech, and SDGs and FINCA’s New Year’s Resolution: Impact Investing and the SDGs.

In this final installment, learn how BrightLife, the social enterprise we created, contributes to the achievement of the SDGs as well.

BrightLife

BrightLife is a social enterprise in Uganda created by FINCA International. Its mission is to provide access to and financing for basic service products. This includes solar home systems, improved cookstoves and productive use assets. BrightLife directly and indirectly contributes to 9 of 17 SDGs:

SDG 1: No Poverty

BrightLife improves access to essential basic services for low-income consumers who would otherwise not have these services. These essential services include clean energy, clean cooking and clean water. Many products can also be used to generate income, creating new revenue streams to help consumers move out of poverty.

This is exactly what Josephine Nabyalu did. She previously used kerosene lamps to light her shop at night, but the strong odor often repelled customers and the lamps would sometimes leak and ruin her produce. Now, with her BrightLife solar lamps, her stall is illuminated well after dark so she can remain open longer and attract more customers.

SDG 2: Zero Hunger

BrightLife’s clean cooking products provide a more efficient and safe way to prepare food. Users can prepare food in less time, and often save money by spending less on fuel.

These cookstoves help me to prepare meals much faster and they produce less smoke which has improved my health, and they also save me money by economizing firewood and charcoal usage.

-Joweria Nalwadda

SDG 3: Good Health and Well-Being

BrightLife products directly improve air quality and reduce the number of health-related illnesses and deaths due to smoke inhalation. These BrightLife products also prevent air pollution and reduce the risk of fires from using kerosene lanterns.

SDG 5: Gender Equality

BrightLife offers various financing options for its products, enabling women and other low-income populations access to life-enhancing products. Additionally, BrightLife’s products reduce opportunities for violence against women by providing safety lights for houses and reducing the need for frequent firewood retrieval.

Allen Nakayenga is just one example of a woman who improved her family’s lives through BrightLife. She learned about BrightLife through her women’s [saving and loaning] group and used a FINCA group loan to purchase her first solar lantern. Her children can now read and do their homework at night, Allen is saving money on kerosene, and she is also able to walk safely to evening community gatherings.

SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation

BrightLife has provided access to water filtration products that bring clean drinking water to low-income populations without access to clean water.

SDG 7: Affordable and Clean Energy

BrightLife’s mission is to enable low-income populations to have access to modern, clean energy products that provide significant efficiency improvements.

This was what attracted Rose Nayiga and her husband Godfrey to BrightLife. Through the flexibility of low monthly payments, they could finally afford a $62 solar home system. After the loss of one of their children to a kerosene-related fire, solar lighting gave them the peace of mind that every parent deserves, regardless of income level.

SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth

BrightLife provides entrepreneurs with the opportunity to start and grow their businesses through its products. For example, solar lighting products enable businesses to stay open later, which increases revenue.

SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities

By enabling access to life-enhancing products for low-income populations, BrightLife is reducing inequalities within its markets.

People say solar is expensive, but these products are durable, powerful and they save me money over time.

-Allen Nakayenga

SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals

BrightLife works in collaboration with a variety of actors—donor institutions, governments, technical assistance providers, researchers—to tackle energy access and financial inclusion.