Julio Eisman and Jose Gabriel Martin, Director and Project Manager at the ACCIONA Microenergia Foundation, went to collect the recognition for the development of the ‘Centros Luz en Casa’; the magazine “Compromiso Empresarial” (Corporate Commitment) and CAF-Development Bank of Latin America have awarded this entrepreneur network that drives the universal access to electricity at the base of the pyramid as one of the most innovative social initiatives of 2016.

The ‘Centros Luz en Casa’ were started in Cajamarca (Peru) in 2015, with the project developed with the collaboration of the Technical University of Madrid’s Innovation and Technology Development Centre (itdUPM) and the ICAI Engineers for Development Foundation, and co-funding from the Spanish Agency for International Development Cooperation (AECID). They are small shops owned by local entrepreneurs who, after having been trained technically, entrepreneurially and managerially, offer technical services such as sale of high-efficient and guaranteed lamps, radios, tablets, etc., as well as advice, installation and repair of solar home systems in the communities attended with the rural electrification programmes ‘Luz en Casa’.

Ten centres were opened with that project, and since then two new centres in Cajamarca, six centres in Oaxaca (Mexico) and another one in the Napo district (Peruvian Amazonia) have been started to total 19 ‘Centros Luz en Casa’ opened up to now.

The awards ceremony was held in the CAF-Development Bank of Latin America’s offices in Madrid (Spain) with Mr Guillermo Fernandez Soto, Europe Director, and Mrs Maria Lopez Escorial, President of the Compromiso y Transparencia (Commitment and Transparency) Foundation, as hosts.

The representatives of the ACCIONA Microenergia Foundation went to this event together with the leaders of other awarded initiatives that were chosen among 350 proposals presented from Spain and Latin America. The ten selected projects address social challenges implying advances in entrepreneurship, health techniques, social inclusion, water management, funding collect & management…

ACCIONA Microenergia and the Sustainable Development Goals

The Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) are included in the 2030 Agenda, a 15-year plan of action that favours the people, the planet and the prosperity. There are 17 SDG which are integrated and indivisible and that comprise the three dimensions of the Development: economic, social and environmental.

The rural electrification programmes of the ACCIONA Microenergia foundation impact on those three dimensions, and directly on the SDG 7, Ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all.

With the ‘Centros Luz en Casa’, the SDG 8, Promote sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment and decent work for all, is impacted too: this centres are owned by local entrepreneurs who have been trained technical, entrepreneurial and managerially so as to sell electric devices and offer other technical services to rural communities as independent professionals, and thus generate income for their families.

The ACCIONA Microenergia Foundation

It is the ACCIONA’s corporate foundation and has as objective the development cooperation, through the promotion of the access to basic services and infrastructures of people and communities that have no expectations of covering those needs.