Powering identification systems.

My solution powering identification systems is about enabling the access of solar energy  by vulnerable populations for example the rural areas, landing sites and refugee camps which don't have access to modern energy which is a necessity for digital authentication mechanisms to take place which often require tools like smartphones, computers and internet. Such tools require modern energy like electricity, solar energy to operate. Therefore, before we have to think about extending digital authentication mechanisms, I realized extending reliable and cheap energy like solar energy to vulnerable populations who don't have access to modern energy is the most important step towards digital authentication. I started a business called Hensek solar enterprises with the major purpose of extending solar energy access to vulnerable populations in Uganda and neighbouring countries, because I realized equal change and development can only be reached through extending energy access to vulnerable populations.

The problem I'm working to solve is the gender equality and inclusion of vulnerable populations by putting all people at the heart of identification systems. Since the major purpose of this challenge is to enable vulnerable populations for example those in rural areas, semi urban areas or those living in  refugee camps to be at the heart of identification systems in this digital era. Such kind of vulnerable populations live in areas without access to any modern form of energy to facilitate digital authentication mechanisms. In 2019, over 800 million people worldwide didn't have access to electricity or any other form of energy, while in Uganda over 60% of the 42 million citizens are off-grid while in rural areas it's 85%. This therefore means, in order to digitally put those vulnerable populations at the heart of identification systems, the first step is to extend to them cheap and reliable modern energy, especially solar energy, because it will be cheap for the vulnerable populations since it doesn't require monthly bills and it's quite cheap to distribute and access compared to electricity especially in sparsely populated areas. Identification systems operate using tools like smartphones, computers or internet which require modern energy. 

My target population are the people who live in the rural areas, landing sites, island areas, refugee camps and  semi urban areas of Uganda. I have been to numerous rural areas of Uganda like Iganga, Kayunga, Mpigi and other areas. The kind of environment I have witnessed in these areas is not suitable for digital authentication mechanisms. Such areas don't have access to any modern energy or are off-grid, which is a major requirement for digital authentication mechanisms to take place. I have talked to many people in those areas 90% of them preferred solar energy to electricity because they would like to avoid monthly bills. For example smartphones, computers or internet require modern energy to operate yet those populations are off-grid. Therefore, the first step towards putting vulnerable populations like those in rural areas and refugee camps at the heart of identification systems is by helping them to access cheap solar energy and that's the purpose of my solution.

My solution which aims to lay a foundation for digital authentication mechanisms which often requires smartphones, computers or internet to be accessible by marginalized and vulnerable populations and those may include those in rural areas, semi urban, conflict zones, refugee camps and those in absolute poverty. Most of such people don't have access to electricity or any other modern energy, therefore, my solution of extending reliable and cheap solar energy to such populations will facilitate the success of digital authentication mechanisms.

My solution is innovative in a way that it wouldn't be possible for vulnerable populations who don't have access to modern energy to be beneficiaries of digital authentication mechanisms. Therefore, when my solution of extending solar energy to those vulnerable populations is scaled, it will be so easy for digital authentication mechanisms which operates using items such as smartphones, computers, laptops or internet to take place. This kind of a approach, makes my solution unique. I always believe in a principle which says, "before you change the visible, first change the invisible and before you change the fruits, first change the roots." Therefore, my solution is unique in a way that it focuses on enabling the access of solar energy power by vulnerable populations as roots to enable digital identification systems to bare fruits.

The usage of solar energy is quite growing and very many people are embracing it. In Uganda around 0.6% of the population are using it, especially in Urban areas and a few rural areas of Uganda. Atleast in every district of Uganda, there's a household using solar energy. The most important aspect of solar energy is that, it's cheap in the long run and always reliable.

Since the dimension of the challenge I'm trying to solve generally focuses on vulnerable populations. These populations who live in rural areas, refugee camps, conflict areas, landing sites, semi urban areas of Uganda, 80% of them are off-grid, which logically means digital authentication mechanisms which requires smartphones, computers or internet is literally impossible without access to modern energy. Therefore, when we join our efforts to extend solar energy to those vulnerable populations, It will be much easier for digital authentication mechanisms to be a success. Modern energy access is the foundation for the success of digital revolution. It will therefore,  cause no impact to extend access to smartphones, computers or internet to vulnerable populations who don't access to modern energy which is vital for those items to operate.

When the marginalized or vulnerable groups finally have access to solar energy, it will be easy for those people to use their smartphones, computers or get connected to internet in order to be incorporated into digital identification systems.

My business Hensek solar enterprises is a start up business enterpise which hasn't started full operations but in one year since we are a new business venture, we expect to serve atleast 10,000 people and in five years, with more capital and business experience we would have grown to serve atleast 1,500,000 people.

My goals within the next year is assist atleast 10,000 marginalized and vulnerable people get connected to solar energy and within the next five years atleast 1,500,000 get connected to solar energy through my business. When such people access modern energy, it will be a step towards equal access to digital identification systems.

The major barriers that could hinder me from accomplishing my goals are financial barriers and market barriers. It's so expensive to import solar systems from countries like Germany, Netherlands, Italy, USA to bring them to Uganda. My target population and market of the people in rural areas, semi urban, refugees will be a great barrier for me because such people have a low purchasing power due to their economic status.

I plan to overcome the financial barrier through applying clean energy grants and equity in order to boost my business. The finances I will receive from outside sources will enable me to sell the solar systems at a low price which I'm sure will be affordable to my target population to remove the market barrier.

My business is a startup Enterprise which hasn't recruited any other staff. I  currently operate the entity as the proprietor.

I'm well positioned to deliver this solution, because I'm so passionate about the solar business, and I'm so eager to make a difference in millions of people's lives.

I have contacted different organizations to help my business so that I can extend solar energy to vulnerable populations in Uganda and the neighboring countries. The major reason for contacting those organization is to request for grants from them so that I can be provide solar energy systems at the lowest possible prices, so that each family which is off-grid can access solar energy to make digital revolution possible.

My business model will be the provision of solar energy to the most vulnerable people who don't have access to modern energy like electricity. Those kind of vulnerable people who live in rural areas, refugee camps, landing sites, island areas will have the opportunity through my business Hensek solar enterprises, to access solar energy which will help them to improve on their standards of living and also make it easy for them to have access to digital identification systems. Through, sales personal, we shall provide our products on a door to door sales procedure to make sure that those people access modern energy as a foundation for digital revolution among Vulnerable populations. 

My financial access in the short run will be through grants and raising investment capital. Since my business is a startup and has the objective of improving the well being of vulnerable populations, I will have to seek financial assistance from people and organizations which endeover to make a difference in the lives of the marginalized people. I will be selling my solar energy products at the lowest possible prices that the vulnerable populations will be able to afford. In the long run the profit margins i will be making from the sales will help to sustain the business and I will nolonger need grants and investment capital from outsiders.

Since I have been working on solution for less than a year, currently I haven't raised any funds for my solution.

I hope to raise funds for my solution through applying for grants from organizations that fund clean energy and innovative approaches to solve world problems. 

Since 2020, is left with less than five months to end and my solution hasn't fully kicked off, I don't have a budget for 2020. I expect to start full operations of providing solar systems to vulnerable populations in January, 2021.

I'm applying for the Mission Billion Challenge Global Prize is to win the prize funds so that I can invest it in my business on my journey of improving vulnerable people's lives. The Billion Challenge will also help to connect me to funders and mentors who will be an asset in progressing and scaling my solution.

Since my business is a startup, it means I have a long way to go as I try to make it possible for vulnerable populations have the necessary foundation in order for them to benefit from digital identification systems. It means I will need funders, advisors, marketing and exposure to help my solution to be successful. 

I can't mention any specific names, but I'm willing to welcome any organization that would partner with me in trying to lay a major foundation through extending reliable and cheap solar energy needed for digital identification systems to be accessible for Vulnerable populations. I would like to partner with as many organizations as possible especially on a financial basis. My solution is aimed at dealing with low income populations which means the sales from my products won't produce the desired results, which means I would like partners who will fund my solution so that I can sell my products at the lowest price which will be affordable for everybody in order to realise the objectives of my solution.