CUSTOM CHALLENGE; TANZANIA
PROVEN INTERVENTION TO BE DISTRIBUTED
A smart meter to enable micro payments on LPG gas for low-income, rural households.
Learn more about the Custom Challenge and why we only fund ideas that focus on distributing proven poverty interventions.
DISTRIBUTION MODEL INNOVATION
KopaGas is a pioneer on pay-as-you-go LPG for low-income settings.
Of low-income households in rural Tanzania, 60% want to switch to LPG they can't afford due to upfront costs. KopaGas has developed a smart meter that enables micro-payments for LPG and has demonstrated success in Dar es Salaam. By developing credit-risk scores for low-income rural households, they can bring the technology to rural Tanzanians and help millions access modern cooking fuel. The team will build off of existing infrastructure and community presence in the fishing community on Jibondo island.
Using human-centered design to create impactful behavioral change marketing campaigns, KopaGas will improve awareness of the benefits of LPG and introduce the community to a pay-as-you-cook solution enabled by a fully functional and mass-manufacture ready smart meter. This is the only commercially-ready smart meter for LPG in East Africa and will be combined with a credit-scoring methodology that they will research and design to create access for the poorest families.
PILOT AND SCALING GOALS
Deliver over 50 tons of LPG during the pilot phase
Connect 400 households during the pilot phase
Reach over 8,000 people by the end of year 1
Avoid 6,000 tons of carbon dioxide emitted by the end of year 2
Avert 381 deaths from smoke inhalation by the end of year 2
FOUNDING TEAM
Thomas Disley - Project Lead
Sebastian Rodriguez - KopaGas Chief Executive Officer and Product Lead
Andron Mendes - KopaGas Chief Financial Officer