BASE Technologies' mission is to distribute affordable, quality technology products through profitable and innovative distribution mechanisms to Ugandans. The first of these products are a selection of micro-solar lighting solutions, designed to replace kerosene and candles as lighting implements in Uganda. BASE aims to be the leading distributor of affordable technology products through an understanding and mastery of both monetary and physical processes of rural distribution.
BASE Technologies is a subsidiary Barefoot Power and is the sole importer of Barefoot Power products in Uganda.
Contact Information
BASE is currently in operation in Uganda with a pilot project, which was very successful, selling more than 1200 units over 2.5 months. BASE has trained 16 entrepreneurs and provided each of them with a vastly increased income. Thus far BASE has been working on a target population of rural Ugandans that are not served by grid electricity. This encompasses the vast majority of households in Uganda so the socio-economic status of this population spans from the poverty-line up through the rural Ugandan middle and upper class.
BASE is using a multifaceted distribution model that incorporates franchising, independent dealers, and corporate and NGO partnerships in order to more easily scale to a national level and reach the various target market segments.
Our Experience And Interest In The Four PCIA Central Focus Areas
BASE is very concerned with all four of the central focus areas of the Partnership. BASE is working to replace the traditional sources of light; kerosene lamps, candles and biomass, with clean, renewable solar lamps. These solar lamps meet social and behavioral needs quite well thus far.
Our distribution model – franchising with mobile entrepreneurs is contributing to the development of local markets. BASE’s parent company and supplier – Barefoot Power - places high importance on keeping current on technology, design and performance in order to meet the needs of our customers, especially in reducing the price so that more people can afford the products.
BASE plans to monitor the impacts the products and distribution have socially, environmentally and economically on communities as the company grows.
BASE is currently focusing on solar lighting but is setting up a distribution channel that reaches into the villages to the people who can really benefit from improved and appropriate technologies. In the future BASE will be looking to expand its product line to include other appropriate technologies like water purification, solar and improved cook stoves.
BASE is not currently involved in cooking, heating or ventilation.
BASE has done some informal monitoring in the form of questionnaires and interviews of end users, asking for comparisons for before and after they introduced solar lighting to replace kerosene. The main questions focus on economic savings to end users but questions on improved air quality are also included.
Relevant Publications or Studies
None noted
Our Contribution to the Partnership
Improved indoor air quality is one of the definite benefits people realize when they switch from kerosene to solar lighting. BASE plans to participate in the PCIA Forum in Kampala as well as share experience in solar lighting in Africa as well as micro-franchising.
