metadata: {"signature": "0x8a17f125fb6c9ebe236787e71fbadde335321471c51855bfc7464dbd9d1b03b549d0674ba42791ead3c5920ba8fd104f0d418228a4365cfc3772d0987819289f1b", "application": {"round": "0xb6be0ecafdb66dd848b0480db40056ff94a9465d", "answers": [{"type": "email", "hidden": true, "question": "Email Address", "questionId": 0, "encryptedAnswer": {"ciphertext": "BChCI0a5Fz/BkaMVbjPjxq/ZJA0ypDeAxfJytEsyocTLb2BrmTH8CAGKpBZXUQk4", "encryptedSymmetricKey": "c215f5d2661cdeb104ad02a812cfa50e17dd47f2285950a49e7bf6c11b11a7216a24e1c88ffb9c5d9de303c008d763128c7570b4c5a2b1803b16a690bcd27180ae50b455e3ed6ecb657063a406afed5587e0d787b6073a42dbd26371234f6f9526338cab7cf3a54db0bcbc3d8e0e9db9bf08c0354fecc29001958d6b03e11672000000000000002013c0404c9bbd1c724a73155dc9ad9b17392890af664f5ddee2a5cbe0b117c9a85a2f5ac336c18fa969ffe8719fc28ab8"}}, {"type": "short-answer", "hidden": true, "question": "Telegram Handle", "questionId": 1, "encryptedAnswer": {"ciphertext": "yhfVslhZme63N6fNE5ovUk8PmNa2D5IxJOujUtnlIcs=", "encryptedSymmetricKey": "9e02677e9ca245ae54497ca81e56efc4527e0f3a5f04eac8e5b3a6757737548af5b00ead873023e7a890c0103e519014e859a96e5492b24c4cb5b08acb939d474385da754a01478718cf4dd8a65318f4880ade399d9fad773dacb050b07854a892d998f577dec059e8a8a00f49fc6873a264be40252e03b58f2dc63de026ae4f000000000000002056a55eeedab911fdc2b357e297922442ece320a7bf97c2bf78ebcaf99898f24acd710e8abb7c57e0a69e7e833635378c"}}, {"type": "short-answer", "hidden": false, "question": "Link to your Public Group Chat (Discord or Telegram)", "questionId": 2}, {"type": "number", "answer": "120000", "hidden": false, "question": "Total prior funding for the project in USD", "questionId": 3}, {"type": "paragraph", "answer": "Gitcoin Grants and Donations - most notable VeeFriends", "hidden": false, "question": "Please expand on how much funding you\u2019ve received from each funding source and when? (VC, grants by foundation, token sales, etc) ", "questionId": 4}, {"type": "number", "answer": "2", "hidden": false, "question": "Total team size", "questionId": 5}, {"type": "number", "answer": "10", "hidden": false, "question": "How old (in Months) is the project? ", "questionId": 6}, {"type": "short-answer", "hidden": true, "question": "If you participated in past grant rounds using a different project payout wallet address, please share it here:", "questionId": 7}, {"type": "paragraph", "answer": "https://twitter.com/jhruth\nhttps://twitter.com/ColeenChase", "hidden": true, "question": "Profiles or socials of other main team members publicly associated with the project: ", "questionId": 8}, {"type": "dropdown", "answer": "Yes", "hidden": true, "question": "Have you read and confirmed your grant abides by the Program General Eligibility Policy? https://gitcoin.notion.site/GG18-Eligibility-cb4a5754c56043d4b3ed34eddbac261c?pvs=4", "questionId": 9}, {"type": "paragraph", "answer": "The Solar Foundation's mission is to increase access to off-grid solar energy in underserved areas of emerging markets. Through solar power and blockchain, we provide affordable, clean electricity, reducing carbon emissions and enhancing climate resilience. We believe decentralized clean energy is a public good, benefiting communities with empowerment, self-sufficiency, and climate resilience. We have several successful projects in Uganda, Nigeria, and Puerto Rico that demonstrate our impact. We are focused on contribute to achieving universal clean energy access by 2030 (SDG #7).", "hidden": false, "question": "Please explain how your project meets the round-specific eligibility criteria. ", "questionId": 10}, {"type": "paragraph", "answer": "Following the Gitcoin Beta Round, The Solar Foundation has been actively involved in several key endeavors. Collaborating with Ayowecca Uganda and GoodDollar, we're launching a pilot project to empower 50 women in Tororo, Uganda, with mobile phones, digital funds, and small solar electric systems. This initiative targets gender digital disparity, expands clean energy access, and enhances climate resilience, set to deploy by year-end.\n\nConcurrently, we're funding an off-grid solar system for Ayowecca Uganda's office, replacing a diesel generator to cut emissions and fossil fuel dependence. In Tanzania, we're partnering with OMAWA to create a solar microgrid for Iring\u2019ong\u2019weni Primary School, supporting vulnerable children's needs.\n\nFurthermore, our collaboration with Switch, a Nigerian Gitcoin Grantee, focuses on transparent, decentralized solar energy monitoring technology for our projects. This data will validate our solar initiatives' impact. These efforts underscore our commitment to sustainable solar solutions and positive transformation.", "hidden": false, "question": "What previous Gitcoin grant rounds has this project been a part of? Please share any new updates or milestones from the prior months.", "questionId": 11}, {"type": "paragraph", "answer": "Lives improved through access to solar electricty, Amount of solar energy generated, overal impact to the communities we serve.", "hidden": false, "question": "How do you measure the impact of your project? Please provide examples and/or standard metrics. This might be used in future impact reports ", "questionId": 12}, {"type": "paragraph", "answer": "Just a big thank you to Gitcoin and our community of supporters.", "hidden": false, "question": "Anything else you'd like to share about your project, previous work, or other project affiliations? Anything you'd like to add that may help in determining project eligibility?", "questionId": 13}, {"type": "dropdown", "hidden": true, "question": "Would you like to opt-in to future messages from Gitcoin for updates, information, and/or interviews? ", "questionId": 14, "encryptedAnswer": {"ciphertext": "+YaPooMhew7gws3ZVk1D0hlKRmR/zg6SiBuAyzBUvA0=", "encryptedSymmetricKey": "59e26727ae0d1e6fb6632e2674b29939981673ef4e0aa24aeb6396d099f3517665196db371eb39dd74b85f7bec0aca004b5ed7ebd5f9c3220c1eff7fdff47f0dbae0679714d3e2cd99daffa773e14b388867afa60a86d8da8e7f11e4e93d318bebf5ff329637713697758e1733e4d9cf433379ed11dd6c177bef098d44311d080000000000000020e697c057bdd2d179f4a8f60d41374ed475f5bbc3f4ffda1a4a11bd0245d19f238bb2ceaea1e48bf42f66977c0fba8186"}}, {"type": "dropdown", "hidden": true, "question": "Would you like to opt-in to us sharing your information with select third-parties for investment opportunities? ", "questionId": 15, "encryptedAnswer": {"ciphertext": "2l9sMHh/My6zcPCdbsu/pUav0yTJnSdwGjzsC8hcyak=", "encryptedSymmetricKey": "2c3eb7ff2af0f4ecb7e688c7e7b2a17d89d4b609606d9f89bfffa46661e4f5a8f08a2c5a9f10b370b8966e53a6f0a915921505da262be2a2141b7eea91efd7b797fcf7695c0e4190366d2b9b5ff3ca8e640741f2c570d44cce83319ad2270fb17c0c79c679ad24b145d65d57ed157aa03a8e5792a95b70305ee91a2213b874ac0000000000000020ec2265d523abd98050472456346a1c9381249db88167365de960368a18ab87ed3f2ef65961c9467a444a53b170e5ab90"}}, {"type": "dropdown", "hidden": true, "question": "Would you like to be included in an additional 100k sub round funded by Shell? All grantees will need to agree to a KYC process to be eligible to receive these funds.", "questionId": 16, "encryptedAnswer": {"ciphertext": "RkvoNXLT+MjXeFHZLFyINAXLhOmygugUuWP5v48Cip0=", "encryptedSymmetricKey": "a0e200ac99b6afef0f7f74135a418d17bd80f5240c948e742a22bd85a73e6d8b0eb9a9580e78eebd23be2ce2e77b0516e08ba882e64fb3e352e9aa840c8f85e55772637ad7305502ffe72f67c649b2f146ce6145a436d9c2f1e2def3abc51e96ec003e7e8dd9a9a1fbc919ac6a806d6eda3099f8f1424e7749a9beab918df8ca00000000000000200b4da07be356316a447d4d70ba40c7bea451b35204af1654ad79e6086bfc3bb606dbba8afad8324795600ab855eec88b"}}, {"type": "dropdown", "answer": "North America", "hidden": true, "question": "Location/Region where the project is based ", "questionId": 17}], "project": {"id": "10:0x8e1bD5Da87C14dd8e08F7ecc2aBf9D1d558ea174:14", "title": "The Solar Foundation \u2600\ufe0f Decentralized clean energy is a public good", "logoImg": "bafkreicdrjubb2d3izz5u25ccj53fmn5ynkbnecnpsncjxsmvu45p4vxgi", "metaPtr": {"pointer": "bafkreibxz6vaabx7ejmwnsqcpajhy6yof6cfbvd2zgjs544uvsskg4cgaa", "protocol": "1"}, "website": "https://solarfoundation.xyz", "bannerImg": "bafybeicodjqx7t6c5oqfiekgupdu2x46fzn3buvtq4finq6zjw7par6qm4", "createdAt": 1669751680000, "credentials": {"twitter": {"type": ["VerifiableCredential"], "proof": {"jws": "eyJhbGciOiJFZERTQSIsImNyaXQiOlsiYjY0Il0sImI2NCI6ZmFsc2V9..Q9INtyEuOblUi0yfc8XgsGRKXxar3fV6-KoOdGSjAPnEjEC2Ps_BwlVnR4AXGWg8kz_lCGh4syuGA6dDbabNCg", "type": "Ed25519Signature2018", "created": "2023-04-14T20:40:12.457Z", "proofPurpose": "assertionMethod", "verificationMethod": "did:key:z6MkghvGHLobLEdj1bgRLhS4LPGJAvbMA1tn2zcRyqmYU5LC#z6MkghvGHLobLEdj1bgRLhS4LPGJAvbMA1tn2zcRyqmYU5LC"}, "issuer": "did:key:z6MkghvGHLobLEdj1bgRLhS4LPGJAvbMA1tn2zcRyqmYU5LC", "@context": ["https://www.w3.org/2018/credentials/v1"], "issuanceDate": "2023-04-14T20:40:12.457Z", "expirationDate": "2023-07-13T20:40:12.457Z", "credentialSubject": {"id": "did:pkh:eip155:1:0xe3F4F3aD70C1190EC480554bbc3Ed30285aE0610", "hash": "v0.0.0:AL5T4+ijF5hrB6ChY3NV01mQSaEmAMBfhqyA5CH0grA=", "@context": [{"hash": "https://schema.org/Text", "provider": "https://schema.org/Text"}], "provider": "ClearTextTwitter#Solar_FND"}}}, "description": "**The Solar Foundation\u2019s** mission is to accelerate access to off-grid solar energy for underserved communities in emerging markets. We harness the power of the sun and the power of the blockchain to deliver real-world impact by providing reliable and affordable access to clean electricity while reducing CO2e and increasing climate resilience.\nWe believe decentralized, clean energy is a public good, and we\u2019ve witnessed how small solar solutions unlock tangible benefits including community agency, self-sufficiency and climate resilience.  We work to ensure that no one is left behind in the transition to renewables, especially climate-vulnerable people in rural sub-Saharan Africa\u2014people experiencing increasingly severe climate effects while contributing the least to the climate crisis.\nThe Solar Foundation has completed off-grid solar projects in Uganda, Nigeria and Puerto Rico (please see the [Solar Foundation website](https://www.solarfoundation.xyz/) for details and pictures). We plan to utilize funds from GG18 to scale our work and pilot innovative projects as described below. \nWe invite you to join us as collaborators, funders and/or community members, and we appreciate your help in amplifying our work. Together, we can create meaningful impact\u2014on the quality of people\u2019s lives, on addressing climate change, and on working towards SDG #7: Achieving universal (and clean!) energy access by 2030.\n\n![Helpers  Foundation children](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/635c58a299a6ce163eb1a942/a5a6b479-8c29-4539-a39e-4204c2a53f24/Helperswsign.jpg?format=1000w)\n\n# Update #\n\nSince the conclusion of the Gitcoin Beta Round, The Solar Foundation has focused on the following key areas:\n\n1. Developing a community solar plus universal basic income (UBI) project in collaboration with  [Ayowecca Uganda,](https://ayoweccauganda.org/) and [GoodDollar](https://www.gooddollar.org/). The pilot project will empower 50 women in Tororo, Uganda, by providing them with mobile phones, digital funds for mobile minutes and a small solar electric system. This project seeks to bridge the gender digital divide, increase access to clean energy and enhance resilience in the face of climate change. We plan to deploy this pilot project before the end of the year.\n\n2. Researching and funding an off-grid solar energy system to power the office operations for our partner, [Ayowecca Uganda,](https://ayoweccauganda.org/) a community led agroforestry NGO \u2014 replacing an unreliable diesel generator and its GHG emissions as well as decreasing the need to purchase fossil fuel. We chose a solution that can be easily moved to a new location in the future as Ayowecca currently rents their office space. \n\n[![Ayowecca-Solar-Office.png](https://i.postimg.cc/nLtkBwyP/Ayowecca-Solar-Office.png)](https://postimg.cc/fVBmh5Tc)\n\n3. Working with [OMAWA](https://omawatanzania.org/) in Tanzania to develop a solar microgrid and retroactive funding pilot to power the Iring\u2019ong\u2019weni Primary School in Mataleto. The microgrid will provide electricity for classrooms, staff houses and security lights. This primary school enrolls approximately 800 students and faces significant electricity challenges with no integration of computers and technology in the delivery of its curriculum. The microgrid will power OMAWA\u2019s mission to support the needs and rights of vulnerable children.\n\n4. Partnering with [Switch,](https://www.whynotswitch.com/) a fellow Gitcoin Grantee based in Nigeria, who is developing hardware and software solutions for monitoring solar energy in a transparent and decentralized way. We will be working to incorporate their monitoring device on several of our projects. This will allow us to monitor the energy production of the systems. We plan to incorporate this on-chain stream of data into our impact certificate pilot as a proof of the solar project impact. \n\n\n# Problem #\n\nElectricity is an essential public good that drives economic growth, improves living standards, and alleviates poverty. The UN Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) #7 seeks to ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all; yet according to IEA\u2019s [World Energy Outlook 2022 Report,](https://www.iea.org/reports/world-energy-outlook-2022) there will still be 660 million people without access to electricity in 2030, 85% of those living in sub-Saharan Africa. \nStand-alone solar systems and micro/mini grids have high up-front costs that present affordability barriers to accessing clean energy for people in low-income countries and rural communities. People without access to affordable, clean energy use polluting and unhealthy sources such as diesel and kerosene for cooking, heating, transport and lighting. In addition, energy poverty results in a lack of consistent access to information, communications and technology and has serious economic and social consequences.\nOn the African continent today, over 600 million people lack access to electricity, according to the [International Energy Association](https://www.iea.org/reports/africa-energy-outlook-2022/key-findings). At The Solar Foundation, we prioritize solar solutions for rural communities in sub-Saharan Africa where over 80% of the people without electricity live. We can and must address the fact that African countries face more severe effects from climate change than almost any other region of the world, despite being the least responsible for the CO2 emissions that cause the climate crisis.\n\n# Solution #\n\n![Helpers  Foundation Solar Installation](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/635c58a299a6ce163eb1a942/ecdbceb4-329f-4e6c-894d-020bfa8ea8ae/Helperssolar.jpg?format=2500w)\n> The Solar Foundation\u2019s installation of solar power at Helpers Foundation Nursery and Primary School has given the school 24 hours of uninterrupted power supply, wherein students now learn at a faster pace unlike before. This donation has given the teachers a massive moral boost in teaching as well as enabling the environment to do their job. They can now charge their phones and also teach the students digital skills as well as basic computer training. \u2014 Chidi Okeke, director, Helpers Social Development Foundation: \n[How the Solar System is Empowering the Education System in Nigeria.](https://www.helpersfoundation.org/how-the-solar-system-is-empowering-education-system-in-nigeria/)\nTo effectively address the climate crisis, we must achieve universal access to clean electricity; we believe a decentralized approach will be required to solve this problem. Instead of large, centralized entities burning coal and other fossil fuels, The Solar Foundation focuses on localized, small solar microgrids and individual systems. These off-grid solar solutions can supply power to small communities as close to the end-user as possible, helping to ensure that no one is left behind in the renewables revolution, especially people traditionally underserved in terms of access to electricity and financial services. \nAll African countries receive plentiful sunlight, and in rural areas of sub-Saharan Africa, mini grids and standalone solar systems are considered the most viable solutions for accessing reliable and affordable electricity. Also, solar and battery costs have decreased 80% since 2012, and an analysis by [RMI](https://rmi.org/insight/x-change-electricity/) forecasts that the cost of solar, already the cheapest source of energy in history, will decrease 50% by the end of this decade. In the same way some developing countries and communities leapfrogged over landlines and went straight to mobile phones, communities in sub-Saharan Africa have the potential to leapfrog over centralized dirty power grids and adopt decentralized solar solutions instead. \n\n![Solar & fencing for Ayowecca\u2019s Agroforestry Nursery](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/635c58a299a6ce163eb1a942/2b4fec88-fd1d-44e6-a79a-64ae127b1d98/AyoweccaSolarLts%2BFence.jpg?format=1000w)\nThrough our work with local, grassroots partners in Uganda, Nigeria and Puerto Rico, we\u2019ve witnessed how small solar energy solutions can unlock exponential benefits especially for those in rural communities beyond the reach of the grid. The Solar Foundation has completed projects with [Ayowecca Uganda,](https://ayoweccauganda.org/) [Helpers Social Development Foundation,](https://www.helpersfoundation.org/) and [Footprint Project](https://www.footprintproject.org/) which utilize off-grid solar solutions to decrease CO2e from polluting diesel generators and kerosene lanterns, while empowering economic, social, and educational benefits. \nOff-grid solar solutions increase climate adaptation and resilience, providing power to unlock access to information, communications and technology as well as for energy efficient appliances such as fans and small refrigerators.  Increased access to reliable clean energy also provides tangible health benefits including a significant reduction in household air pollution by removing kerosene lamps from households, reducing health issues and accidents. \n# New Open-Source Models #\nBusiness as usual is not sufficient to address interconnected global challenges such as the climate crisis, gender inequity and financial exclusion. At The Solar Foundation, we aim to reinvent the non-profit and NGO model using the tools of web3 and the power of DeFi to create open-source, novel funding mechanisms. Our foundation provides tax efficiency to donors and funds solar projects worldwide. Our vision is for ownership, payments and system monitoring to all be on the blockchain for improved transparency, accountability and proven impact. \nA collaborative approach is essential to our mission; we seek to form a strong coalition of web3 and ReFi projects, and bring the voices of the communities we serve into the conversation. We continually seek to coordinate with diverse partners who share our desire to accelerate universal access to clean energy and provide an ownership stake in the solar deployed. The Solar Foundation also works with local installers to install the solar systems and support local economies. In addition, we will continue to support our projects long term, and we commit to learning and sharing best practices through monitoring and ongoing communications.\n\n# Who We Are #\n\nJon Ruth has over 15 years of experience developing, managing, and constructing over 400MW of C&I and utility-scale solar projects. He has also been on the nonprofit United Solar Initiative board for six years. Since 2016, Jon has been involved in cryptocurrency, including mining various cryptocurrencies. For 20+ years, Jon has studied climate change and has a passion for building sustainable solutions to one of the most significant challenges humanity faces. Jon is building his legacy by making the maximum impact possible in the fight against climate change.\n\nColeen Chase is a contributor to the Gitcoin Climate Advisory team and has a background in marketing and operations at Apple and Microsoft. Most recently, she spent over a year working on the Gitcoin Grants program as a contributor to the Gitcoin Public Goods Funding team. She cares deeply about building solutions to address climate change. After adding solar to her family\u2019s home and realizing how difficult it is to implement a microgrid in her community, she is committed to helping implement an equitable transition to renewable energy so that people everywhere can experience a healthier, safer, more secure and brighter future.", "lastUpdated": 0, "projectTwitter": "Solar_FND"}, "recipient": "0x84178186a503ef41d30Da4cDB2bC27AEFA65eD0F"}}