A loan helped to provide life-changing clean cookstoves to rural populations in Guatemala.


Estufas Chispa's story

This loan may have higher risk but higher impact. Learn more here.

Problem
Approximately 70% of Guatemalans rely on wood as their primary cooking fuel. The use of inefficient and unhealthy, smoky cookstoves remains one of the biggest threats to the health & welfare of both Guatemala's families & its environment.

Solution
Estufas Chispa is a Guatemalan social enterprise that specializes in the design and development of improved biomass cooking technology. Chispa creates affordable, environmentally sustainable cooking technologies that address needs of vulnerable populations by improving indoor air quality and combustion efficiency for 2.3 million poor families that use unsustainable, expensive cooking fuels. Chispa's unique product design process engages users directly to develop cookstoves that meet their exact needs.

Loan Use
Estufas Chispa’s first loan was a massive success and helped them grow 300% and produce 2,400 stoves in one year. So far this year they have confirmed orders from the United Nations, international NGOs, end users and local NGOs working with families affected by the recent eruption of Volcan de Fuego. They hope to continue last year’s success and build 7,000 cookstoves this year which will impact approximately 35,000 people and provide employment for 8 more people. This loan will provide working capital to purchase the material needed to meet these orders.


This loan is special because:

This loan is special because it enables rural Guatemalans to access life-changing clean cookstove technology



Loan details


Lenders and lending teams




Loan details