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Home / Projects / Strategy & Business Models / Leveraging an Energy Business for Health in Mozambique
2012--VillageReach

Leveraging an Energy Business for Health in Mozambique


VillageReach is a non-profit dedicated to increasing healthcare access and quality for remote, underserved communities. Having seen government-run rural health clinics hampered by a lack of electricity, VillageReach founders formed VidaGas in partnership with two other investors. This for-profit business provided liquid propane gas in northern Mozambique, where few had access to such fuels, and its initial customers included rural clinics in need of a reliable source of energy to keep vaccines cold and illuminate birthing areas in the night.


By 2012 VidaGas was a decade old and served a broad client base that included urban hospitals, schools, private businesses, and households. The business was still working to make the financing of its operations and their growth feasible. VillageReach sought GlobalHealth Lab’s input in creating an exit strategy, considering growth options, and quantifying VidaGas’s business and social impact. A team of MIT students defined key metrics for success and impact by researching existing principles and consulting with VidaGas leadership, explored growth opportunities and validated the value proposition by interviewing current clients about their energy use and needs, and analyzed VidaGas’s financial statements to vet the company’s projections. The result was a student-led training and discussion session for VidaGas staff on its mission and key priorities, an update-able model calculating impact according social and business metrics, and a set of strategic recommendations for VillageReach regarding its role in VidaGas and its exit plan.

 

Related Content

Village Reach Website


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Project Details

Focus Area
  • Strategy & Business Models

Country
  • Mozambique

Region
  • Nampula

Partner
  • VillageReach/ Vida Gas

Health Specialization
  • No Specialization

Enterprise Sector
  • Hybrid

Enterprise Type
  • Distribution
  • Logistics

Healthcare DVC
  • Prevention
  • Social

Session
  • 2012

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