Puma Energy Foundation launches its 2024-2028 strategy

Since its inception, Puma Energy Foundation has worked to improve the socio-economic condition of women and young people in countries where Puma Energy has operations. Yesterday, the Board Members validated a new strategy that will refocus the Foundation’s USD 1 million programme on partnerships with five to eight organisations that play key roles in promoting road safety and access to clean energy.

The Foundation will work primarily in low and middle-income countries in Africa and Latin America, and in last mile/off-grid communities.

The new priorities address critical health issues that are largely neglected by mainstream philanthropy. They align with the Foundation’s overall objective to promote healthy communities, build on the Foundation’s past work, and complement the CSR work https://pumaenergy.com/our-approach/

Why is road safety a critical health issue?

• Over 1.3 million people are killed in traffic accidents each year. Globally, road traffic injuries are the tenth leading cause of death, and the leading cause of death among children and young adults. 
•  93% of fatal road traffic incidents occur in low- and middle-income countries. About one quarter involve motorcycles, mopeds, scooters and electric bikes. Wearing helmets reduces the risk of death by more than six times, and the risk of brain injury by three quarters.

    Our response

• Road safety education programmes will support school, community and parental awareness training, social media and TV campaigns, promotion of helmets and child booster seats, as well as initiatives to strengthen post-crash responses, hospital and ambulatory trauma care, and rehabilitation services for victims of traffic accidents. 
• Safe mobility solutions will offer pedestrians, cyclists, motorcyclists and users of public transport mobile road safety apps that deliver real-time traffic information, navigation assistance, or tools to report road hazards and accidents. 
• Behavioural change programmes will promote subsidised helmet distribution (particularly in low-income areas), community-based road safety, and vehicle-safety training.

 Our Foundation will fund organisations and coalitions that raise awareness of road safety, advocate for and disseminate good practices, and provide innovative transport solutions for off-grid  communities.

Why is clean energy a critical health issue?

• Globally, one in ten people (759 million) lacks access to electricity. About 2.6 billion people rely on extremely polluting solid and biomass fuels (charcoal, coal, animal waste) to cook and keep warm. Clean cooking solutions could save the lives of up to 800,000 children.
• Close to one billion people in low- and lower-middle-income countries are served by healthcare facilities that lack a reliable electricity supply, with harmful effects on patient care, vaccines and medication storage, and data management.

        Our response

• Clean household energy programmes will support organisations that provide clean indoor energy solutions, such as improved stoves; activities that raise awareness of health risks associated with traditional cooking and heating methods; microfinance services for clean cooking and heating technologies and fuels; and initiatives that involve women in decision-making and give them access to relevant equipment, training and tools. 
• Clean energy programs for remote health facilities will provide funds to organisations that offer solar power to remote health clinics, maternity wards and operating rooms; that run mapping and needs assessments; and that raise the energy awareness and capacity of healthcare workers and clinic managers. They will also support non-profits, governments and local communities that cooperate to extend the grid to remote health facilities and develop microgrids to serve multiple health facilities and communities.

 Impact statement 
 • Puma Energy Foundation promotes healthier communities by increasing road safety and fostering  access to clean energy. 
 • Puma Energy Foundation achieves its mission by partnering with impactful organisations working  in its thematic and geographic focus areas.

Please click here  to download a summary of our strategy.LINK