ToughStuff  is one of eleven companies that have won this year’s World Business and Development Award (WBDA) for their efforts to improve living standards in some of the world’s most disadvantaged communities.

The companies were recognized at a ceremony concluding the Business Action for Sustainable Development Day on 19 June  during the UN Conference on Sustainable Development (Rio+20), where world leaders along with thousands of participants from governments, the private sector, NGOs and other groups, were convened.

The awards recognize the role of private companies in reaching the Millennium Development Goals, rewarding businesses who expand goods and services for low-income people through sustainable, commercially-viable business models.

According to a UNDP statement: “The Awards recognize innovative business models that deliver both commercial success and help improve social, economic or environmental conditions—otherwise known as inclusive business models—with winning companies engaged in diverse initiatives such as providing affordable clean energy to low-income communities in Kenya.”

The international panel of judges for the WBDA includes members of the International Business Leaders Forum, the International Chamber of Commerce, and the United Nations Development Programme.

This year’s Awards attracted 115 entries from 38 countries.

ToughStuff, which was selected a winner in the small and medium-sized enterprise category of the awards, works in 11 countries across Africa to provide affordable, durable and high performance solar energy to the 1.3 billion people without access to electricity.

Their business model includes working with local partners to improve distribution, from working with commercial distribution channels to collaborating with NGO partners to create solar agents who sell to their communities.

ToughStuff is a Lighting Africa Associate.

For more information on the awards and the winners, click here.