Utsil Naj - healthy homes for all in Honduras

Honduras enters a critical juncture, navigating a complex transition following the intensifying climate pressures. As a focal point of Central America’s "Dry Corridor," the nation is currently grappling with erratic rainfall and above average temperatures that threaten to significantly reduce crop yields for the season. This environmental volatility is catastrophic for the 82% of the rural population living in poverty, whose food security and livelihoods depend on climate sensitive agriculture. With nearly 80% of these communities still relying on traditional wood-fire cooking, the country faces a dual crisis of health and deforestation that requires urgent, scalable energy solutions.

Our Solution: Technology Rooted in Tradition
Utsil Naj is a large-scale, multi-intervention program designed to elevate living standards through sustainable technology. Understanding that Central American traditions, Microsol has successfully engineered high efficiency cookstoves tailored to Honduras cultural heritage. They have bridged the gap between traditional practices and modern, smoke-free efficiency.

Strategic Impact and local synergy
Operating through a network of specialized local partners, Utsil Naj transforms community trust into tangible results. To date, the project in Honduras has deployed over 1,400 improved cookstoves, delivering life changing benefits to more than 7,700 individuals. By eliminating indoor air pollution, we are securing a healthier future for the most remote and vulnerable highlands.

A Social Business Model
As a purpose driven social enterprise, Microsol reinvests 100% of carbon credit revenues back into project scalability and long-term maintenance. They actively collaborate with Honduras stakeholders and international bodies to align their roadmaps with national climate commitments. Their philosophy is clear: lasting impact is only achieved by integrating global carbon finance with deep community engagement.

Project impacts and benefits

Utsil Naj delivers a sophisticated, multi-dimensional ROI by integrating climate resilience with systemic social transformation. The program acts as a strategic catalyst for women’s empowerment, drastically reducing domestic labor and fuel wood collection. This reclamation of productive time allows women and children to pivot toward education and income-generating activities. From an environmental perspective, our high efficiency technology mitigates CO2 emissions and safeguards Honduras' critical biodiversity by curbing forest degradation and deforestation.

• SDG 1 | No Poverty: Enhancing resilience for rural households by securing access to essential services, clean water, and sustainable infrastructure. Over 322 individuals empowered through direct access to clean technology.
• SDG 3 | Good Health & Well-Being: Near-total elimination of indoor air pollution; beneficiaries report a drastic reduction in respiratory illnesses and ocular infections. 100% of beneficiaries report a total elimination or significant reduction in respiratory illnesses and burns; 100% report improved physical health (reduction in back pain).
• SDG 4 | Quality Education: Optimized domestic workflows allow children to prioritize school attendance and academic performance. 44% of participants trained in sustainable technology management.
• SDG 7 | Affordable & Clean Energy: Delivering energy dignity to isolated regions through reliable, low-emission cooking technologies where traditional grids are absent. 437 high-efficiency cookstoves deployed and monitored, securing energy dignity for rural households.
• SDG 8 | Decent Work & Economic Growth: Stimulating the local green economy by creating specialized jobs and fostering community-led enterprises. Generated 2 permanent local jobs, fostering specialized labor in the green economy. 
• SDG 11 | Sustainable cities and communities: On average, each improved cookstove in the program saves 6 kilograms of firewood.
• SDG 12 | Responsible consumption and production: An average 40% reduction in wood consumption per improved cookstove.
• SDG 13 | Climate Action: Over 4,468 tCO2e avoided (2020-2023 period), contributing to Guatemala’s Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs).
• SDG 15 | Life on Land: Significant reduction in biomass consumption, directly preventing deforestation and protecting the integrity of local ecosystems. 238 tons of wood saved annually, directly preventing forest degradation and safeguarding biodiversity.
• SDG 16 | Peace, justice and strong institutions: 100% of the program’s users were informed about the program and approved the installation of the improved cookstove in their households.