South and Southeast Asia Hub Releases New RFQ

The Water and Energy for Food S/SEA Regional Innovation Hub has issued a new Request for Proposal, seeking a service provider from India. This RFQ aims to identify and select a firm to develop a sales strategy for agro-processing products. The selected service provider, guided by the WE4F S/SE Asia Hub Technical Assistance Facilitator, will assist the innovator in accessing various sales channels and crafting a sales strategy for agri-products. This strategy aims to boost sales for innovator’s agri-products, with a focus on Bihar and Uttar Pradesh markets, while drawing upon best practices from across India.

Deadline for submission of RFQ: April 10, 2024, 5:00 PM Bangkok time (GMT+7)

Award anticipation date: April 20, 2024

Water and Energy for Food: Women Lead the Way

As water, food, and energy needs increase around the world, women like Nidhi (S4S Technologies), Roula (The Quinta Group), and Judith (Lanforce Energy) are leading the way to build more sustainable futures for all.

Feeding the world with small-scale producers

An S/SEA innovator, S4S Technologies made waves at the UpLink Press Conference in Davos this year! Watch their insightful contribution and learn how they are shaping the future, empowering rural women, and reducing food waste with innovative solar dryers in India. 

Clean Cooking: How Hanny G Combines Conservation with Mitigating Health Risks in Tanzania

Over 90% of households in Tanzania still rely on firewood and traditional charcoal for cooking and heating, resulting in environmental degradation and increased health risks. The Ngorongoro Conservation Area, comprising of vast expanses of highland plains, Savanna Woodlands, and forests, holds global significance for biodiversity conservation. Considering the area’s ecological importance and the presence of globally threatened species, the Tanzanian government banned firewood usage in schools across the conservation area.

aQysta in 10 Startups in Nepal to Watch

Nepal, a country known for its kind people, world-famous hikes and culture is also home to a number of startups revolutionising their industries.

From legal services to sustainable energy, these startups are not just making an impact within Nepal, but globally too. Here, we take a closer look at ten companies in Nepal that we think are worth watching.

Promotion de l’irrigation solaire au Mali : les acteurs de développement partagent leurs expériences avec Sun4Water

Au fil du temps, le programme Sun4Water poursuit ses activités avec des partenaires en Afrique de l’Est et de l’Ouest. Récemment, un atelier a été organisé pour partager des expériences sur la promotion de l’irrigation solaire avec des projets partenaires au Mali.

L’atelier a été organisé par les programmes partenaire de la GIZ, c’est-à-dire PASSIP/ACTION, ENDEV et Sun4Water avec la supervision du Cluster Agriculture Innovante et Sécurité Alimentaire Nutritionnelle (AGRISAN) de la GIZ.

Husk Power Systems in Fast Company's Most Innovative Companies of 2024

Many power utilities in developing countries are unable to extend power lines, let alone clean energy, to rural users. In these areas, high-polluting diesel generators are often the norm—if there’s any electricity at all. Manoj Sinha, cofounder and CEO of Husk Power Systems, has been on a 15-year quest to give millions of people access to cleaner electricity and more.

SAFIR, un projet d’agroforesterie innovant pour le développement durable en Côte d’Ivoire

Il y a quelque temps, Water and Energy for Food (WE4F) et l’Université Jean Lorougnon Guédé (UJLoG), basée à Daloa en Côte d’Ivoire, ont développé un projet dénommé « Système Agroforestier Irrigué » (SAFIR). Le projet est mis en œuvre par la GIZ avec l’Unité de Formation et de Recherche de l’Environnement et le Groupe de Recherche Interdisciplinaire en Ecologie du Paysage et en Environnement (GRIEPE).

Southern and Central Africa Hub Hosts Regional Convening

This event brought together new and old innovators, the hub staff, and members from the Secretariat for three days of sharing experiences, learning from each other, and strengthening the WE4F network. Participants discussed key topics that affect the water-energy-food nexus as well as how to overcome barriers. They explored opportunities for carbon credits in the region, learned about what investors are looking for in businesses, and developed a better understanding of how companies can address gender-based violence and harassment.

WE4F Southern and Central Africa Hub - Highlights of 2023

What was the Southern and Central Africa Regional Innovation Hub and its supported innovators up to in 2023? Watch this video to find out!

Interested in learning more? Visit https://we4f.org/sca

Resources

Empowering Change: WE4F’s Carbon Finance Guide for a Greener Future

In recent years, there has been a rising demand for voluntary carbon markets. These markets are platforms where carbon emitters (e.g., an entity with a large carbon footprint) can purchase carbon credits from carbon offsetters (e.g., an entity that might reduce carbon emissions or remove carbon emissions). For the emitters, if they cannot prevent their carbon emissions, it is a way to fund carbon emission reductions elsewhere. For the offsetters, it can act as a financing vehicle to expand, or scale their work. In 2021, the voluntary carbon market experienced a fourfold growth compared to 2020, reaching a value of $2 billion. By 2030, the market is expected to reach between $10 billion and $40 billion¹. 

This presents an opportunity for innovators to harness these markets for various advantages:

1. Secure additional funding for the services offered to farmers, thereby reducing costs to enhance affordability;
2. Evaluate their environmental impact using a structured and widely accepted approach to effectively communicate impact to investors and other stakeholders; and 
3. Address business gaps to enhance climate resilience.