Projects

Ghana generates over 150,000 tons of waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE, or e-waste) annually. This is in addition to end-of-life electrical and electronic equipment imported into the country.

The South African clay brick manufacturing sector is both a diverse and a geographically distributed industry that provides employment both in the organized, formal sector and in an informal sector mostly made up of brickmakers in rural, under-developed areas.

The goal of the project is to provide major opportunities for Ethiopian manufacturing industries in the “green” market segment to acquire a share of the light manufacturing market currently fleeing rising costs in China. This includes such industries as natural-fibre cotton, wool and silk manufacturing, human-made fibre manufacturing, garment manufacturing and the leather, organic food and handicraft industries. The project involves launching three pilot clusters to pave the way for green growth, increased sales and sustainable job creation.

In Ethiopia, tanning is an important economic activity. The country is home to the largest population of livestock in Africa and is the tenth largest livestock producer in the world in 2015. The livestock sector accounts for 16.5% of Ethiopia’s gross domestic product and is an important source of income for the rural population. 

The problem of the collection, management and disposal of waste continues to feature prominently in major towns and cities across African countries. This has led to contamination of water bodies and to the spread of waterborne diseases and other health hazards. In most African countries, waste generation is the result of a rapidly growing urban population, along with the changing patterns of production and consumption inherent to a more urban lifestyle and the consequent industrialization.

In Burkina Faso, solar energy is a sustainable alternative to electricity in terms of availability, cost and carbon emissions. Solar energy systems have not been widely adopted in the country due to barriers such as limited awareness, a high initial investment and limited access to finance. Micro-, small and medium-sized enterprises do not have a clear view of their energy consumption patterns or of the opportunities to reduce their costs by using solar energy.

Most micro-, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) and business membership organizations are necessity-driven rather than growth-oriented. They are constrained by low start-up capital, a low level of innovation, invention and skill investment, low value addition, an imitation culture, low survival rates, limited access to markets and/or saturated markets, inadequate training and inadequate access to appropriate, tailor-made business development services.

The Kakamega Forest Reserve is the only surviving rainforest in Kenya. The forest provides a unique sanctuary for a remarkable diversity of endemic plants, birds and insects not found anywhere else in Kenya. It is also an important watershed for some of the rivers that flow into Lake Victoria.

Micro-, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) account for a sizeable share of Ugandan industry and contribute substantially to the country’s economic development. They are a vehicle through which the rural poor and informally employed Ugandans can transform themselves into the middle and industrial classes of tomorrow. The sector accounts for approximately 90% of the private sector and has potential for long-term growth.

In Uganda, the demand for energy has increased significantly due to economic growth and development, improved standards of living, growing populations and, in particular, accelerating industrial growth. The manufacturing sector uses large amounts of energy to support its production processes and other operations. The micro , small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) of the sector are characterized by low energy efficiency due to the use of obsolete technologies, a lack of skilled labour, poor operating practices and limited use of renewable energy sources.

Given the low level of development in Rodrigues, this project could be considered an opportunity to do things properly the first time around. Rodrigues has the potential to excel in the preservation of its natural environment. The recent banning of plastic bags is an important first step. Alternatives must be identified, however, as the use of plastic bags is deeply engrained in the way of life for the population of the island. This is also important because the island of Mauritius is now moving forward with banning plastic bags at the national level.

In 2012, the Joint Economic Council, which is the coordinating body for the private sector in Mauritius, and the French Development Agency studied the energy efficiency situation in Mauritius by mapping the potential for energy savings in the industrial and tertiary sectors. The results showed that businesses could save about USD 30 million per year on their energy bills if issues such as a lack of supervision and awareness, low trust in energy audits, lack of subsidies and shortage of quality local expertise were addressed.

The Government of Uganda, in its strategic development plan, Uganda Vision 2040, has recognized the tourism sector as the mainstay of the country’s transformation from a predominantly agrarian, lower-income society to a modern, prosperous and competitive upper middle-income one. The tourism industry accounted for 5.2% of gross domestic product and 14.6% of total employment in 2016. The sector currently faces the following challenges, however, which this project aims to overcome: 

Every year, more than 1.3 million tourists visit the island of Mauritius. In 2017, the tourism industry accounted for more than 12% of total gross domestic product and provided more than 30,000 direct jobs. The Mauritius Tourism Development Plan sets a target of acquiring “Green Destination” status for Mauritius by 2030. Promoting sustainable tourism that reduces tourism’s “footprint”, or negative environmental impacts, while improving its “handprint”, or positive sustainability impacts, especially for local communities, is key to green growth in Mauritius. 

There is a global trend towards increased consumer and tourist demand for socially and environmentally responsible products, particularly in eco-sensitive destinations such as Africa. In over-saturated safari tourism markets throughout the continent, there is rising competition among local brands and businesses to win market share.

Nearly a million people visit Kenya each year. How can Kenyans capitalise on the country’s rich cultural heritage and stunning nature while also maintaining it? Community Based Tourism (CBT) allows Kenya to position their local communities as centres of economic development and social wellbeing.

When it comes to nature tourism, Uganda has a comparative advantage, but protecting its resource base is critical. For tourist accommodations, an environmentally sound operation is increasingly important, both from an operational point of view – lower costs and security of supply – and from a marketing perspective. Unsound operations can have a negative impact on the tourist experience and on the flora, fauna and cultural heritage of the host environment. With an increasing number of tourists coming to Uganda, the need for environmentally sound operations is becoming more pressing.

Mauritius has developed a tourism industry that is admired throughout the world. The hospitality industry has rapidly emerged as one of the main income-earning sectors, accounting for 12% of gross domestic product. While larger hotels have the required expertise, logistics and facilities to compete at the international level, it is difficult for smaller hotels to do the same. Small and medium-sized hotels therefore need to group together to form clusters in order to achieve the same end results.

Tourism is Kenya’s third largest foreign exchange earner and a major employer, accounting for about 12% of total employment and 13.7% of gross domestic product. The tourism industry is based on a diverse range of natural, social, human and physical resources, but faces challenges in terms of sustainable development. For example, over 80% of all visits are concentrated in seven parks, and the seasonal nature of tourism further aggregates the stress on natural resources during peak seasons and reduces the efficiency of infrastructure and staff during low seasons.