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On Kenyan coastal beaches, flip-flop sandals are discarded in the sand, rocks or water. The washed-up plastics threatening the beaches are now being upcycled and transformed into unique sculptures and colourful toys. Sheila Mwalili, bird story agency Since 2006, a group of women and girls from Kilifi County in Kenya have collected washed-up flip-flops along the Indian Ocean weekly. The collected trash is then transported to a workshop in the capital city, Nairobi, where artists and wood sculptors carve out various animals for sale. "We have trucks that transport the flip flops from the Coast, and once they're received at the workshop in Nairobi, they're washed and dried before our artists can use them. We have a dry-cut machine for the small pieces that cut a rhino, an elephant or any other animal template. Those templates are then joined into a block and carved into a sculpture of the animal," explained Joe Mwakiremba, the head of sales at Ocean Sole. Ocean Sole is a social enterprise launched in 1999 to turn the Earth's flip-flop pollution into inspiring art. After the founder of Ocean Sole, Julie Church, witnessed children making toys out of flip-flop material, she had a light bulb moment. She began working with a group of women from Kilifi County to collect washed-up flip-flops along the ocean weekly and earn an equivalent of 30 cents US dollars per kilogram. In this way, the ocean is kept clean, and the communities can put food on their table with dignity. The animal sculpture-making process is customised depending on the animal's size. For the small ones, only flip flops are used, while big animals are stuffed on the inside with polyutherane; a foam-like material often used for cushioning products shipped into designated countries. They're then padded on the outside using recycled flip-flops. Mwakiremba further explained that not a single piece of the recycled material goes to waste as the small pieces of rubber left over after the sculptures have been carved - also known as 'off-cuts'- are further shredded and used to make mattresses, dog beds and poofs. The finished products are then sold in local markets and overseas. "We sell to zoos, aquariums, museums and gift shops all over the world, mainly in the USA and European markets. We also sell locally to walk-in customers though 90 percent of our production is for export ", he said. Ocean Sole says they recycle 638 tonnes of flip-flops and 600 trees yearly. The enterprise, like any other, faces its own set of challenges, with the main one being counterfeiting. "Some people come here and try to imitate what we do and when the fake product goes to the market and there are complains, we're forced to go out and clear our name," Mwakiremba explained. However, he reiterates that the mission of Ocean Sole is not purely to make profits but rather to keep the ocean clean and to empower local communities. "Proceeds from the sale of sculptures are invested in educating children in high impact communities so as to foster awareness on the negative effects of plastic pollution to the environment in the long term", Mwakiremba said. The initiative has impacted the coastal region's local communities and transformed the lives of sculptors who used to make wooden carvings. The enterprise has empowered over 1,000 Kenyans through the collection of flip-flops and direct employment. David Kaloki has been working with Ocean Sole since 2013. "Making wooden carvings was very tedious. It would take up a lot of time and was destructive to the environment but using recycled flip flops to make the same sculptures is much easier and is also friendly to the environment. I'm also able to meet the needs of my family because I have a job unlike when I was a wood carver," he explained. The story is the same for Florence Auma, who joined the company as a cleaner in 2006 but quickly learnt the craft and joined the male-dominated carving world. She is also a recycling ambassador who carries the message to her neighbourhood. "Nowadays I mobilise people in my neighborhood to keep their old flip flops in a gunny bag until we have collected enough to sell. That way, we keep our environment clean and the ocean and waterways habitable for marine animals," she said. Despite this noble course, critics argue that recycling alone cannot solve the challenge of plastic pollution in the larger scheme of things. According to Daniel Maina, an environmentalist from Kisiwani conservation network – a community-based organisation operating in Kenya's coastal region – out of the eight to ten million metric tonnes of plastics collected from the ocean annually, only one per cent is recycled. At the same time, a huge chunk is burnt, emitting toxic gasses that contribute to global warming. Maina noted that long-term solutions lie in banning plastics entirely or generating some that are bio-degradable. "In the meantime we still need plastics; our phones, computers and cars still contain plastic and there are medicines that can only be packed in plastic bags. Perhaps we should look for more sustainable ones in the long term," Maina said. He added that some people have prototypes of low-density plastic bags from the sap of the pear cactus that are bio-degradable, which could be a viable option. bird story agency

From visual art to film and music, filmmaker Hayat Aljowaily is among an army of young creatives harnessing the potency of artistic expression to shift the dialogue on climate justice in Africa. Hayat Aljowaily Seth Onyango, bird story agency As the sun retreats below the horizon, it casts a golden glow over the Red Sea and on the terraces of Aida hotel, leaving a lingering afterglow that seems to infuse the air with a sense of warmth and energy. Hayat Aljowaily, together with her crew at Crtve Development, is giving direction to that energy by working the terrace and the scores of young activists seated there by amplifying calls for climate justice. She is networking and engaging with fellow creatives and activists who gathered on the fringes of "Africa's COP" in Egypt's Red Sea resort of Sharm el-Sheikh. Nearby, a screen is showing climate-related films, and young people from around the world have congregated in diverse, multi-cultural groups, excitedly exchanging ideas and experiences and smoking shisha from hookahs. Aljowaily is talking about art "Arts appeals to emotion, and it's something that's very easily understandable but also easily shareable. It's really important for us to change the narrative regarding climate justice in Africa because, at the end of the day, telling our own stories gives us agency and ownership," she added, speaking during COP27 in November 2022. Aljowaily had been invited to attend Culture COP, a UN platform for discussions on the role that the arts, culture and heritage play in achieving a climate-resilient world. It takes place alongside the annual COP climate talks. With roots in Egypt and a life lived across Washington D.C., Cairo, Geneva, and New York, Aljowaily is a filmmaker who embodies the essence of a global citizen. Her multicultural background informs her work as a MENA advisor at Crtve Development, a Pan-African social agency promoting African development issues. Aljowaily works closely with the organisation's creative director in building appealing content, including directing and producing online interview series. "The world of film is often filled with glamour and glitz, but it is (also) a platform for change and drives the positive narrative agenda about Africa," she said. Aljowaily notes that conversations on climate justice have been happening for a long time without those most affected by it in Africa. "Now, it is not only time for us to be having this conversation but to be owning it. We can't let other people tell this story because it is ours. We are the ones that are suffering, but we're also the solution," she said. Currently based between Cairo and Paris, she spent her formative years immersed in issues of identity, global politics, and cultural exchange, which have all informed her work as a storyteller. Her academic pursuits led her to complete a BA in Social Sciences focusing on law and Middle Eastern studies at Sciences Po, Paris, Menton Campus, and a BA in Film and Media Studies at Columbia University. Interning with organisations such as UN Women and March Lebanon throughout her university years provided her with valuable insight into social issues, she explained. Aljowaily's passion for film also led her to explore various internships with film agencies and production companies in Cairo, New York, and Paris. Her bachelor's thesis film, Maybe Next Time, has screened at festivals worldwide and won the Audience Award at the Tripoli Online Film Festival in Lebanon. After graduating in 2020, she joined Mediawan's documentary international sales team as an intern. Marvel Studios hired her as a director's assistant on their "Moon Knight" series, which streamed on Disney+. In 2022, she was instrumental in Crtve Development's "We Are" campaign, designed to reclaim the narrative of what climate justice in Africa looks like and what it should be. "The images we often see regarding climate change in Africa are often controlled by the Global North and tend to be very negative. The "We Are" campaign aims to change this by focusing on the stories of resilience and adaptation and bringing them to the world stage. The form is just as important as the content, with high production value, artistic pieces aimed at resonating with anyone, particularly youth," Aljowaily explained. The "We Are" campaign focused on five creative hubs across the continent, including Egypt, Nigeria, and South Africa, and a travelling circus between Malawi and Mozambique. Crtve Development partnered with funding collaborative Africa No Filter, which led to the creative hubs being asked to lead in the delivery of a creative installation or pop-up showcase, workshops and mentorship programmes to address climate action in relevant and refreshing ways. Crtve Development also amplifies African climate justice voices through the "We Are" campaign on TikTok, after inking a partnership with the short video platform to ensure that the stories reach as many people as possible. The campaign has also gained traction on Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, and Twitter. The "We Are" campaign also strongly emphasises physical interaction, with art showcases across the continent. bird story agency

Maize and sugarcane farmers in Kenya are now turning to sunflower, which grows faster, is less labour-intensive and gives higher yields. Marystella Wabwoba packaging sunflower oil in branded bottles homestead in the village of Sinoko in Bungoma County, Kenya. Photo : Nathan Ochunge, bird story agency. By Nathan Ombuni, bird story agency When cooking oil and animal feed prices became too high for Kenyan farmer Marystella Wabwoba, she decided to produce her own. Today, sunflowers are all she grows. "About five years ago, I realised I could grow sunflower on the farm and use it to produce oil which has no chemicals as preservatives and use its byproduct to feed my animals," said the small scale farmer. Wabwoba's homestead in the village of Sinoko in Bungoma County is a flurry of activity, with a constant stream of customers coming to buy sunflower oil. After harvesting the sunflower seed, she crushes them using an oil press to extract the oil, then uses the byproduct as feed for dairy animals, pigs and poultry. Wabwoba is also spreading word of her success in the surrounding community. "Given that I'm an agricultural officer, I also mobilised women and youth groups and educated them on the need to venture into sunflower farming. A few bought the idea and embraced the venture," said Wabwabo, who has a PhD in food security and sustainable development. "In an acre piece of land, you get at least 1000 kilograms of sunflower seeds. When you crush it, for every 4kgs of sunflower seed cake, you get a litre of cooking oil. When you harvest 1000kgs of sunflower seeds, after crushing you get 250 litres of sunflower cooking oil, translating to Ksh100,000 (U$770) per acre," Wabwoba explained. The farmer has a seven-acre piece of land on which she grows sunflowers - and from where she retails her oil. "I sell a half litre of sunflower cooking oil at Ksh400 (U$3.079), five litres at Ksh1,800 (US13.86), 10 litres at Ksh3,500 (26.94) and 20 litres goes at Ksh4,500 (U$34.642)." Wabwoba not only grows her own sunflowers but is also involved in contract farming, buying in seed from other farmers in the community. "I have another 20 farmers, each with an acre for growing sunflower. Last season, they produced 20,000 kilograms of sunflower which I bought from them at Ksh100 (U$ 0.77). After crushing, I got 5000 litres of sunflower oil," she said. Bungoma County farmer Joyce Wamono grows sunflowers in Bungoma's Sirisia constituency. She sells the by-product of the oil she produces and says that for every 100kg of sunflower seeds, 75kg becomes by-product. She sells that, at Ksh70 (US$0.54) per kilogram. Wamono said she previously grew maize. But it would take six months to mature, she said, and she would get only four 50kg bags which could not sustain her needs. On the same piece of land she now gets three times her previous income. "We can plant sunflower, produce vegetable cooking oil and sell, then use the money we get to buy foodstuffs like maize and beans that we cannot produce in our small pieces of land," Wamono said. She also explained that a sunflower crop is more drought-resistant and its oil has no cholesterol. It is recognised for helping in reducing non-communicable diseases like hypertension and cancer that people get by using chemically-preserved cooking oil, she added. Besides Bungoma, sunflowers are also grown in Kenya's Kakamega, Meru, Homa and Kajiado counties, as well as parts of the North Rift and Coastal region. Vincent Wechabe, a sunflower farmer from Bumula constituency, said he abandoned sugarcane farming in favour of sunflower, three years ago. "I can't compare sunflower farming proceeds with sugarcane at all. The (sugar mill) factory will give all farm inputs and you provide labour and after a two-year wait, on my five acre piece of land, out of the gross of Ksh525,000 (U$4,000) I used to get after selling cane to the factory, I would remain with Ksh75,000 (U$577). But with sunflower, I get a bumper harvest after 115 days," said Wechabe. Wechabe, also a livestock official in his county, said sunflower was previously relegated to a second-class crop and maize was prioritised as a first-class crop. "The call now is to put sunflower in its right place of hierarchy and stop the notion that it's a second-class crop, if we want to solve the food insecurity situation in the country," he said. Bilal Kweyu, an agronomist from Masinde Muliro University of Science and Technology, says for Kenya to be food secure, small-scale farmers should consider venturing into sunflower farming to streamline economic growth and improve the cash flow of many livelihoods of community members. "Both the county and national governments should help smallholder farmers to make money through agribusiness and satisfy the growing population's food and nutritional needs. There is a ready market for sunflower products. We need many farmers to venture into the business and create employment opportunities for our youth. Kweyu added that the country currently imports sunflower products from Tanzania and Malawi, but if local farmers are empowered, the money will go into their pockets to solve the food insecurity problem. "You don't need to grow maize and wait for six months for it to mature and harvest 100 kilos of maize, yet you can grow sunflowers and harvest twice in six months, and use the money to buy food," said Kweyu. bird story agency

The off-grid solar startup Zonful Energy has powered over 30,000 homes and currently has a subsidiary company in Mozambique as part of its regional expansion strategy. ZONFUL Energy staff installing solar panels in zimbabwe. Photo Courtesy : ZONFUL Energy By Alois Vinga, bird story agency As a boy, William Ponela always hated being stuck in the dark after the paraffin-powered lamps in the family's home ran dry. Raised by his grandparents in rural Chivi, a district in southern Zimbabwe, the homestead could not afford a regular lighting source. This forced him to miss hours of study time, particularly when cloudy skies blocked even the faint light from the moon . "During the rainy season, we would sleep very early because the whole place would be dark, since there was no moonlight. So I kept thinking and asking myself: 'how can people get access to uninterrupted electricity?'". After graduating as an engineer from the University of Zimbabwe, Ponela worked for several companies before going it alone and forming the a company that specialised in solar systems. He spent half a decade on research and plenty of trial-and-error experience, before getting where he wanted with his company, Zonful Energy. "We are customer-centric, so the five years was to listen to the customer and fine-tuning our product to suit the customers' requirements. So by the time we launched in 2016, we had gone through a process where we had tried a number of products," he said. His initial startup capital was US$50,000, raised through crowdfunding with the assistance of Kiva, an international non-profit that crowdfunds and lends to underserved communities. The funding came after Ponela travelled to Dubai to pitch his idea at an energy conference. He also got funding from Persistent Energy - a Swiss-based company which initially provided a convertible loan of US$410 000 and then chose to convert the loan into equity. Ponela also won a business competition, the Africa Enterprise Challenge Fund, where his idea was awarded US$1 million. Part of that award required him to match funds for every dollar received, which is how Persistent Energy, and another company, Energy Access Ventures (now E3) became involved. Of the US$1 million he received from the companies, US$400,000 was extended as a non-repayable grant; the rest is a non-interest-bearing loan. The funds have allowed the company to scale in a market that is hungry for services. "The company has grown significantly, with 70 direct jobs and over 2,000 (indirect) jobs. Our solar products have powered over 30,000 homes around the country, with 80% of the total being rural homes that either pay through the use of direct cash or pay as you go after a small initial deposit is made and the balance payable over 18 to 24 months as the client enjoys the use of the product," he said. The company has received widespread acclaim locally and internationally. In 2018, just one year after it started operating, the London Stock Exchange (LSE) listed Zonful Energy among Africa's top 360 inspiring companies. The LSE Inspire Africa 2019 report identified Africa's most inspirational and dynamic private, high-growth companies to a global market and grouped the entity alongside the continent's influential firms. Back home in 2020, the Chartered Institute of Project Managers showered the company with four prestigious awards: Economic Impact Project of the year, Transformation project of the year, Renewable Energy project of the year, and Covid-19 Health care Project of the year. Last year, Zonful Energy returned to the international radar after being nominated for the Ashden Awards 2022 as a finalist in recognition for delivering innovative climate solutions. Out of 203 applicants, the company became one of the two finalists. One of Zonful's customers, Forbes Vela, hails the company's products for managing to meet the energy's needs. "My family has benefited a lot from these products since my family now has access to good lighting for home study. My children are able to study at night and enjoy home entertainment by watching TV. We no longer have hardships in charging cell phones," said Forbes Vela, a Zonful customer. Vela had bought two of the company's solar for the home products. Currently, the company is working on a regional expansion strategy and has a subsidiary in Mozambique. bird story agency

The young student's passion and unwavering commitment to the environment not only runs in his family but has also earned him a place in Daystar University's history books. From left: Paul Caleb, Henrick Niyumugisha and Waweru Chris Avram By Lucy Githugo, bird Story Agency For Chris Waweru Avram, climate activism runs in the family. At only nine years of age, he watched his grandfather lead protests which compelled the local government to clear a towering rubbish heap that had stood outside their home for years. "My elder brother almost lost his life to a severe infection caused by a fall on a rainy day when he had gone to throw garbage at that dump site. After my grandfather led protests, the local government almost immediately cleared that area," said Waweru. This call to action by his grandfather inspired him, and ever since, he has been at the forefront of many environmental campaigns in Kenya. Today, the young student's passion and unwavering commitment to the environment has earned him a place in Daystar University's history books. Waweru founded the university's first-ever environment club three years ago and has since spearheaded numerous initiatives on campus, including the newly established Ayiro park. The space was once full of thorny shrubs and acacia trees with no shade areas, but it now has landscaped grass, young trees, and lush green spaces for students to hang out. "Every time I watch students enjoying their time at the park, I feel proud that our efforts have not been futile, but this could not have been possible without the support of our Vice Chancellor Laban Ayiro, who has walked with us every step of the way," acknowledged Waweru. "The Ayiro Park is one of Waweru's projects that will remain embedded in our hearts. The park has provided a lot of students with tranquility and the ability to brainstorm ideas in group discussions. Previously, we would either rely on hot classrooms or hostels to hold discussions but a walk into the university will just show any new person how students enjoy the park," said Nyingi Wahome, Daystar's succeeding Environmental Club president. His other notable project, the Green Daystar initiative, turned a once-barren three-acre land into a thriving, sustainable farm that boasts over 3,000 trees, a water irrigation system, and a lush ecosystem that feeds the entire campus. The project has ended previous water shortages in student hostels, a long-standing problem that plagued the university. He's also led installing solar street lighting on campus, provided bins for proper waste disposal, and even partnered with Coca-Cola to collect plastic waste. Daystar's Environment Club co-patron Maurice Masiga acknowledged Waweru's efforts, citing that the green bins, tree planting, solar power installations, and other environmental activities have now grown out of the Daystar Environmental Club. "Daystar's Green Agenda has gone on fairly well. It has not been a walk in the park though! This main campus is in an ASAL region, which makes the agenda a big challenge for the university. The rains we get at Athi River are not as favorable as in Nairobi which is only 40 kilometers away but our sustainable energy solutions present a great opportunity for the growth of green energy and sustainable solutions," remarked Masiga. During the launch of the 35,000-seedling tree nursery at the university on 16th February, Kenya's Forestry Principal Secretary Ephantus Kimani promised to give more seeds and tubes to the university, to put up more nurseries, and technical support to increase the survival rate for the trees. "I anticipate a time when Daystar University will become a demonstration center in environmental conservation for Machakos County," said the Vice-chancellor, Laban Ayiro. Southern Africa Development Community (SADC) Climate Change, youth ambassador Laurel Kivuyo, supports the initiative by governments to engage university students, as youths are a critical component in climate action projects. "In Tanzania, ocean clean-ups are done by university students. As the first youth envoy of SADC, we deal with youth environmental assemblies and I have noted that the students are really active and always show up. This is also because the flow of information is also easy," explained Kivuyo. Waweru is not only leading conservation efforts at his school but also at home, where he continues to change his community's perspectives on the environment. "My mum and dad have had the biggest shift of perception, and they make their friends aware of the environment. My mum, for example, plants trees during her women group meetings and my dad is always quick to share environmental articles with me," concluded Waweru. bird story agency

Zimbabwe's Director of Climate Change Management has his work cut out for him as the country chases down a 40% reduction in greenhouse gases by 2030. By Marko Phiri, bird story agency Washington Zhakata, Zimbabwe's Director of Climate Change Management, is a worried man. On December 10, 2022, Zimbabwe's meteorological department announced an increase in cyclone activity in the country over the next four months. "This season, we are anticipating an increase in cyclone activity in January, February, March up to April, but in terms of projections we expect five cyclones," state newspaper, The Herald, quoted Benjamin Kwenda of the Meteorological Services Department, as saying. The increasing number of cyclones and an accompanying increase in the severity of droughts in a country reliant on rain to produce enough food is not the only thing worrying Zhakata, however. First and foremost, he's concerned about money. "Sanctions have made it difficult to court external investors," Zhakara said. This is despite the country managing to "mobilise millions of dollars to fund climate-smart agriculture". For over two decades, Western countries, including the US, European Union member states and the United Kingdom, have imposed different forms of targeted sanctions against Zimbabwe, citing continued human rights violations and closure of the democratic space. In December alone, the US has added four Zimbabwean nationals and two Zimbabwean companies to the sanctions list. One of the individuals is Emmerson Mnangagwa Jr., the son of Zimbabwe’s President Emmerson Mnangagwa. These sanctions have made it difficult for Zimbabwe to attract investors, access foreign markets, and get capital for essential projects. And while the country's increasingly dynamic agriculture sector has managed to adapt to changing circumstances and mobilise funds locally, Zhakata says Zimbabwe's exclusion from world capital markets has slowed how it implements its climate change agenda. In 2021, Zimbabwe announced a revised National Determined Contribution that would see the country reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 40% across all sectors of the economy, by 2030. According to both Zhakata and the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), the country's ambitious climate-smart agriculture projects require "substantial resource mobilisation with international support" in the face of deteriorating climatic conditions. "Zimbabwe did not experience cyclones before the year 2000. The frequency of such disasters is a call to action from us to rich countries to help with everything from adaptation to climate resilience. We cannot do that without financial resources," Zhakata explained. Projections are that the country's maize production - which saw bumper crops in 2021 thanks to good rains - will drop by 33% by 2030. According to the UNDP, the country must raise around US$8 billion by 2030 in adaptation finance, which says the money should go towards dam construction, renewable energy, resilient crops and livestock production. "Policy documents are there, but implementation has been slowed by lack of resources," said Wellington Madumira, national coordinator of Climate Action Network Zimbabwe. For Madumira, the issues go beyond sanctions. 'While Zimbabwe has cited sanctions for the slow uptake of foreign direct investment, human rights and governance issues have impacted how the country attracts investors in critical areas such as hydro-power and renewable energy," he said. "Investment promotion in the renewable energy sector is low, and what we have seen is that climate change impact is higher than the pace we are moving to address these issues," Madumira added. For Madumira, addressing climate change is an uphill task as Zimbabwe already faces many economic and political challenges. A loss and damage fund was created at the 27th Conference of Parties (COP27), focusing on particularly vulnerable countries. For Zimbabwean smallholders like Gilbert Mponda, a farmer in the country's drought-prone southwest, COP27 could have offered hope. All he wants, the smallholder said, is the financing required to turn to better farming methods, including irrigation. "What we need now is not just good rains but what to do when there are no rains," said Mponda. While the government claims that sanctions frustrate Zimbabwe’s development plans, some believe the ruling party is using the restrictive measures as an excuse for its failures. Tapiwa Gomo, an independent climate finance researcher, believe commitment to Zimbabwe's climate programs goes beyond money and sanctions. "While funding is necessary, not everything requires money," said Tapiwa Gomo, an independent climate finance researcher. "In Zimbabwe, one of the most effective ways to address this is to rethink how to effectively and productively use water in Zambezi River and other water resources for food production, water supply and energy generation," said Gomo. Even for those countries not on anyone's sanctions list, questions remain about the definition of "particularly vulnerable." Zhakata believes all developing countries are vulnerable to climate change, and the criteria for selecting beneficiaries should be revised. He is also not confident that high-emitting countries will honour their latest climate finance commitment, as they failed to meet a 2009 pledge to deliver US$100 billion a year to help poorer countries deal with climate change. "What is the guarantee that these funds will be deposited?" he asked. bird story agency

Ghana receives US$4.8 million for forest conservation, more African countries to follow [Graphics: Hope Mukami] Years of conservation and sustainable farming reforms favouring agroforestry have borne fruit for Ghana as mitigation funding surges. bird story agency On January 24, 2023, Ghana was unveiled as the second African country after Mozambique to receive payments from the World Bank’s Forest Carbon Partnership Facility (FCPF). Ghana received US$4,862,280 for reducing 972,456 tons of carbon emissions between June and December 2019, the first monitoring period of the program. According to Pierre Laporte, World Bank Country Director for Ghana, Liberia, and Sierra Leone, Ghana could receive up to US$50 million for 10 million tons of CO2 emissions by 2024. "This payment is the first of four under the country's Emission Reductions Payment Agreement (ERPA) with the World Bank to demonstrate potential for leveraging results-based payments for carbon credits," he explained. Ghana’s Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, Samuel Jinapor, said that independent validation and verification processes were also ongoing for the payment of the second tranche, covering the monitoring period from January 2020 to December 2021. In the Ghana Cocoa Forest REDD+ Programme, GCFRP, a comprehensive plan submitted as part of the agreement, 69% of the payments will be directed to support local communities involved in the emission reduction programmes. Jinapor added that the payments "will promote confidence in Ghana's REDD+ process for action to reduce deforestation and forest degradation." According to Roselyn Fosuah Adjei, the Director for Climate Change and Ghana's REDD+ Coordinator, communities are "developing their work plans in consultation with partners to execute allocations from the fund." While Ghana, the world's second-largest producer of Cocoa, makes a significant economic fortune from the crop, it is also one of the main causes of deforestation and forest degradation in the country. Commonly referred to as the Cocoa Forest Landscape, the region is known for hosting vast cocoa plantations besides being home to a range of biodiversity. When a US$6.4 million payment was made to Mozambique in 2021, the money was used to implement REDD+ programs in Zambézia Province: Alto Molocue, Gile, Gurue, Ile, Maganja da Costa, Mocuba, Mocubela, Mulevala and Pebane. Following on the heels of Mozambique and Ghana, Madagascar, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Cameroon, the Republic of Congo, and Ivory Coast have the most potential to turn conservation into dollars, out of a pool of 15 African countries in the programme. DRC and Cameroon are the oldest signatories in the group, having signed their Carbon Fund agreements in 2018 and 2019, respectively. The payment program goes through a rigorous 8-stage process, including assessment of core elements and due diligence on the technical and programmatic aspects of the various projects. Ghana's funding comes a few months after it received a US$3 million grant from World Bank under a new trust fund, Enhancing Access to Benefits by Lowering Emissions, EABLE. Africa is committed to cutting 32% of emissions by 2030, with Ghana promising to cut carbon emissions by 64 metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent (MtCO2e) by 2030. However, for Adjei, the greatest beneficiaries of the payments are those actually doing the conservation on the ground. "This will be used to realize Ghana's ambitious zero-deforestation goals while making sure benefits reach key stakeholders who have contributed to this milestone for sustainable forest management," she noted. bird story agency

Africa's hydropower to almost double by 2037 - IRENA [Image source: Unsplash] #Hydropower projects in the pipeline will nearly double Africa's installed capacity by 2037, as Africa looks to dams for green power, water supply and agriculture. Conrad Onyango, bird, story agency Several African countries are ramping up the construction of new hydroelectric projects and expanding the capacity of old plants to tap into the world's largest source of renewable energy, hydropower. According to a new report by the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), planned and ongoing hydropower projects across Africa in the 2022-2037 period will realise 60.8 gigawatts (GW) once complete, nearly double the current 34.3 GW installed capacity. The report dubbed, The changing role of hydropower: Challenges and opportunities, shows that Ethiopia will account for 25 per cent of the total pipeline capacity, reflecting the output of the ongoing construction of the biggest hydropower project in Africa, the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam. DR Congo will follow it at a capacity of 11%, Nigeria at 9%, and Zambia, Mozambique, and Tanzania will each contribute 6%. South Sudan and Angola will each contribute 5%, while Cameroon and Uganda will contribute 3% of the projected capacity. Tanzania's 6% capacity will be boosted mainly by the nearly US$3 billion Julius Nyerere Hydroelectric Power Project, expected to generate 2,115 megawatts (MW) when complete in 2025. In December 2022, Tanzania's President, Samia Suluhu, officiated the opening of the diversion channel that will direct water into the dam to generate electricity. In collaboration with Zimbabwe, Zambia is also expediting the development plans of the proposed US$4.5 billion joint project, Batoka Gorge Hydroelectric Power Station, on the Zambezi River. The project, with a capacity of 2400MW, is expected to provide about a third of the two nations' power needs. Liberia, though not listed among those contributing a significant share of pipeline projects, is also expanding the capacity of its only hydropower project- and possibly developing a second plant. Through an executive order dated February 16th 2023, Liberian President George Weah directed full governmental support towards expansion of the Mount Coffee Hydro Power Plant (MCHPP). The expansion will add 44MW hydropower capacity, including supplying and installing two turbines with a maximum capacity of 20.5MW. Mount Coffee Hydropower plant has a current maximum installed capacity of 88 MW. A feasibility study into a second 150 MW hydropower project, St Paul River, is being conducted by the World Bank. The International Energy Agency (IEA), in its report, Climate Impacts on African Hydropower, shows that renewable energy accounts for 17% of electricity generation in Africa and projects the share to rise by 6% per cent by 2040. "This share may potentially increase to more than 23% by 2040, as part of the ongoing effort towards clean energy transition and universal energy access in Africa," said IEA According to the report, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Ethiopia, Malawi, Mozambique, Uganda, and Zambia, have exceeded 80% share of hydropower in their energy mix. bird story agency

Commercial solar energy option gains momentum in Africa [Image source: Hope Mukami] A new report shows industrial solar power installations in Africa grew by over 60% in 2022, taking cumulative solar capacity past the 10 GW mark. More African countries are adopting solar energy, primarily in commercial and industrial segments. Bonface Orucho, bird story agency Africa is unlocking its vast solar energy potential to provide affordable and sustainable electricity not only to rural communities but also to commercial and industrial segments. According to the Africa Solar Industry Association's Solar Outlook 2023 report, the commercial and industrial segment registered a year-on-year growth of 61.5% in the previous year. Overall, nearly 1 GW (949 MW) of additional solar energy was installed across the continent in 2022, a 14% year-on-year increment from the 833MW added to the grid in 2021. With 284 MW, Angola had the most installations in 2022. The top five include Angola, South Africa (111.8 MW), Egypt (80 MW), Ghana (71.3 MW), and Mozambique (41.9 MW). The report states, "Africa is now home to more than 10 GW of identified solar projects." While solar installation capacity in Africa has historically been driven by a limited number of "hot spots" such as South Africa, Morocco, and Egypt, more countries are now adopting solar initiatives. Thirty countries across the continent have installed more than 1 MW, 16 countries installed more than 10 MW, and two countries have installed more than 100 MW. With commercial and industrial solar installations already commanding a significant 30% of all solar installations in the continent, according to AFSIA, on-going projects also favour the segment. Increasing solar energy capacity in commercial and industrial processes is vital in aiding clean transition while ensuring energy sustainability. This is particularly critical for countries such as South Africa where energy gaps from controlled power blackouts known as loadshedding have taken a toll on commercial and industrial functions. The AFSIA report shows that 22.2% of all solar installations, in South Africa are centred on commercial and industrial segment. Worth-noting is that non-government led PV energy projects have also surged in the country. There is an approximate 9GW worth of solar energy under development, funded by non-government entities. According to South Africa’s National Energy Crisis Committee (NECOM), more than 100 sites are being developed with capacities of up to 100MW. These are in addition to the government-sponsored solar PV plants under the Renewable Energy Independent Power Producer Procurement Program, REIPPPP. While the first of the unsubsidised plants is expected to be up and running by the end of 2023, solar is also poised to provide a much-needed energy source for the country’s national utility, ESKOM, with some 3,000 MW in the pipeline. Farther north, Algeria is also keen to detach from fossil fuel-based energy options in commercial and industrial functions by leveraging on its solar energy projects. With 99.8% of Algerians having access to electricity, mini-grids are not an immediate priority in the country. The authors of the AFSIA outlook believe solar growth holds immense potential because of the growing attraction of solar for the corporate power purchase agreements (CPPAs) market model. “CPPAs allow commercial and industrial customers to purchase renewable electricity directly from independent power producers (IPPs) at a pre-agreed price for a pre-agreed period (long-term)” it stated. The association report also appreciates the solar PV energy projects' spread, indicating that sector growth is not limited to the conventional "hot spots" such as South Africa, Morocco, and Egypt. More countries are now adopting solar initiatives. According to the report, thirty countries across the continent have installed more than 1 MW, 16 countries installed more than 10 MW, and two countries have installed more than 100 MW. The International Energy Agency (IEA) forecasts solar PV will lead new capacity additions in Africa, reaching a total installed capacity of 125 GW by 2030. bird story agency

These women 'stumbled' into farming, today the thriving agripreneurs are feeding entire districts [ Image source: Unsplash] With vague ideas about farming, Faith Mugomba and Yvonne Shumbanhete started out by using spoons for trowels and carrying numerous buckets of water for irrigation. Today, they are feeding entire districts. By Walter Marwizi, bird story agency It's just after 5.30 am, and a blue truck laden with fresh farm produce pulls into Chitima Market, Masvingo. Several market vendors rush to meet it as it slows down to a stop. Four young women donned in white overalls alight from the truck and within fifteen minutes, all of its load of ripe tomatoes is in the hands of the market sellers. With the morning's business over, the four women return to the truck and head back to their farms. One of them is 31-year-old Faith Mugomba. When she failed to get formal employment after graduation, Mugomba opted to get into farming. "It dawned on me that I could not starve in Harare job-hunting while my parents owned an underutilised 20 hectares of land back home in Masvingo," she said. Her journey began with 5 dollars. Mugomba borrowed the equivalent of US$5 to buy data from a friend and spent days researching online about growing horticultural produce. "That is how my farming journey started," she noted. The Mugomba family plot is near Popoteke river, which feeds into Mutirikwi, Zimbabwe's second-largest inland lake. 'When I started, I didn't have any irrigation equipment and would heavy-lift 25-litre buckets daily to water vegetables I planted on a 20-by-10-square-metres of land," she explained. After selling her first products, she bought a second-hand irrigation pump that lessened the back-breaking work. She currently attributes her success to good negotiating skills, but most importantly, the ability to dodge greedy middlemen. "These men robbed us in broad daylight. That is why we saw the need to connect directly with the market, hence our early morning visits to Chitima market," she said. Mugomba represents a new era of farmers in Africa — enterprising young women in their 20s and 30s involved in the entire supply chain, from the farm to the market. These trailblazing young women surf the internet for best farming ideas and practices, connect with the market on mobile phones and market their products on WhatsApp, Facebook and Twitter. Yvonne Shumbanhete (32) is also among these women. When economic hardships forced her to migrate from Zimbabwe, she moved to Botswana, where she married at 19 and was widowed at 21. She then returned to Zimbabwe with her baby and got a job as a janitor before getting employment at a microfinance institution. However, successive COVID-19 lockdowns forced her to start a backyard farming business after her employer suspended all programming. "I was idle at home, and my little income at that moment would not sustain me, especially when it was lockdown after lockdown. That is when I decided to get into farming," she said. "I didn't even have a hoe or shovel. I actually took my dishing spoon from the house and used it as a garden trowel," she added. The seemingly going back-to-basics backyard gardening response unexpectedly launched her seedling business which has now expanded and earned her a place in a ZimTrade Female Exporter programme. ZimTrade is a national body which seeks to develop Zimbabwe companies with products that can be exported to other countries. Under the Female Exporter programme, the organisation is trying to specifically develop selected Zimbabwe women with the potential to join the export market. Reflecting on her journey, Shumbanhete said: "I just bought one packet of seeds in town and I came, I nursed it, then I took what I wanted to plant, I then went on a WhatsApp group and said I got some seedlings for Covo (vegetable)." "I had so many people asking for the seedlings and others were inquiring about other seeds that I didn't have. I realised there was a business opportunity in that, and that's when I decided to go back to the shop and get assorted seeds," she added. Shumbanhete has since moved her business from her backyard to a farm 50 kilometres from Masvingo. She sells seedlings to farmers and herbs to supermarket chains, hotels, universities, and colleges. She has parsley, coriander fennel, mint, aloe vera, lemongrass, garlic chives, sweet basil and cassava in stock. Boosted by knowledge gained from her recent training, she has also started value-adding her products by drying vegetables containing herbs and is making preparations to venture into the spices business. Her next step: getting her products onto supermarket shelves. bird story agency

Farmers irrigating a maize farm. Photo : Edwin Nyirongo Journalists, traditional leaders, and the government are supporting Malawi's farmers as the country tackles food insecurity by encouraging climate-smart farming techniques. By Edwin Nyirongo, bird story agency. Wongani Munthali remembers the good old days when farming was the emblem of success in northern Mzimba, Malawi. "Life was good in farming, and I never dreamed about looking for employment. In fact, those in employment came to me looking for money," he said. With an ample harvest of maize, groundnuts and tobacco from his farm, he would sell the surplus for income. Munthali was a wealthy, content farmer. "If you see these cows, goats, the ox-cart and even my house, they are from farming income," he said. Today, Munthali is a disillusioned man. After experiencing several losses in recent years, he sees agriculture as "a disaster.' The first problem, he says, is the unpredictable rains. "They come at a time they want and stop at their own time. What do you expect from our farming which relies on rain-fed agriculture? What is more painful is that when the rains come, they destroy crops. A season ago, most of my crops were swept away as there were floods all over my area." he explained. And that is not all. "After the floods came drought which made the remaining crops wither," added Munthali. Malawi has been experiencing the devastating effects of climate change. Ever since severe tropical storm Chedzwa hit the country in January 2015, killing 104 people, the country has experienced an increase in the number of tropical cyclones. In 2022 alone, the country experienced widespread floods caused by tropical storms Ana, Idai and Gombe. The floods caused death, mass displacement, drowned livestock, and submerged crop fields. Agriculture is the most important sector in Malawi's economy. It makes up around 36 per cent of the country's gross domestic product and nearly 70 per cent of its foreign exchange earnings. It's also the highest employer, with 80 per cent of Malawians working in the sector. The biggest foreign exchange earner is tobacco. Other major crops are tea, coffee, sugar and cotton. Farmers planting trees during a tree planting session. Photo : Edwin Nyirongo Agriculture in Malawi is mostly rain-fed, making farmers vulnerable to weather variability and climate change impacts. Even the government has no magic bullet to solve this problem. Sandram Maweru, the principal secretary in the Ministry of Agriculture, says there is nothing the country can do about climate change apart from encouraging farmers to adopt new farming methods. "If we cannot farm, we will collapse as a country because our economy relies on agriculture. As such, if we decide to continue, climate-smart- agriculture is the only way," he said. Maweru adds that as much as the government emphasises the need to use irrigation farming methods, it has to be in tandem with climate-smart agriculture. "I am talking about irrigation farming without diesel engines because they pollute the air. Everything has to be done naturally and that will help increase agricultural productivity," he said. Farmers Union of Malawi (FUM) president Frighton Njolomole says most farmers are now adopting smart agriculture, intercropping and crop rotation. Njolomole also says farmers participate in land and catchment restoration activities, so that farming is not heavily affected. "We have also been encouraging farmers to plant trees around their gardens. This will help to reduce the impact of climate change. Luckily, they understand this considering the reduced yield they have been realising lately," he said. The climate change disaster has prompted the media to intervene. The Association of Environmental Journalists was formed to promote science and environmental communication in Malawi. Its president, Mathews Malata, says the country is making gains in the fight against climate change. "There are things we have done better to fight climate change. But there are some areas we need to improve. But this can be achieved if we accept that climate change is real. We have seen increased interest in scaling irrigation farming in Malawi, which is good. We are also doing a lot on forest restoration, but we should not relax because there are many things to be done," he said. "There is massive deforestation in Malawi caused by charcoal-making and firewood, as only few people are using electricity," Malata added. The country has plenty of water in Lake Malawi and the Shire River. As such, Malata appreciates the Shire-Valley Transformation Programme, the country's biggest irrigation project that will enhance agricultural output. The country is also turning to medium-scale irrigation projects that can more easily be run by groups of farmers, while crop diversification is another key government initiative. Traditional leaders, like Paramount Chief M'mbelwa of Mzimba, have also risen to the challenge of ensuring that farmers adopt new farming techniques. M'mbelwa engages his community in climate-smart agriculture adaptation and monitors how farmers respond to the messaging. "They come to me and complain about low harvest despite applying fertilisers. The problem is not the fertiliser or soil. It is climate change which they need to deal with. It's new agricultural practices that can minimise the effects," he said. Earlier in the year, the African Development Fund approved a US$20.2 million grant to support 300,000 farmers in Malawi. The farming households were provided 2,500 tons of climate-smart certified cereal, legume seeds, and 70,000 tons of fertilizer. In October 2022, the government rolled out a World-Bank-funded matching grant of US$160 million to farmers to enhance climate-smart agricultural practices. The IMF, in November 2022, also approved a disbursement of US$88 million to Malawi to mitigate the impact of the food shock. Wongani Munthali hopes that with these initiatives to support farmers, he will reclaim his former glory as the "well known, successful farmer" in Mzimba. bird story agency

Women's groups are conserving Kenya's ancient Kakamega Forest by transitioning households from the three-stone cooking method to energy-saving stoves. It's part of a carbon fund initiative. Nathan Ombuni, bird story agency For Brenda Luhombo, a resident of Ivakale village in Western Kenya, living close to Kakamega Forest meant unlimited access to firewood and charcoal. She could easily buy it from the illegal loggers who walked right past her door - to and from the forest. But all that changed in 2019 when she finally installed an energy-saving stove. "I used to spend 200 shillings (US$1.60) per day on firewood and 2,000 shillings (US$16) on charcoal every week, but since the stove installation in my kitchen, I spend only 100 shillings on firewood which lasts up to one week. The forest management sells us firewood from trees that have dried up," said Luhombo. Kakamega is Kenya's only tropical rainforest and is believed to be a remnant of the ancient Guineo-Congolian rainforest that once spanned the continent. The country has been battling to conserve the forest in the face of pressure from surrounding villages. "The energy-saving stove is very efficient. When you cook in the morning, you will still find embers of flame to use for cooking in the evening. This is much better than the traditional cooking stones where I used to look for firewood daily and for every meal," Luhombo added. According to Global Forest Watch, from 2001 to 2021, Kakamega lost almost three thousand hectares, an 8.2% decrease in tree cover and equivalent to some 1.37 million tons in carbon dioxide emissions. High firewood and timber demand by neighbouring communities was largely responsible. Today, Luhombo is saving money and the forest. And it's thanks to a cook stove project started by a local women's group. "Since this project started, the trips the locals used to make to the forest to get firewood have reduced. The stoves use less energy than the traditional three stones used for cooking. To a bigger percentage, we have reduced the degradation of the Kakamega forest," said Berita Mideva, secretary of the Valonji Women Group. Comprising 11 women and four men, Valonji Women Group has been producing and installing energy-saving stoves in communities around Kakamega Forest for over ten years. "In 2010, we were approached by Eco2librium company, asking us to help in the conservation efforts to save the Kakamega Forest from extinction. This was because of the increased illegal wood harvesting and climate change," Mideva explained. Eco2librium is based in Kakamega town that develops and distributes cookstoves and renewable-energy products to reduce the demand for wood fuel from the forest. Mideva says they were required to mould the energy-saving stoves as per the design given to them by Eco2librium, after which the company was to buy and install them within the community. John Luseno, the senior manager at Eco2librium, says they started working on the energy-saving stoves project by establishing a system that could be adopted by the community and conserve the forest. "We approached the women groups since women can easily go into other women's kitchens to advertise the energy-saving jikos and install them," said Luseno "Eco2librium advanced us an interest-free loan of Ksh400,000 (US$3,200), which we used to build a warehouse for storing the stoves we make in readiness for sale. They then gave us another loan of Ksh200,000 (US$1,600), which we used to construct an energy-saving and modern kiln for firing the stoves," said Mideva. Mideva explained they buy a canter of clay at Ksh4000 (US$32) and produce at least 400 stoves after moulding. When the stoves are ready, Eco2librium buys each at Ksh220 (US$1.76), which translates to a profit of around Ksh80,000 (US$636) per canter for the group. "Besides saving the forest, our members have been empowered economically. With the money we get, we have taken our children to school up to the university and fend for our families," said Mideva. Besides Valonjii Women Group, the project works with 11 other women groups who produce and install stoves in surrounding regions. "We buy the stoves from the women groups and take them to our office where we install unique codes that help us to track its movement up to the user level where our installers move around the households selling them at a subsidised price of Ksh160," said Luseno "Our installers are spread across the Western region where they offer free installation of the jikos as it's a subsidy from a carbon fund. We want everyone to have the stoves and save the forest from degradation," he added. For every stove installed, the installer receives Ksh280 (US$2.3). As of December 31st 2022, 150,814 stoves had been installed in over 80,000 households in Kakamega, Vihiga, Bungoma, Busia, Nandi, Siaya and Kisumu counties. Carbon funds place a financial value on carbon emissions, allowing companies wishing to offset their own emissions to buy carbon credits earned from sustainable projects, like Eco2librium. Chris Amutabi, a natural resource management and conservation expert, who is also the Assistant Director, Research and Monitoring at Eco2librium, says the project has helped in the restoration of the Kakamega Forest as well as conserved threatened biodiversity. "Kakamega forest is the home of 33 venomous species of snakes, locals lost lives due to snake bites, but after the project took effect, the cases are rare as no one is disturbing the snake's peace. The forest has over 300 species of butterflies, and their haven has also been preserved," he said. Besides preserving biodiversity, Amutabi adds that "Last year alone, we planted 10,000 indigenous trees in the forest, primarily concentrated in the area where the clay for making energy cooking stoves is harvested." Eco2librium also produces briquettes from carbonised bagasse (activated carbon from sugarcane waste). "We convert sugarcane bagasse into sustainable charcoal as an alternative fuel source to wood charcoal, "said Amutabi. As a result of these initiatives, Eco2librium has been included in the 'Best for the World' list, in 2017, 2018, 2020 and 2021 by B Lab, a global organisation that promotes the use of business as a force for good. bird story agency