Lessons Learned // Connecting Companies and Environmental Resources: Knowledge Products Gathered Along the We For Food Initiative
Over a series of four-year, Water and Energy for Food, an international initiative, targeted small middle-sized enterprises working along the water-energy- food nexus. Check out the knowledge products that depict the practical nature of nexus, how the collaboration of the development sector and the private sector has increased economic and social sustainability, and how global donor initiatives can maximize impact.
Water and Energy for Food (WE4F)...
...is the world’s first multi-donor initiative that worked on all levels of the water-energy- food nexus (local, national, regional, and global). Financed by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), the European Union (EU), the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Government of the Netherlands, the Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation (Norad), the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida), and the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID). Through innovation calls centered on the nexus, WE4F supported small-middle sized enterprises with technical and financial assistance to diversity and grow their innovative ideas.
Throughout the four-years initiative, connections between farmers, businesses, investors, governments, researchers, and other stakeholders increased their dialogue and made substantial actions towards more sustainable agricultural production and more efficient food value chains.
Some of these gains are shown through a series of knowledge products that were created along the journey. They showcase various collaborative efforts and achievements, within agriculture water management & irrigation, energy efficiency and productive use of energy, circular economy & biomass, and digital innovations. All knowledge products can assist anyone excited to learn how theoretical nexus concepts can be translated into practical actions that go beyond the policy level.
Discover the Knowledge Products Below:
- Water and Energy for Food GIZ Subpage: General Overview of the GIZ implemented portion of the WE4F Initiative
- Innovator Compendium (PDF Attached): Detailed descriptions of business models and impacts made within WE4F and its partners across 15 African countries.
- Technology Compendium (PDF Attached): Showcases a variety of technologies in East and West Africa, that were scaled and disseminated along the nexus gradient.
- We For Food Website: Provides information on innovations from all regional hubs, past and upcoming events, and general overview of the We For Food international initiative.
- Technical Guide for Hydroponics in Arid and Semi-Arid Regions (PDF Attached): Collaborative effort of GIZ, WFP, Turkana Basin Institute, and Hydroponics Africa Ltd which covers aspects of technical design, economics, and even capacity building.
- Walk-In Cold Rooms, A Practitioner’s Technical Guide (PDF Attached): Covers design and operation of walk-in cold rooms in off-grid and unreliable grid situations.
- Market Guide for ESCOs for energy efficiency in Uganda (PDF Attached): The report explores market opportunities, regulatory frameworks for businesses, and financing instruments available in Uganda.
- Business models for solar cooling solutions on the shores of Lake Victoria (PDF Attached): Real-life case study of piloting different business models for solar ice production and small-scale cooling solutions with WeTu (SME) and local stakeholders in the fish and horticulture value chains in Western Kenya.
- Training manuals for the production and application of Organic Fertilizers ( PDF Attached): Training manual on the use of various organic fertilizers, production, application, soil health, and regulatory compliance.
E-Learning Modules
- Organic Fertilizer Digital Training: Designed to assist practitioners on the importance of sustainable soil management.
- Green Finance for Agriculture: Designed for people working in the finance sector who want to understand the risks and opportunities of investing in green technologies in agriculture, namely solar irrigation, solar cooling and solar processing.
- Tutorial Videos on Solar Powered Irrigation: Tutorial videos on how to finance, set up, operate and maintain small-scale solar irrigation systems. The videos are available in English, French, and Swahili.
- Solar Irrigation App: The Toolbox on Solar Powered Irrigation Systems (SPIS) is designed to guide practitioners on issues, such as irrigation system efficiency, financial viability, and the sustainable use of water resources.
- WE4F Portal on Energypedia: Provides information on energy and water-efficient technologies as well as increased energy efficiency to enhance agricultural production and value.
- WE4F YouTube Channel: Provides visual representation and awareness about WE4F and activities throughout the initiative. Collection of webinars and interviews from innovators and partners.
National Road Maps for Productive Use Energy Technologies in Agriculture
WE4F, GOGLA: Global Off-Grid Lighting Association, and the national renewable energy associations, developed policy maps.
- National Road Map on Scaling Up Productive Use of Renewable Energy in Kenya (PDF Attached)
- Productive Uses of Renewable Energy (PURE): Uganda Roadmap and Market Assessment (PDF Attached)
- Productive Uses of Renewable Energy (PURE): Ethiopia Roadmap and Market Assessment (PDF Attached)