Danida Green Business Partnerships / Danida Market Development Partnerships

#CitiesFitForPeople: Earlier this week, we had the pleasure of hosting Marianne Toftgaard and Lars Christian from the Danida Green Business Partnerships / Danida Market Development Partnerships (DGBP). The team got a first-hand experience of the progress of the "Circular Economy for Household Organic Waste (CE4HOW) Project" in Kakamega. DGBP is supporting the initiative that's implemented by Practical Action in Kenya in partnership with Regen Organics and the County Government of Kakamega. On Monday, Marianne and Lars had wide-ranging discussions with key personnel of the project implementing partners in Nairobi, including our Country Director Susan Maina. On Tuesday, they were in Kakamega where they met informal waste handlers, county government officials and households adopting sustainable practices like waste segregation at source. They also visited Regen Organics upcoming waste recycling plant in Matawa that will incorporate organic waste from 15,000 households. CE4HOW aims to create a viable business model for household organic waste that reduces greenhouse gas emissions, improves waste services, and transforms the lives of informal waste workers. Thank you to everyone who participated in the visit including the CE4HOW team benon wasonga, Daniel Mwakha, Noreen Chebet and Trizzah Abuya. We also thank key county officials and other partners. #DGBP, #Danida, #dkaid Learn more about the project: https://lnkd.in/dNKmXdeV Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Denmark Stephan Schönemann Denmark in Kenya

Last November 14, the More with Less in the Philippine Coconut Industry (MWL) project partners turned over a coconut nursery in Brooke’s Point, Palawan to the Rizal Farmers Multipurpose Cooperative (RFMPC) with over 100 members. The nursery, which operates as a demo farm as well, is the second to be established under the project. MWL is supported by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Denmark through the Danida Green Business Partnerships / Danida Market Development Partnerships and is implemented by PBSP with Lionheart Farms Philippines, BaiAni Foundation, and the Philippine Coconut Authority. The first was established in Bataraza, Palawan and turned over to the Iwahig Coconut Farmers Organization (ICFO). “We are happy that the project provided not only the demo farm and the nursery but the training to take care of them," said Grace Oblian of RFMPC. The nurseries are expected to generate thousands of high-quality coconut seedlings and augment the limited supply in Palawan due to the drought earlier in the year. RFMPC and ICFO will be able to earn from the sale of seedlings to help them sustain the operations.

A big boost for waste managers in coastal Kenya as WWF-Kenya donates an 11-tonne truck to the Pwani Circular Economy Association. The donation, made on November 15 under the Danida Market Development Partnership: Waste to Value Project, is set to significantly enhance plastic waste collection and management in the region. This critical resource will empower over 700 trained waste managers and grassroots groups, improving livelihoods and bolstering environmental stewardship in Mombasa, Kilifi, Kwale, Tana River, Taita Taveta, and Lamu counties. The project, launched in 2020, has focused on building organizational capacity, strengthening the plastic waste value chain, establishing market linkages, and supporting legal frameworks. These efforts have culminated in the successful formation of the Pwani Circular Economy Association (PCEA), a key player in sustainable waste management. Supported by the County Government of Mombasa and partners such as Hand in Hand Eastern Africa, Young Women Christian Association, Voluntary Service Overseas (VSO), PAKPRO Kenya,Mr. Green Trading Africa Kenya Ltd. and Marine Resource Development, the initiative underscores WWF-Kenya’s commitment to promoting harmony between people and nature. Jackson Kiplagat, WWF-Kenya’s Head of Conservation, emphasized this commitment, announcing plans for future initiatives to build on the project's success. Funded by the Royal Danish Government through DANIDA and WWF Verdensnaturfonden / WWF Denmark, this milestone reflects a collective effort to reduce plastic waste pollution, protect the natural environment, and support the sustainable development of coastal Kenya.

🍾 🥂 A2i member ENGSKO A/S, has received a multi-million Danish kroner order as part of a Danida-funded project aimed at improving living conditions for farmers in Uganda. “We have just sold a large plant worth two million Danish kroner to the Ugandan company New Kakinga Millers Enterprises Ltd. The agreement was made possible with the help of Access2innovation’s employee in Uganda, Yango Azando, who early in the Danida project arranged a meeting between us and the Ugandan mill New Kakinga to coordinate the groundwork for centers with Danish technology that will help Ugandan smallholders get more out of their harvest. That contact developed into the sale of a different type of mill than the one used in the project, but which New Kakinga will use in their own production in southwestern Uganda,” says Henrik Wollesen, CEO of ENGSKO A/S. (Yango and Henrik Wollesen are numbers 2 & 3 from the left in the photo. The others are Visti Møller and Claus Martinsen.) ➡ About the Project The project is called the Integrated Grain Handling Project for Rural Communities in Uganda. Danida Green Business Partnerships / Danida Market Development Partnerships has granted DKK 8.8 million to the association Access2innovation, which coordinates the project. The project aims to improve harvests by combining three Danish technologies, each contributing to increased income for farmers. These include seed improvement from Gl. Buurholt, grain storage from BM Silo, and milling stone technology from ENGSKO A/S. In addition to increasing farmers’ earnings, the project’s 25 grain processing centers are expected to create 500 new jobs, at least half of which will be for women and young people under 25. 🌍 Links in comments for more info😃

Empowering Women: Female Dairy Entrepreneurs Defy Odds in Bangladesh I'm excited to share insights of the transformative journey of the "Pushti Ambassadors Partnership," an initiative empowering female entrepreneurs in Bangladesh. By providing access to Arla's strong commercial distribution network in South-West Bangladesh, we're boosting incomes for 200 female micro-retailers and also supporting SDG 5 on gender equality. These inspiring women, like Sharmin Kabir, are breaking barriers: “In the beginning, many taunted me. Now everyone calls me ‘Pusthi Apa’.” The project "Pushti Ambassador Partnership" between Arla Foods and Bopinc has led to a 33% increase in income for these entrepreneurs and inspired over 4000 women to explore new opportunities. It's a testament to the power of women-run micro-shops in enhancing community nutrition and economic growth. Looking ahead, we'll focus on further strengthening ties with sub-distributors to include even more female retailers and their communities. This initiative is a shining example of resilience, empowerment, and innovation and how to defy odds in Bangladesh by brave female dairy entrepreneurs. Let's continue to support and celebrate these incredible women! Read more about their journey in the Second Annual Yearbook on Women in Dairy published by International Dairy Federation this afternoon. #WomenInDairy #FemaleEntrepreneurship #ArlaBangladesh #SDG5 #PartnershipArlaBopinc #Bopinc #Arlainternationaldairydevelopment #Arlasustainability #DMDP #Arla #DanishMinistryofForeignAffairs

🌱 Regenerative Agroforestry: A Solution to Quang Tri's Coffee Struggle 🌱 In Vietnam’s Quang Tri province, thousands of smallholder farmers depend on coffee for up to 73% of their income. Yet, with more than half of the farms suffering from degraded soils, farmers face declining yields, soil erosion, and increased vulnerability to climate impacts. In collaboration with WWF-Viet Nam and WWF Finland, Slow is driving a game-changing solution: regenerative agroforestry. By integrating trees into coffee farms, this approach revitalizes soils, boosts biodiversity, and helps protect against unpredictable climate challenges. Offering renewed hope for both farmers and the environment. 🌳☕️ Already, 356 smallholder farmers have embraced this transition, supported by training, financial backing, and strategic partnerships through the Danida Green Business Partnerships / Danida Market Development Partnerships (DGBP) under the Prosperous Farmers and Forests Partnership. The potential of this model to revolutionize coffee farming while safeguarding ecosystems is immense, not just in Vietnam, but globally. Let’s build a future where coffee production benefits both people and the planet! 🌍✨ #DGBP #Danida #dkaid #Sustainability #Agroforestry #Coffee #SustainableCoffee #CoffeeIndustry #ClimateAction #Biodiversity #GreenEconomy 🔗 Read the full article here https://lnkd.in/dbWEsRwk