Ugandan company scoops award at COP26

Nov 06, 2021

Sendea Academy in Uganda is a collective of locally-owned SMEs driving up standards and providing training in the off-grid renewables sector.

The winners from Africa are from Uganda, Kenya and the Democratic Republic of Congo.

John Odyek
Journalist @New Vision

COP26 | GLASGOW | UGANDA

Four African climate innovators were named as winners at 2021's Ashden Awards at the global climate summit COP26 in Glasgow, UK. 

Three more of the continent’s low carbon pioneers were announced as runners up.

The Ashden Awards honour pioneering organisations from the UK and low-income countries lowering carbon emissions and building a fairer world.

The function was held on 4th November 2021. World leaders and international organisations have gathered in Glasgow from 1st to 13th November to agree on a global plan for tackling the climate crisis.

The keynote speech at the awards ceremony was given by Costa Rican President, Carlos Alvarado.

Alvarado said that sustainable development goes hand in hand with economic growth, commitment to decarbonisation, promote nature-based solutions to the climate crisis and biodiversity loss challenges we face.

“I do believe the great endeavour of our generation is to abolish fossil fuels. In this pivotal moment for the future of humankind we also need to highlight trailblazing, inspiring efforts to build a better, liveable world for current and future generations. That is what the Ashden Awards are about,” Alvarado said.

The winners from Africa are from Uganda, Kenya and the Democratic Republic of Congo.  

Winners receive grants, publicity and support to grow and replicate their innovation.

YICE Uganda, a grassroots initiative training women, young people and refugees, in regenerative farming techniques, won the Ashden Award for Regenerative Agriculture.

New Energy Nexus Uganda, which provides low-cost clean energy loans and business coaching to rural community-based organisations, won the Ashden Award for Energy Access Innovation.

Mbou Mon Tour from Democratic Republic of Congo won the Ashden Award for Natural Climate Solutions with its unique community-based forest management initiative.

This combines a range of community income generation schemes with the protection of the endangered bonobo great ape.

Kenyan organisation Solar Freeze, providers of sustainable and affordable refrigeration service for food and medicine in refugee camps, won the Ashden Award for Humanitarian Energy.

Africa dominated among the runners up in the awards. Runners up included KOKO Networks - a Kenyan organisation that provides ‘ethanol ATMs’ supplying cleaner cooking fuel made from sugar industry waste. Also in Kenya, the SNV - Kakuma Market Based Energy Access Project supports local clean energy entrepreneurs in Kakuma refugee camp and their local host community, with a focus on cooking and lighting.

Sendea Academy in Uganda is a collective of locally-owned SMEs driving up standards and providing training in the off-grid renewables sector.

The four African winners and three runners up were chosen from over 800 applicants for their work creating resilience, green economies – including jobs and training – and fairer societies.

Climate solutions charity Ashden has been spotlighting and supporting climate and energy innovators in low-income countries and the UK since 2001.

Awards are judged by international specialists on each award category and given to organisations delivering proven, ready-to-scale climate solutions. Ashden works with businesses, non-profits and public sector organisations. 

Harriet Lamb, Ashden chief executive officer said that in this year’s Ashden Awards, African climate pioneers led the way in showcasing bold, brilliant and ground-breaking initiatives across energy innovation, nature-based solutions and sustainable agriculture.

“These Ashden Award winners have shown how societies can reduce emissions while also improving people’s lives,” Lamb said.

Messages from the winners to the COP26 politicians highlighted the urgency of the moment and the solutions that are in place to respond at scale and speed:

Noah Ssempijja, founder and Programme Director at YICE Uganda said that two of the three major causes of climate change are deforestation and intensive agriculture which emits greenhouse gases. “Let us invest in grassroots initiatives to curb down these practices,” Ssempijja said.

Penny Mbabazi Atuhaire the director at Strategic Partnerships, New Energy Nexus Uganda said that the climate crisis requires all hands on deck.

“We need to invest in a diverse range of entrepreneurs with ideas and innovations that will power the clean energy transition, "Atuhaire said.

Dysmus Kisilu the founder of Solar Freeze said that to engage communities and take on the climate crisis we must create new green jobs, invest in skills and training. 

Comments

No Comment


(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});