Zambia - Startup under 3 years old

Describe your project or startup in a few words

The DEAL is an initiative dedicated to empowering vulnerable groups with knowledge in sustainable nature conservation, mitigation best practices and digital literacy. We offer on-site and online learning providing tools needed to conserve our environment.

01.01 Describe your startup in more detail

The Digital and Eco Accessible Learning (DEAL) is pleased to submit this proposal for Zambia’s green growth, digital and eco acceleration efforts. Our inclusive, demand driven and multi-sectorial led approach will increase access to nature conservation and mitigation knowledge, digital literacy, overcome nature learning segregation and contribute to the growth of the national green economy. The program will empower community nature conservation awareness, expand digital literacy levels and promote community productivity through participatory incubation of SME activities promoting re-use and re-cycling of environmental waste materials to valuable and marketable products. We offer on-site and online learning platforms, focusing on inclusivity to vulnerable groups (Women and youth), particularly SDG number 13 focused on improving education, awareness-raising and human and institutional capacity on climate change mitigation, adaptation, impact reduction and early warning by year 2030.

01.02 What is the main problem you are trying to solve?

The DEAL aims to foster a future where vulnerable groups and individuals are empowered with the knowledge and tools needed to conserve our environment, create sustainable livelihoods, and bridge the digital divide. The current status quo, segregation and divides in access to conservation knowledge exist widely. Formal setups and technical platforms are currently providing eco knowledge, leaving out most informal individuals and vulnerable groups. Thus, the DEAL offers free and easily accessible training in sustainable nature conservation, empowers vulnerable groups and individuals traditionally excluded from conservation knowledge, overcomes knowledge barriers and create an inclusive approach and accelerate access to fundamental knowledge for improved conservation practices, increasing opportunities for green jobs and drive social and economic development. With increasing lack of access to clean and healthy water in communities, our SUPA-SEG model could greatly mitigate the challenge.

01.03 Tell us the major benefits and/or advantages of using the product/service that your startup provides (at least 3).

We are confident the DEAL will make a significant contribution to environmental protection, social and economic development through; • Offering free and accessible training in sustainable nature conservation and social services. • Empower vulnerable groups and individuals traditionally excluded from conservation knowledge. • Close the digital divide and accelerate access to fundamental knowledge for improved conservation practices. • Overcome knowledge barriers and create inclusive learning environments. • Collect data on real-world community environmental practices for analysis and improved mitigation strategies. • Increase opportunities for green jobs to drive social and economic development. • Focuses on sustainable nature conservation best practices. • Encourages incubation of eco-friendly entrepreneurial community initiatives. • Promotes best practices for sustainable water and electricity access through the SUPA-SEG (Solar Powered Self Electric Generating) water model.

01.04 Please describe who exactly your startup’s product/service is aimed at serving. Who are the targeted beneficiaries?

Our primary beneficiaries are individuals generally excluded in the current status quo and face barriers to access traditional means of awareness-raising, climate change mitigation, adaptation, and impact reduction. These include: • Women and girls • Youths • Disabled individuals • Disadvantaged persons • Informal professionals (workers) In its implementation, the DEAL primarily targets vulnerable and disadvantaged groups (i.e. women, youths, disabled persons) especially in rural Zambia. The program also targets persons who normally would not have an opportunity to formal learning as well as busy professionals in urban formal sectors with little or no time to attend formal learning. Generally, our easily accessible, user-friendly digital learning platforms can be accessed and utilized by all across the county, Africa and the globe.

01.05 When was your company established?

2024-06-01

01.06 Are you already selling your product/service?

Yes

01.07 How many other owners are there within your startup?

1

01.08 Among the other owners, how many are female?

1

01.09 Please describe the profile of the other owners within your startup (skills, experience, etc.)

The co-owner of the Digital and Eco Accessible Learning initiative is a dedicated and profound female with keen interest in nature conservation and mitigation efforts. Ms. Masiliso comes with good knowledge, skills and experience in Library and information sciences, digital literacy and civic education. She successfully fulfilled a bachelor of Library and information science with civic education degree from the University of Zambia. She has further gained excellent knowledge in Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) and data analysis through competence certification from the same university. Ms. Masiliso brings a wealthy of over 6 years of industry experience in both private and public sectors. She remains resolute and dedicated to nature cause and to collaboratively while engaging with various stakeholders to achieving the DEAL's goal and objective to foster a future where individuals are empowered with the knowledge and tools needed to conserve 'The Earth, Our Home'.

01.10 If you have a website, a social media page (Facebook, Instagram, Linkedin…), or app, please provide the link(s) here:

https://zedeasylearning.org

01.11 Which industry best describes your project?

i) Communication services (telecommunications, media, interactive services)

02.01.01 My startup contributes to the No poverty goal

6

02.01.02 No poverty - Justification for my startup

The program will empower community nature conservation awareness and promote community productivity through participatory incubation of SME activities promoting re-use and re-cycling of environmental waste materials to valuable and marketable products. The DEAL project will promote sustainable development of community led enterprises and investment through eco-friendly creativity and productivity initiatives. Our integrated and multi-sectorial approach will ensure creative trade and access to markets through partnerships across targeted value chains. Further the project fosters green job opportunities for social and economic development through employment of professional trainers, expert consultants, video editors and creatives, motion picture and graphic designers, developers and drivers among others. By creating multi-sectorial value chains, our initiative empowers households and families with sustainable incomes contributing to Zambia’s green growth and eco acceleration efforts.

02.02.01 My startup contributes to the Zero hunger goal

5

02.02.02 Zero hunger - Justification for my startup

Our project through offering sustainable green jobs for individuals and establishing entrepreneurial initiatives especially in rural areas is providing income generation, a rare opportunity for many households and families today. Thus families are afforded an opportunity of access to decent meals, food security and improved nutrition. Families have access to disposable income for investment in sustainable agriculture, thus contributing significantly to zero hunger and creating food security.

02.03.01 My startup contributes to the Good health and well-being goal

5

02.03.02 Good health and well-being - Justification for my startup

The DEAL through offering sustainable green jobs for individuals and establishing eco-entrepreneurial initiatives and access to markets through partnerships across value chains, especially in rural areas is providing income generation, a rare opportunity for many households and families today. Thus families have the opportunity of access to disposable income for utilization to purchase medicines for the sick, ensure availability of good and health foods, a quality of life and thus promoting well-being for all at all ages.

02.04.01 My startup contributes to the Quality education goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.04.02 Quality education - Justification for my startup

The DEAL offers a unique opportunity for learning and lifelong education. We offer free, on-site training sessions in near target communities, focusing on practical skills in sustainable nature conservation and mitigation best practices. This will be followed by engaging participants in applying their knowledge through conservation activities. We also aim to support eco-friendly entrepreneurial initiatives within local communities. Further, our all-inclusive, free and basic, quality and comprehensive online training courses covering sustainable nature conservation best practices and digital literacy affirm this, particularly SDG number 13 focused on improving education, awareness-raising and human and institutional capacity on climate change mitigation and adaptation. The courses are user-friendly through live and pre-recorded sessions on accessible platforms. Each session, approximately 20 minutes, focuses on active learning and participatory engagement, with a 3 minute exit quiz.

02.05.01 My startup contributes to the Gender equality goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.05.02 Gender equality - Justification for my startup

Generally, women, girls, youths and the disabled are marginalized and excluded from many valuable projects and life changing initiatives. As the DEAL our primary target persons are individuals facing barriers to access traditional means of awareness-raising, climate change mitigation, adaptation, and impact reduction initiatives. Women, girls, the youth and differently abled are the DEAL's focus in its valuable and life changing implementation programs thus achieving sustainable development goal number 05. Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls.

02.06.01 My startup contributes to the Clean water and sanitation goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.06.02 Clean water and sanitation - Justification for my startup

Provided the increasing lack of access to clean and healthy water in many communities, our proposed water initiative aims to develop a nature-powered water and electricity access system utilizing solar-powered pumps and self-hydroelectric generation for human and animal water and electricity supply. The Solar Powered Self-Electric Generating (SUPA-SEG) water model explored could greatly mitigate the current prevailing adverse water and energy challenges for human, animal and other consumption. The model aims to improve water quality and sustainably increase efficiency in water usage as well as providing integrated water resource management across segments. Further, our startup promotes the three 'R' approach of re-duce, re-use and re-cycle in communities, preventing contamination of water systems. Thus our startup greatly contributes to the realization of sustainable development goal number 6, of ensuring availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all.

02.07.01 My startup contributes to the Affordable and clean energy goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.07.02 Affordable and clean energy - Justification for my startup

The DEAL’s proposed Solar Powered and Self-Electric Generating (SUPA-SEG) energy model aims to develop a nature-powered electricity access system utilizing solar-powered water pumps and harness the falling potential of erected water systems to power simple turbines and provide self-hydroelectric generation for human and other energy supply. The SUPA-SEG energy model explored could greatly mitigate the current prevailing adverse energy challenges for human, animal and other consumption. The model utilizes solar energy taped through a curved solar panel with increased retention of both refracted and reflected energy thus creating a fusion of energy force around the curve retained by the panel. The model aims to provide affordable and improve energy quality and sustainably increase the share of renewable energy available to all, thus greatly contributes to the realization of SDG number 7, of ensuring access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all by year 2030.

02.08.01 My startup contributes to the Decent work and economic growth

7 - Strongly Agree

02.08.02 Decent work and economic growth - Justification for my startup

The DEAL startup fosters green job opportunities for social and economic development through employment of professional trainers, expert consultants, video editors, motion picture and graphic designers, front-end and back-end developers and community leaders among others. Further our project will promote sustainable development of community led enterprises and investment through eco-friendly creativity and productivity initiatives. The program will expand digital literacy levels and increase inclusion thus providing opportunities for individuals in economic participation. The community-led SME initiatives promoting the re-use and re-cycling of environmental waste materials to valuable and marketable products will provide endless opportunities especially for the vulnerable groups (women, girls, youth and disabled) for household incomes and green economic growth. Thus, our startup greatly contributes to SDG number 8, of sustained and inclusive decent work for sustainable economic growth.

02.09.01 My startup contributes to the Industry innovation and infrastructure

7 - Strongly Agree

02.09.02 Industry innovation and infrastructure - Justification for my startup

The DEAL’s innovation of the Solar Powered and Self-Electric Generating (SUPA-SEG) water and energy model explored is a masterpiece infrastructure providing a nature powered water and self-generating electricity access system. Utilizing solar-powered water pumps and harnessing the falling potential of erected water systems to power simple turbines, the SUPA-SEG provides self-hydroelectric generation for human, animal and other water and energy supply. This innovation explored could greatly mitigate the prevailing adverse water and energy challenges for human, animal and other consumption. The model utilizes solar energy taped through a curved solar panel with increased retention of both refracted and reflected energy thus creating a fusion of energy force around the curve fully retained by the panel. The model aims to provide affordable and improved water and energy quality and sustainably increase the share of renewable energy in the global energy mix, contributing to SDG number 9.

02.10.01 My startup contributes to the Reduced inequalities goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.10.02 Reduced inequalities - Justification for my startup

Our startup primarily targets individuals generally excluded in the current status quo as beneficiaries. Our initiative greatly reduces existing inequalities by focus on individuals facing barriers to access traditional means of awareness-raising, climate change mitigation, adaptation, and impact reduction. Generally, women, girls, youths and the disabled are marginalized and excluded from many valuable projects and life changing initiatives. In our implementation we primarily target vulnerable and disadvantaged groups (i.e. women, girls, youths, disabled persons) especially in rural Zambia. The program also targets persons who normally would not have an opportunity to formal learning as well as busy professionals in urban formal sectors with little or no time to attend formal learning. Generally, our easily accessible, user-friendly digital learning platforms can be accessed and utilized by all, thereby greatly contributing to the realization of SDG number 10 of reduced inequalities.

02.11.01 My startup contributes to the Sustainable cities and communities goal

6

02.11.02 Sustainable cities and communities - Justification for my startup

Our unique opportunity for learning and lifelong education through our all-inclusive, free and accessible, quality and comprehensive online training courses covering sustainable nature conservation best practices and digital literacy raises awareness for many individuals to participate in creation of green and sustainable cities. Further our startups’ on-site training sessions in near target communities, focusing on practical skills in sustainable nature conservation and mitigation best practices enhances awareness within localities to participate in co-creating our own green and sustainable communities. Our startup also aims to support eco-friendly entrepreneurial initiatives within local communities. Therefore the DEAL initiative contributes greatly to the realization of Sustainable Development Goal number 11 of creating smart cities and inclusive human settlements that are safe, resilient and sustainable.

02.12.01 My startup contributes to the Responsible consumption and production goal

5

02.12.02 Responsible consumption and production - Justification for my startup

Our project helps individuals to think of the earth as our beautiful home. It raises awareness of practices that are detrimental to all our well-being. Through our community engagements and increased nature awareness provided to a wide range of audience through user-friendly online trainings, we emphasize the correct and appropriate usage of the four R’s of Reducing, Reusing, Recycling and Rotting or composing foods and materials, and train individuals how we can all become eco-warriors in our own communities. This ensures a responsible consumption as well as production of foods and materials. Further, our on-site community trainings are followed by workshops on developing and launching creative eco-friendly business initiatives linked to markets. This creates a sustainable pattern that ensures responsible consumption and production contributing greatly to Zambia’s green growth and eco acceleration efforts, thus realizing the sustainable development goal number 12.

02.13.01 My startup contributes to the Climate action goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.13.02 Climate action - Justification for my startup

As the DEAL, we are strongly aware of the Earth as our home. Our startups’ fundamental goal is to supplement awareness efforts for nature conservation, climate change mitigation, adaptation, and impact reduction. The United Nations (UN) report on nature’s dangerous decline at the 7th session of the IPBES meeting in Paris, indicates that there is an unprecedented acceleration extinction rates on threatened species. Our startup greatly raises awareness on practices that are detrimental to our well-being. Through our community engagements and increased nature awareness provided to a wide range of audience through user-friendly online trainings, we emphasize the correct and appropriate usage of the R’s of Re-ducing, Re-using, Re-cycling and Rotting or composing foods and materials. We engage individuals to all become eco-warriors in our own communities. We support eco-friendly business initiatives; this ensures a responsible consumption as well as production of foods and materials.

02.14.01 My startup contributes to the Life below water goal

4

02.14.02 Life below water - Justification for my startup

02.15.01 My startup contributes to the Life on land goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.15.02 Life on land - Justification for my startup

Our community outreach program has designed a strategic partnership with local and traditional leadership to ensure effective use of forests, halt deforestation, restore degraded forests and substantially increase afforestation and reforestation within communities. Realized through sustainable environmentally friendly alternative sources of income for households by empowering communities with the knowledge and tools needed to conserve our environment and create sustainable livelihoods. Our startup promotes development of community led creative enterprises and investment through eco-friendly productivity initiatives that involve re-use and re-cycling of environmental waste materials to valuable products. Our proposed SUPA-SEG water and energy model further affirms this by providing clean, healthy and affordable water and energy to communities, thereby combating deforestation, land degradation and halting biodiversity loss, caused by unsustainable rampart charcoal production.

02.16.01 My startup contributes to the Peace Justice and Strong Institutions goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.16.02 Peace Justice and Strong Institutions- Justification for my startup

A fundamental part of our training courses is on civic education, promoting civil justice and human rights awareness. Our startup ensures a strong strategic partnership with civil organizations, government departments and traditional leadership with the goal of ensuring effective dissemination of critical information to target individual’s especially vulnerable groups (i.e. women, girls, youths, disabled persons). The DEALs co-director being a trained female professional in civic education positions us well for the department of social justice and human rights within our startup. In our community outreach activities, we promote the rule of law, non-discriminatory laws and an increased participation of vulnerable groups in social and economic activities. Our community-led entrepreneur initiatives aim to empower women and girls, youth and disabled persons, significantly reduce abuse and violence and thus promote inclusion, peace and justice for all.

02.17.01 My startup contributes to the Partnerships for the goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.17.02 Partnerships for the goal - Justification for my startup

As the DEAL we believe in fostering strong partnerships to achieve our goals. Our strategic collaboration with civil organizations, government agencies, community leaders and conservation organizations to ensure the most effective integration of experience and technical skills, resource mobilization, long-term support and the ability to propel our activities in Zambia. This project offers a cost-effective and scalable solution to empower communities with the knowledge and skills necessary to engage in sustainable nature conservation and mitigation efforts. By prioritizing vulnerable groups, breaking down knowledge barriers, and promoting green jobs, the program contributes positively to social and economic development and fostering a more sustainable future. Our startup remains open to partnerships in this impactful initiative. By joining with us, you can contribute to a more knowledgeable and empowered citizenry actively engaged in environmental stewardship.

06.01 There are a large number of customers who already use a product/service very similar to the product/service we envision creating.

2

06.02 The product/service represents an entirely new type of product/service.

5

06.03 The product/service could be described as a new technology.

6

06.04 The product/service is an improvement on an existing product or service.

6

06.05 The product/service could be described as an extension of a range of products or services.

5

06.06 The product/service responds to a demand or need that has not been satisfied by other products/services.

7 - Strongly Agree

06.07 The product/service is a new version of an old product/service.

5

06.08 Justification for my startup

The DEAL aims to foster a future where vulnerable groups are empowered with the knowledge and tools needed to conserve our environment, create sustainable livelihoods, and bridge the digital divide. Our startup offers a unique and impactful approach to empowering individuals in communities. Both our free and easily accessible on-site and online trainings on user-friendly platforms offer a unique approach to nature conservation efforts. further our innovation of the Solar Powered and Self-Electric Generating (SUPA-SEG) water and energy model offers a masterpiece infrastructure access system. Utilizing solar-powered water pumps and harnessing the falling potential of erected water systems to power simple turbines, the SUPA-SEG model utilizes solar energy taped through a curved solar panel with increased retention of both refracted and reflected energy thus creating a fusion of energy force around the curve fully retained by the panel. This is an entirely new technological approach.

06.09 Competitive Analysis

Our main potential competitors in nature conservation, awareness-raising, climate change mitigation, adaptation, and impact reduction knowledge provision are existing formal institutions of learning and conservation organizations. These institutions in their current state have limitations in access through tuition and material access fees or a limited reach to vulnerable and most affected individuals by climate change such as women, girls, youth and disabled. Our startup is competitively advantaged through offering free, accessible and user-friendly on-site target communities and online learning platforms. These greatly close the knowledge awareness gap and increase inclusion of segregated groups in the nature challenge. Our other potential competitors are electric and solar pump merchandisers. However, our innovative and sustainable Solar Powered and Self Electric Generating (SUPA-SEG) water and energy model superceeds

11.05 Are you initiating actions within your community to promote the role of female entrepreneurs?

Yes, Through our community-led eco friendly initiatives envisioned to be managed mainly by women and girls in entrepreneur enterprises.