Namibia - Business creation project

Describe your project or startup in a few words

It is a social enterprise that aims to reduce food waste and hunger by working closely with retail outlets, cafes, bakeries, and farmers to market their leftover but still good food, imperfect fruit and vegetables on an app, and reach a wider market.

01.01 Describe your project in more detail

To limit global temperature rises, we need to tackle the drivers of climate change, globally, almost 40% of food goes to waste annually- WWF- 2014. Food waste accounts for 10% of all human-caused greenhouse gas emissions worldwide. Sulit Foods is a social enterprise that aims to reduce food waste, increase food accessibility, and reduce hunger by working closely with retail outlets, cafes, and farmers to strategically market on an app, their leftover but still good food as well as imperfect fruits and vegetables that would otherwise have gone to waste. Our mission is to increase accessibility of food to the communities through digital marketing. Reduce food waste and contribute to the fight against climate change while promoting a circular economy in African countries. We further create impact indirectly by working together with manufactures, governments to improve legislation, regulation, and education around food waste and climate change.

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

According to research, food waste is responsible for 10% of greenhouse emissions and efforts to tackle it require partnerships with all segments of society including retailers, cafes, farmers and the government. Globally almost 40% of food goes to waste, A study conducted in 2020 concluded that reducing food waste is one measure to curb climate change. In addition, many people in our society go to bed hungry due to a lack of food or the ability to afford to put a meal on the table. Reducing food waste has a huge impact. By redistributing surplus food, we ensure that none was produced in vain.

01.03 Tell us the major benefits and/or advantages of using the product/service that your project intends to provide (at least 3).

Sulit Foods is a social enterprise that aims to reduce food waste, increase food accessibility, and reduce hunger. We promote a circular economy by ensuring that no food is wasted, by redistributing surplus food in the form of surprise bags. We further indirectly create impact by working with manufacturers and governments to improve legislation, regulation, and education around food waste and climate change.

01.04 Please describe who exactly your project is aimed at serving. Who are the targeted beneficiaries?

Our social enterprise targets low to middle-class ordinary Namibians who are unable to afford a decent meal as well as ordinary Namibians who are committed to sustainability and would like to contribute to the good cause. for instance, 1. The mother trying to put food on the table daily, but can’t afford the fully priced items. 2. The college student who is too lazy to cook a meal from scratch 3.The corporate girlie that is too busy chasing her career but still needs a meal at the end of the day.

01.05 When did you start working on your project?

2024-02-11

01.06 How many other partners are associated with your business venture?

2

01.07 Among the other partners, how many are female?

1

01.08 Please describe the profile of each of the other partners (skills, experience, etc.)

Monika Sakaria(Founder): I am a 29-year-old from Walvis Bay with a desire to make an impact in my community, I am passionate about the environment, and living sustainably (recycling, reusing, reducing) She has a Bachelor of Logistics and Supply Chain Management and 8 years operations experience in retail, warehousing sectors. Ndeya Taapopi is a software developer with 5 years of experience. He equally wants to make an impact on the community.

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

https://impartial-azalea-h9p0ts.mystrikingly.com/

01.10 Which industry best describes your project?

h) IT (digital services, equipment and software)

02.01.01 My project contributes to the No poverty goal

2

02.01.02 No poverty - Justification

02.02.01 My project contributes to the Zero hunger goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.02.02 Zero hunger - Justification

Sulit Foods is a social enterprise that aims to reduce food waste, increase food accessibility, and reduce hunger by working closely with retail outlets, cafes, and farmers to strategically market on an app, their leftover but still good food as well as imperfect fruits and vegetables that would otherwise have gone to waste. Our mission is to increase accessibility of food to the communities through digital marketing. Reduce food waste, increase food accessibility to the needy, and contribute to the fight against climate change while promoting a circular economy in African countries.

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

3

02.03.02 Good health and well-being - Justification

02.04.01 My project contributes to the Quality education goal

3

02.04.02 Quality education - Justification

02.05.01 My project contributes to the Gender equality goal

3

02.05.02 Gender equality - Justification

02.06.01 My project contributes to the Clean water and sanitation goal

2

02.06.02 Clean water and sanitation - Justification

02.07.01 My project contributes to the Affordable and clean energy goal

2

02.07.02 Affordable and clean energy - Justification

02.08.01 My project contributes to the Decent work and economic growth

3

02.08.02 Decent work and economic growth - Justification

02.09.01 My project contributes to the Industry innovation and infrastructure

3

02.09.02 Industry innovation and infrastructure - Justification

02.10.01 My project contributes to the Reduced inequalities goal

3

02.10.02 Reduced inequalities - Justification

02.11.01 My project contributes to the Sustainable cities and communities goal

3

02.11.02 Sustainable cities and communities - Justification

02.12.01 My project contributes to the Responsible consumption and production goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.12.02 Responsible consumption and production - Justification

Sulit Foods is a social enterprise that aims to reduce food waste, increase food accessibility, and reduce hunger by working closely with retail outlets, cafes, and farmers to market on an app strategically, their leftover but still good food as well as imperfect fruits and vegetables that would otherwise have gone to waste.

02.13.01 My project contributes to the Climate action goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.13.02 Climate action - Justification

To limit global temperature rises, we need to tackle the drivers of climate change, globally, almost 40% of food goes to waste annually- WWF- 2014. Food waste accounts for 10% of all human-caused greenhouse gas emissions worldwide. Efforts to tackle it requires partnerships with all segments of society including retailers, cafes, restaurants, farmers, and the government. Sulit foods is working together with retailers, farmers, governments, and society to limit food waste by increasing food accessibility through digital marketing for the unsold food.

02.14.01 My project contributes to the Life below water goal

2

02.14.02 Life below water - Justification

02.15.01 My project contributes to the Life on land goal

3

02.15.02 Life on land - Justification

By reducing food

02.16.01 My project contributes to the Peace justice and strong institutions goal

2

02.16.02 Peace justice and strong institutions - Justification

02.17.01 My project contributes to the Partnerships for the goal

6

02.17.02 Partnerships for the goal - Justification

Food waste accounts for 10% of all human-caused greenhouse gas emissions worldwide. Efforts to tackle it requires partnerships with all segments of society including retailers, cafes, restaurants, farmers, and the government. Sulit foods is working together with retailers, farmers, governments, and society to limit food waste by increasing food accessibility through digital marketing for the unsold food.

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

2

05.02 The product/service we envision creating represents an entirely new type of product/service.

4

05.03 The product/service we envision creating could be described as a new technology.

3

05.04 The product/service we envision creating is an improvement on an existing product or service.

2

05.05 The product/service we envision creating could be described as an extension of a range of products or services.

4

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

3

05.07 The product/service we envision creating is a new version of an old product/service.

1 - Strongly Disagree

05.08 Justification

We live in a digital era, where every second person has access to a smartphone and the internet. This has made marketing of goods and products easier and has presented the opportunity for retailers to reach more people with their marketing campaigns. We aim to use an app which is easy to download and use that anyone from all works of life can use to conveniently get access to what’s on special at their nearest shop and make a purchase directly from the app. Their order is then prepared and delivery can be arranged or they go pick up.

05.09 Who are your main potential competitors and what makes you stand out from them?

Our main competitors will be the shop owners themselves and what they decide to do with their left overs, for example, they may decide to give it straight to charity instead of reselling it in the form of surprise bags via our app. Either way we are doing it for a good cause.

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

By building my business's social media presence from scratch is empowering other female entrepreneures to follow their dreams.