Uganda - Business creation project

Describe your project or startup in a few words

Jaed-Ethon Clean Energies aims to provide affordable, clean and efficient cooking solutions through the production and distribution of ethanol-powered stoves and ethanol fuel from wasted food thereby reducing deforestation, air pollution and food waste.

01.01 Describe your project in more detail

With this innovative and sustainable cooking solution- the Jaed-Ethon Stoves, which use ethanol as fuel and are designed to be affordable and accessible to the majority of households in Uganda, the project intends to bring clean and efficient cooking energy to those who need it most- the rural and urban poor, as a solution that addresses both the health and environmental impacts of traditional cookstoves. The stoves use ethanol fuel, which is to be produced locally from agricultural (food) waste such as yellow banana, wasted pineapples, sugarcane, cassava, maize, millet and banana peels. The production of ethanol fuel creates jobs and income for the local population, and it does not contribute to deforestation or climate change. The project’s mission is to promote sustainable development and improve people’s lives by reducing dependence on charcoal and firewood with a target to have at least 20,000 households using Jaed-Ethon Stoves within the first year of implementation.

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

Over 95% of households in Uganda still rely on traditional, inefficient and polluting cooking methods such as charcoal and firewood. This highly impacts negatively on the environment, health and economies of the households. Indoor air pollution from traditional cookstoves is a major contributor to respiratory illnesses, particularly among women and children, and is responsible for an estimated 12,000 deaths annually in Uganda. Worse still, the unsustainable use of firewood and charcoal is one of the main drivers of deforestation in the country, where about 49,200 hectares of tree cover are lost per year leading to climate change and loss of biodiversity. There is also limited access to alternative clean energy sources such as electricity and liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), which are often expensive and not widely available in rural areas. This leaves a large portion of the population without access to clean and efficient cooking energy, which is crucial for their health and livelihoods.

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

The production of ethanol fuel and stoves creates jobs and income for the local population, and it does not contribute to deforestation or climate change. Decrease in food waste as a result of food utilization in the production of ethanol and the residues are used as fertilizers in farms. Using the Jaed-Ethon Energies products does not affect the environment, health of users and economies of the households due to limited indoor air pollution. The products are affordable, highly effecient and easy to use.

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

The rural and urban poor households in the slums who entirely depend on firewood and charcoal for cooking. The secondary beneficiaries are those to be employed in the production and marketing value chain as well as the farmers who will be supplying raw materials for the production unit. The project aims at reaching out to 20,000 households in the first year of operation.

01.05 When did you start working on your project?

2023-12-27

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

4

01.07 Among the other partners, how many are female?

2

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

Dan Kibuuka Kigguli is an Environment Engineer holding a MSc. Civil and Environment engineering, MSc. Natural resources management and a master in project planning and management. He has a working experience of over 9 years. Betty Namusisi is a Medical Doctor by profession with over 6 years of practicing experience in the areas of maternal and child health as well as general community healthy. Ritah Zalwango holds a bachelors degree in procurement and logistics management with over 8 years of field experience. Henry S. Mwesigwa is a community development worker with over 10 years of experience in social work and community development.

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

01.10 Which industry best describes your project?

a) Energy (equipment, services, sustainable energy and fuel)

02.01.01 My project contributes to the No poverty goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.01.02 No poverty - Justification

It creates jobs and incomes for the local population involved in the production and marketing value chains. The project also creates a health and safe environment for all to thrive thereby by reducing paying medical and treatment bills for sickness associated to the project operations.

02.02.01 My project contributes to the Zero hunger goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.02.02 Zero hunger - Justification

The project supports environment conservation and vegetation cover protection. This helps to attract rainfall for the food crops to grow as well as for other production activities. Fertile soils are maintained for food production.

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

7 - Strongly Agree

02.03.02 Good health and well-being - Justification

The cleaner and emission free cooking using ethanol fuel improves the health of woman and children, and entire households.

02.04.01 My project contributes to the Quality education goal

5

02.04.02 Quality education - Justification

The project provides an enabling environment for all to learn where people are health, without hunger and at the same time economically stable to overcome challenges.

02.05.01 My project contributes to the Gender equality goal

6

02.05.02 Gender equality - Justification

Jaed-Ethon Clean Energies project will provide opportunities for women and girls in the employment and services' access. Through the use of the products, their health will be safe and it will also attract more males to participate in cooking since there less hazards as compared to using firewood and charcoal.

02.06.01 My project contributes to the Clean water and sanitation goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.06.02 Clean water and sanitation - Justification

All the undertakings within Jaed-Ethon Clean Energies project do not pollute the environment and water sources. The project instead supports protection efforts for the vegetation cover that in turn filters the water.

02.07.01 My project contributes to the Affordable and clean energy goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.07.02 Affordable and clean energy - Justification

The project solutions are far highly affordable. A household incurs a cost which is half the price of traditional cooking options for a meal within their own communities.

02.08.01 My project contributes to the Decent work and economic growth

7 - Strongly Agree

02.08.02 Decent work and economic growth - Justification

The industrialisation aspect of the project will help generate revenue and taxes for the infrastructural growth and household economic development. The people involved will have productive employment and descent work for all.

02.09.01 My project contributes to the Industry innovation and infrastructure

7 - Strongly Agree

02.09.02 Industry innovation and infrastructure - Justification

The project has better and sustainable alternative solutions to the conventional cooking energy and equipment currently on market. The project does not discriminate any one based on any ground whether religion, culture, gender, age or social status.

02.10.01 My project contributes to the Reduced inequalities goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.10.02 Reduced inequalities - Justification

The project balances the equation in product design and addresses issues that are critical to all across different nations. Climate change affects everyone and there is No one superior over the other. All people have a right to a health and descent living.

02.11.01 My project contributes to the Sustainable cities and communities goal

6

02.11.02 Sustainable cities and communities - Justification

By providing affordable and accessible clean energy cooking products, the cities are safe for very one to live a health life and advance the sustainable development agenda.

02.12.01 My project contributes to the Responsible consumption and production goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.12.02 Responsible consumption and production - Justification

The project intends to use both fresh and wasted food in the production of ethanol and the residues are used as fertilizers in the farms. This helps to recycle and reuse the materials for maximum utilization. The production process does not pollute the environment.

02.13.01 My project contributes to the Climate action goal

6

02.13.02 Climate action - Justification

Promotion of renewable energy use is at the heart of this project and all efforts are geared combating climate change and it's effects. The project is cautious about carbon emission reduction in all the dealings.

02.14.01 My project contributes to the Life below water goal

4

02.14.02 Life below water - Justification

02.15.01 My project contributes to the Life on land goal

6

02.15.02 Life on land - Justification

One of the major causes of loss of vegetation cover and forests is the use of firewood and charcoal as source of energy for cooking. By project design and commitment, there is a high affection to the protection and management of forests. Air pollution management is given priority and responsible production is highly attended to.

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

4

02.16.02 Peace justice and strong institutions - Justification

02.17.01 My project contributes to the Partnerships for the goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.17.02 Partnerships for the goal - Justification

This project can not work in isolation but requires the efforts of different stakeholders to achieve the desired goals. Synergy is key and we plan to invest in relationship building and making partnerships that significantly matter from the lowest to the highest point of the pyramid. Citizens, Local leaders, religious leaders, cultural leaders and government, corporate companies, foundations and non government organizations are all important and shall be engaged for a common agenda.

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

1 - Strongly Disagree

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

2

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

6

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.

6

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

7 - Strongly Agree

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

6

05.08 Justification

The project will use a relatively low cost to start without compromising the quality of outputs. Sourcing raw materials from the local population will be given priority. Loaning mechanism to support acquisition of the products shall be developed and adopted based on the prevailing circumstances.

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

Bukona Agro processors Limited and Kakira Sugar Works Limited. Jaed-Ethon Clean Energies project approach is to focus on the rural and urban poor households in slums who are the most at risk. The project plans to engage them and offer products at a subsidized cost in order to make the products more affordable. Training and community awareness creation will go hand in hand with the distribution of the products. Distribution agents will be recruited to ease access to the products and customer support services. But also the greatest percentage of ethanol produced at Kakira Sugar Works Ltd is consumed within the company thereby leaving a high market demand for clean energy cooking solutions.

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

Launching climate justice clubs in schools. • Tree planting. • Climate advocacy • Climate education Train farmers on sustainable and ecologically beneficial methods of farming, among other agricultural activities. • Making bio-fertilizers. • Establishing of research trials.