Kenya - Business creation project

Describe your project or startup in a few words

Our coconut project will repurpose waste products from the coconut fruit into environmentally friendly charcoal briquettes from the shell, coir products and cocopeat for agricultural use from the husks. The aim is to reduce waste while creating jobs.

01.01 Describe your project in more detail

The coconut industry is one of the most under-tapped sectors in Kenya.The coconut industry is currently contributing around Kes. 12 billion in GDP, however the industry has a potential of more than Kes.30 billion per annum in GDP.In Kenya, coconut production is carried out in the coastal counties of Kwale, Kilifi, Mombasa, Lamu and Tana River with over 200,000 acres of land under coconut production. With an average acreage yield of 7,000 fruits per annum, the annual total is about 1.4billion fruits. the husk and shell constitutes around 62-66% of the coconut fruit which is not utilized and hence considered as waste.Our project seeks to utilize this resource by converting the shell into charcoal briquettes which can then be sold as a cheaper and cleaner source of energy.The husks will be recycled to produce coir for multipurpose use and cocopeat as a byproduct will be sold for agricultural use.The project will create job opportunities along the value chain hence improving livelihoods.

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

The project aims to address two challenges. One is to combat climate change by reducing the amount of greenhouse gases released to the atmosphere by decaying agricultural waste or produced during destruction of agricultural waste through burning.By ensuring that the husks and shells are recycled into other useful products, we shall be reducing the need for the farmers and vendors to burn which releases Carbon monoxide into the atmosphere.Carbon briquettes will provide an alternative to charcoal reducing deforestation .Two is to improve livelihoods for the coastal communities by creating job opportunities along the value chain through employment of aggregators, employment of locals as part of the production staff and creating an extra source of income through the coconut by-products. Most of these jobs will be preserved for women and youth.

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

1.Briquettes are a cheaper and cleaner source of fuel as they have a higher thermal value and a low ash content as compared to charcoal. They are also smokeless hence they do not release harmful gases to the atmosphere or even harming the user. 2. Coir products are environmentally friendly as they are biodegradable as much as they are resilient hence produce stronger products giving value for money. 3. Coco peat is a good alternative to soil as it contains antifungal properties making it an excellent seed starter. due to its versatile nature, when mixed with soil, it improves water retentions and also improves drainage and percolation.

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

According to research carried out by KALRO, about 100,000 households in the coastal region depend on coconut for their livelihoods. This represents about 80% of the total coastal population, as such our startup aims at benefiting the 100,000 households both directly or indirectly through job creation along the value chain. About 12% of the Kenya population uses wood charcoal as a source of heat energy, that is about 1.4 million households. Our target is the 1.4 million households in both rural and urban areas adopting use of briquettes or other clean fuel alternatives such as LPG. Due to their versatile nature, our coir products will play a very important role in different sectors such as the construction industry,agricultural industry and textile industry. They will act as a source of raw materials for these industries. Other beneficiaries from the product will be the employees that will benefit from jobs created along the value chain as well as in other value chains.

01.05 When did you start working on your project?

2024-01-01

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

1

01.07 Among the other partners, how many are female?

0

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

Davis who is the co-founder of our start up is an Information Technology graduate. They have a vast experience in marketing and customer care relations. He is also the founder and CEO for Shopnet Graphics limited a branding and marketing firm. He also owns and runs a vehicle spare part and accessories business. With his experience as a founder of two successful businesses, his expertise in this startup is much needed

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

https://www.linkedin.com/in/faith-aiyabei-9b2800139

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

By creating job opportunities, my start up is geared towards ending poverty by contributing to the economic stability of its beneficiaries.

02.02.01 My project contributes to the Zero hunger goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.02.02 Zero hunger - Justification

My startup will be a champion for sustainable agriculture through promotion of its coco peat that improves the soil components enhance increasing production while reducing the need for use of agrochemicals. Since coconut is a source of nutrition, increased production translates directly to the availability of the product for consumption hence improved nutrition and food security.

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

Through job creation, people are able to access better health services improving their well being. By encouraging use of briquettes, there is reduced health risks to the users as they are not exposed to the dangerous fumes produced by other fuel sources such as paraffin, charcoal or wood.

02.04.01 My project contributes to the Quality education goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.04.02 Quality education - Justification

My startup will continue to train its beneficiaries on the importance of clean energy and sustainable agriculture. It will also promote learning opportunities for its staff by ensuring the attend career improvement courses.

02.05.01 My project contributes to the Gender equality goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.05.02 Gender equality - Justification

My startup will be an equal employment champion ensuring that there are no biases when it comes to employment.

02.06.01 My project contributes to the Clean water and sanitation goal

6

02.06.02 Clean water and sanitation - Justification

While my startup does not directly involve itself in matters water and sanitation, as part of our Good Manufacturing Practices, we shall adhere to ensuring that our premises hold the highest sanitation practices while ensuring that we use water resources sustainably.

02.07.01 My project contributes to the Affordable and clean energy goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.07.02 Affordable and clean energy - Justification

Our briquettes are aimed at ensuring that there is clean and affordable energy for all.

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

My startup has a plan in place that will ensure that the business is sustainable in the long run hence creating jobs continuously. We also have policies in place that guide us on employment ensuring that we practice good employment. We also Practice Good Manufacturing practices that ensure that the workplace is decent and safe for all employees.

02.09.01 My project contributes to the Industry innovation and infrastructure

6

02.09.02 Industry innovation and infrastructure - Justification

Our startup is geared towards promoting sustainable industrialization through production of innovative products.

02.10.01 My project contributes to the Reduced inequalities goal

5

02.10.02 Reduced inequalities - Justification

Whereas my startup does not directly reduce inequalities among countries, i plays an important role in reducing the inequalities among people which in the long run will reduce inequalities among countries when each country is able to readily access basic needs.

02.11.01 My project contributes to the Sustainable cities and communities goal

6

02.11.02 Sustainable cities and communities - Justification

My startup contributes to the improvement of the resilience and sustainability of the farming communities in the coastal region of Kenya.

02.12.01 My project contributes to the Responsible consumption and production goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.12.02 Responsible consumption and production - Justification

My startup plays and important role in the coconut circular economy by ensuring that the waste products are recycled in into useful products reducing wastage while generating income.

02.13.01 My project contributes to the Climate action goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.13.02 Climate action - Justification

By recycling the husks, we are combating release of greenhouse gases that would have been released had they been left to decay or gases that would have been released if they had been destroyed through burning. Briquettes from the shell are a cleaner, cheaper and sustainable alternative to charcoal since it has a higher thermal value. Use of coconut shell briquettes also prevents deforestation which is good for our forests as they are one of the main fighters of climate change through carbon sinking.

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

4

02.15.02 Life on land - Justification

My startup combats desertification by discouraging deforestation though use of coconut briquettes. It also encourages reforestation by encouraging planting of coconut trees which in turn will improve the coastal biodiversity.

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

7 - Strongly Agree

02.16.02 Peace justice and strong institutions - Justification

Our startup will work to promote peaceful and inclusive societies by encouraging peaceful co-existence in our areas of business. We shall also build a just and cohesive team in our business.

02.17.01 My project contributes to the Partnerships for the goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.17.02 Partnerships for the goal - Justification

Our startup will thrive on fostering partnerships with other players in the value chain ensuring sustainability in the long run.

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

5

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.

6

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.

6

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

5

05.08 Justification

The briquette technology is not new in Kenya, the use of coconut briquettes is a new version that has not been explored hence our interest in this venture. The adoption of briquettes is also on the rise in Kenya and with the sensitizations on climate action, we project that there will be increased adoption for the same. The coir products currently in Kenya are imported therefore, venturing into coir making is one of the ways of promoting Buy Kenya, Build Kenya strategy.

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

Our main competitors are other briquette makers from other products such as from charcoal dust, saw dust and other agricultural waste and Importers of briquettes. While they present significant competition, our product will be of higher quality as it will be sourced from sustainable sources as compared to sawdust and charcoal dust that require tree felling to happen. Coconut briquettes will also be smokeless due to the carbonization process before moulding. The other advantage of coconut briquettes is the nice scent it produces due to the oils in the shell as compared to other briquettes. We anticipate taking advantage of local manufacturing to edge out imported coir products. By working with farmers, we will be able to out compete Kenyan manufacturers while creating more impact.

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

None