Kenya - Business creation project

Describe your project or startup in a few words

Alvo Cart is an innovative vending cart solution that has been designed to ensure fruits and vegetable are ever clean and safer to the consumers,and at the same time the cart remain convenient and efficient to vendors

01.01 Describe your project in more detail

Alvo Cart is an innovative vending cart personalized for fruit and vegetable vendors. Each cart are equipped with sufficient storage space for fresh produce, a large display area, a water system for washing fruits and vegetables and waste bin for disposal, made from long-lasting and lightweight structure which has been locally obtained materials, a equipped with a protective sunshade for weather protection. Alvo Cart aims to change traditional method of vending practices by putting at first hygiene, sustainability, and economic empowerment for local vendors.

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

Alvo Cart is designed to address the unhygienic and inefficient practices commonly found among local fruit and vegetable vendors. Traditional method of vending often: produce food contamination due to improper handling by vendors and lack of washing facilities and equipment, food waste scattered around the vending area of work thus creating an unattractive and unhygienic environment, and bad smell resulting from decomposing food material. Also, Vendors get challenge in ensuring a clean and organized vending area, while customers find it hard in accessing fresh and safe produce in the town thus depends on this traditional vendors for the food. By providing an all-inclusive solution by Alvo Cart that includes proper storage area, waste disposal systems, and washing equipment thus it aims to improve hygiene standards on food sold, ensuring the environment is clean and safe, and ensure vendors and customers get the best experience

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

Hygiene: The Alvo Cart will be equipped with a water system that will ensures all fruits and vegetables being sold are thoroughly cleaned. This system will includes a storage tank for clean water and grey water, a washing station for vendors to wash food and for customers to clean their hands By maintaining hygienic working area, the cart will prevent food contamination and the spread of foodborne illnesses, while ensuring that its customers receive fresh and safe food. Maintaining cleanliness will improves public health and build reputation and trustworthiness of the vendors. Waste Management: Alvo Cart comes equipped with waste bins for storage of organic waste and other refuse generated during vending operations. These bins will enable proper waste segregation and disposal, significantly reducing cluttering and environmental pollution. This will help in maintaining a tidy vending area and reduces filthy smells

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

Alvo Cart will mainly serves independent fruit and vegetable vendors in Cities, towns and the surrounding villages. These vendors, who often encounters challenges related to food hygiene, storage place, and adverse weather condition, will benefit significantly from the innovative design and features of the Alvo Cart which will help vendors improve their business operations, attract more customers, and increase their sales and income. Primary Beneficiaries 1. Independent Fruit and Vegetable Vendors: • Improved Hygiene: Vendors will ensure that their food remains clean and free from contamination, due to water system that will for washing fruits and vegetables. • Increased Efficiency: The ample storage space and organized layout of the cart ensure that vendors can store their food safely at night and has enough space to display their produce attractively • Weather Protection: The canopy will protect foods from harsh weather conditions, enabling constant operation regardless of rain

01.05 When did you start working on your project?

2023-07-13

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

1

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.)

Nicholas Ndalila - Has a diploma in aeronatical specilizing in airframes and engines, Is an experienced inventor with wider skills in cad design and supervision of both welding and carpentry work. He is currently the production supervisor and draftsman for Waterbus East Africa here he produces production drawings, supervise workshop floor and lead team of about 30 people who are involved in shipbuilding 2. Brenda Nafula- SHe is graduate of Cooperative university with Bachelor in Cooperative and community Development. She has a lot of experience in sales and marketing

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?

d) Primary commodities (food, drink, household and personal products)

02.01.01 My project contributes to the No poverty goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.01.02 No poverty - Justification

Alvo Cart considerably contributes to the No Poverty goal by creating sustainable job opportunities. Firstly, it provides platform for vendors to establish and grow their businesses, reaching a wider customer base and increasing sales. Additionally, it employs local artisans and suppliers in various responsibilities who, encourages economic activity and supporting small-scale enterprises. Furthermore, Alvo Cart enables youths and women, to become entrepreneurs through education and training, allowing them to break the cycle of poverty and build sustainable livelihoods thus promoting social inclusion and economic empowerment. Finally, Alvo Cart contributes to lasting economic stability within the community by building an expanded and strong economy, decreasing acquaintance external interference while fostering inclusive socio-economic development.

02.02.01 My project contributes to the Zero hunger goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.02.02 Zero hunger - Justification

Alvo Cart will ensures fresh and hygienic food are sold and contributing to the Zero Hunger goal by providing convenient access to nutritious food. This include: 1. Reducing Hunger: It will offer a appropriate way to sell fresh produce, aiding in hunger reduction. 2. Improving Food Security: Will connect local farmers to vendors by ensuring stable supply chain of fresh thus guaranteeing continuous availability of healthy food. 3. Enhancing Nutrition: The water system will guarantees food cleanliness, reducing foodborne illnesses. 4. Supporting Local Economy: It creates job opportunities to youths and women thus financial empowering them thus enabling them accessing healthy food. 5. Promoting Sustainability: Solar energy and locally sourced materials support environmental sustainability which encourages sustainable agricultural methods, which strengthen the effort of food security.

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

1 - Strongly Disagree

02.03.02 Good health and well-being - Justification

The Alvo cart’s has been hygienically designed and with water system to provide consumers with safe and clean foods by allowing them to clean the utensils and foods to remove dirt’s and bacteria , thus promoting health and well-being of clients. To add on, it has Easy-to-clean surfaces thus reducing risk of contamination while ensuring foods stay fresh all day and uncontaminated. This ensures that the foods sold meet high quality standard thus boosting consumers’ confidence

02.04.01 My project contributes to the Quality education goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.04.02 Quality education - Justification

The ALvo Cart will strive to ensure it offers quality education to its vendors. This will help them in business operation. The training will involved business management, sales and market, financial management and quality management. To add on, the vendors will always be equipped in skills on how to be clean and ensuring the food they sell remains to standard. This will help them to offer healthy products which are not contaminated to clients.

02.05.01 My project contributes to the Gender equality goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.05.02 Gender equality - Justification

Alvo Cart will strive to attract youths and women to ensure they become financial independent. The vending business will help empowering women within the community and ensure they can help their family by providing basic needs and assisting them in building themselves through owning lands and assets.

02.06.01 My project contributes to the Clean water and sanitation goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.06.02 Clean water and sanitation - Justification

Since water is much important in attracting clients to buy from the cart. The cart will be equipped with water system that is both fresh water system and grey water system. The fresh water will be used in cleaning food and ensure the food its safe to clients. Also the fresh water will be used to clean utensils that are used by the vendors and washing hands for both clients and vendors. To add on, the cart is equipped with grey water system that collects contaminated and dirty water which later can be poured on a safe place to avoid contamination

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 cart will be equipped with solar lantern. The solare lantern is affordable to many people. The solar lantern will help the vendors to operate for many hours during the night hence increasing their sales returns. Currently most regions are not well connected with electricity hence when its dark most vendors switch to kerosene lamp which is harmful to eyes or others close their businessess. Hence the solar lantern will help the vendors a lot

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 cart will provide the best and decent jobs to many vendors since it will attract many middle class and first class group who desires clean and quality foods. The vendors will always get good returns by using the cart. Also when more vendors arise results to many more farmers

02.09.01 My project contributes to the Industry innovation and infrastructure

7 - Strongly Agree

02.09.02 Industry innovation and infrastructure - Justification

Alvo Cart will create an environment for new ideas in food industry that will ensure that people eats quality, fresh and healthier foods. Also it will open opprotunity for storage of food for long time without going bad which current carts dont have

02.10.01 My project contributes to the Reduced inequalities goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.10.02 Reduced inequalities - Justification

The cart will provide equal opportunity jobs to both men and women who are willing to venture in fruit and vegetable vending business. This will empower them economically and socially.

02.11.01 My project contributes to the Sustainable cities and communities goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.11.02 Sustainable cities and communities - Justification

The cart will be equpped with waste bin that will ensure all food wastes are well stored thus preventing the town from dirt everywhere and bad smell from rotten food produts, The collected wastes will be usually be thrown to a designated place

02.12.01 My project contributes to the Responsible consumption and production goal

4

02.12.02 Responsible consumption and production - Justification

02.13.01 My project contributes to the Climate action goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.13.02 Climate action - Justification

The Cart will be equipped with solar lantern where it will be charged during the day. This will redue carbon footprin and supporting climate initiatives

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

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

The business will partner with local artisan to build carts and also will partner with local suppliers to supply both raw materials in the workshop and finally it will partner with local farmers to supply food products to vendors at affordable price and products that are of good health

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

7 - Strongly Agree

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

3

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.

7 - Strongly Agree

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

7 - Strongly Agree

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.

7 - Strongly Agree

05.08 Justification

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

The main competitors are the traditional carts. Alvo carts stands out in that it will be very aethestically designed, appealing to the users and customers and foods are well organized displayed and kept in a safe storage free from contamination, The carts will be equipped with water system to ensure that customers eat foods that are well cleaned and not contaminated. Finally the business will offer excellent training to vendors to ensure they always offer excellent services to clients, offer healthier products and how to run the business successfully. Furthermore the business will help vendors in getting the right farmers to supply them with the best and quality fruits and vegetables

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

I want to attract many women who will own their own vending carts and employ more youths who cant buy the cart.