Democratic Republic of Congo - Business creation project

Describe your project or startup in a few words

NsamaYetu a female business adventure that that uses floating cage techniques using recycle plastics and locally made feeds to farm fish in Katebi reservoir area of the Lualaba river

01.01 Describe your project in more detail

NsamaYetu is a business idea that empowers women along the lualaba river with opportunities for productive fish farming along the wides areas of the Lualaba river using floating cages made principally from recycled plastic to reduce the plastic waste and water pollution. In addition, NsamaYetu take advantage of the large produce of local products such cassava, soya, rice, and potatoes to produces low cost fish feeds. Moreover, the business will depend on locally produced fingerlings to sustain the production.

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

Lualaba river faces fish shortage due to uncontrolled fishing and increasing jobless population along the river and increasing fish demands from fast developing towns of Kolwezi. On the other side, the continuous pollution of water sources and reservoirs by plastic products endangers both aquatic and human life by exposing the them to toxic environment. As such, NsameYetu tackles the problem of fish shortage, lack of job opportunities, plastic waste, and alternative usage of locally produced food products.

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 major benefits of using fish farming using floating cage techniques that there is controlled and large scale fish production throughout the year to meet demands; plastic waste reduction and low cost fishing technique by using recycling plastic products to construct floating cages; increased job opportunities and provide an alternative means of using local food produce to enhance business markets; conversation of the Lualaba aquatic life through sensitization of better fish farming techniques.

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

The population along the Lualaba river, fish suppliers with whom majority are women, fish rural and urban markets

01.05 When did you start working on your project?

2020-03-04

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

3

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.)

Ruth is an agriculture students while Rebecca is a policy advocacy major who has worked with major companies like Mozilla, Google

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?

b) Materials (agriculture, fishing, chemical products, construction materials, containers and packaging, metals and mining, paper and forest products)

02.01.01 My project contributes to the No poverty goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.01.02 No poverty - Justification

NsamaYetu is a sustainable business opportunity for women and communities along the river bank

02.02.01 My project contributes to the Zero hunger goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.02.02 Zero hunger - Justification

NsamaYetu is aimed at increasing fish production thus increasing food availability within the region.

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

NsamaYetu uses local food products as feeds for fish and uses clean methods to farm fish thus provide healthy fish products to consumers

02.04.01 My project contributes to the Quality education goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.04.02 Quality education - Justification

NsamaYetu uses sensitization techniques to buy in the input of local communities for better aquatic conservation and responsible fish farming

02.05.01 My project contributes to the Gender equality goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.05.02 Gender equality - Justification

NsamaYetu is a project that promote women's participation in economic development of the country by providing them with business opportunities to participate in sustainable business development

02.06.01 My project contributes to the Clean water and sanitation goal

6

02.06.02 Clean water and sanitation - Justification

NsamaYetus is works to reduce water pollutants by using plastics that is the number one pollutants of the water and the environment in general

02.07.01 My project contributes to the Affordable and clean energy goal

6

02.07.02 Affordable and clean energy - Justification

NsamaYetu employees solar energy to meet electrical energy demands to run the control tools and management since rural areas have no power sources

02.08.01 My project contributes to the Decent work and economic growth

6

02.08.02 Decent work and economic growth - Justification

NsamaYetu is a source of fish farming job opportunities for communities along the river

02.09.01 My project contributes to the Industry innovation and infrastructure

6

02.09.02 Industry innovation and infrastructure - Justification

NsamaYetu uses recycled plastics to develop the floating cage infrastructure that becoming innovative to the region

02.10.01 My project contributes to the Reduced inequalities goal

6

02.10.02 Reduced inequalities - Justification

NsamaYetu reduces inequalities by strongly advocating for female representation in the fish farming industry of which only men as the majority

02.11.01 My project contributes to the Sustainable cities and communities goal

6

02.11.02 Sustainable cities and communities - Justification

NsamaYetu ensure both men and women are participant of the project by provide them with low cost tools

02.12.01 My project contributes to the Responsible consumption and production goal

6

02.12.02 Responsible consumption and production - Justification

NsamaYetu promote environmental friendly for production and management of fish and fish farms

02.13.01 My project contributes to the Climate action goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.13.02 Climate action - Justification

NsamaYety uses recycled plastic which is the one pollutant of the environment and a contributor to climate degration

02.14.01 My project contributes to the Life below water goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.14.02 Life below water - Justification

NsamaYetu is aimed at reducing pollutants thus improving life in water

02.15.01 My project contributes to the Life on land goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.15.02 Life on land - Justification

NsamaYetu is aimed at reducing plastic waste thus improving land pollution

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

6

02.16.02 Peace justice and strong institutions - Justification

NsamaYetu promote equal consideration within communities and thus improving inclusiveness in decision making which is the base of justice

02.17.01 My project contributes to the Partnerships for the goal

6

02.17.02 Partnerships for the goal - Justification

NsamaYetu meet global initiatives to counter climate change , reduce poverty, enhance equality and promote gender representation thus the project is aimed and open at working with global partners to strengthen sustainable economic development

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.

6

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.

2

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

4

05.08 Justification

NsamaYetu uses recycled plastics to develop floating cages and local food products to produce fish feds thus the project works on already existing floating cage technology using the creative aspect of recycled materials

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

Import suppliers, however NsamaYetu rely on local resources and does not involve import tax thus making product low costly. Moreover, promote responsible fish farming that meet fish demands throughout the year using cheap method and innovative floating cages

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

I promote female software development now with focus on AI