Ghana - Business creation project

Décrivez votre projet en quelques mots

Zaabuno, aims to introduce to the market long-lasting and highly calorific value charcoal briquette (Saana briquettes), energy sources derived from rice husks and Shea butter waste. These alternatives offer sustainable energy options for households.

01.01 Décrivez votre projet en détail

Zaabu

01.02 Quel est le problème principal que vous essayez de résoudre ?

Ghana annually produces more than 1,100,000 tons of charcoal, with over 60% of this originating from the Bono East and five northern regions. The production of one kilogram of charcoal typically requires between 4 to 12 kilograms of dry wood, depending on the kiln type used. This practice exacerbates the impacts of climate change in these regions, as it not only leads to deforestation but also emits significant CO2, especially with the prevalent use of traditional earth mounds for kilning. Additionally, Ghana generates over 33 million tons of rice husks and 80,000 tons of Shea waste annually. When left to dry, these wastes emit methane gas, contributing to global warming and adversely affecting farmlands, thereby impacting food production. Recognizing these challenges, Zaabuno hopes to pioneered the production of long-lasting, high calorific value charcoal briquettes, known as Saana Briquettes, using rice husks and Shea butter waste.

01.03 Dites-nous quels sont les principaux avantages et/ou bénéfices de l'utilisation du produit/service que vous souhaitez fournir par votre projet (au moins 3).

The production of Saana briquettes by Zaabuno promises to significantly diminish the reliance of households and small businesses on wood charcoal. This, in turn, will decrease the number of trees felled for charcoal production and reduce the emission of CO2 into the atmosphere from wood charcoal carbonization. Moreover, it will bolster the incomes of women shea butter processors, who can sell their waste to Zaabuno for additional earnings. Additionally, women currently involved in wood charcoal carbonization will have the opportunity to be employed by Zaabuno, providing them with an alternative livelihood. Saana briquettes offer a stainless alternative to wood charcoal, thereby addressing environmental concerns while meeting energy needs.

01.04 Veuillez décrire précisément à qui s'adressera le produit/service de votre projet. Quels sont les bénéficiaires visés ?

Zaabuno's target demographic includes households, particularly women aged 18 to 60, and owners of small-scale businesses reliant on charcoal. The company aims to offer an efficient alternative to wood charcoal and firewood, thereby reducing the expenses associated with purchasing domestic cooking fuel. Moreover, Zaabuno plans to enhance the livelihoods of women Shea butter processors by purchasing Shea butter waste from them, thus providing additional income. This initiative not only benefits the women economically but also addresses the issue of waste pollution on farmlands, which negatively impacts food production. Additionally, Zaabuno will collaborate with rice processing factories in its vicinity to manage their waste more sustainably. Often, this waste is transported and disposed of on bare lands or openly burnt, posing environmental hazards. Through partnerships, Zaabuno seeks to repurpose this waste effectively.

01.05 Quand avez-vous commencé à travailler sur votre projet ?

01/12/2023

01.06 Combien y a-t-il de propriétaires sur votre projet en plus de vous ?

3

01.07 Parmi les autres propriétaires, combien sont des femmes ?

2

01.08 Veuillez décrire le profil des autres propriétaires de votre projet (compétences, expérience, etc.).

Linda Dagadu is a young lady with a background in postharvest technology and with three years experience in shea butter processing with the Yuuni Shea women association and very passionate about women empowerment and rural development. Douglas Awine-Kolgo is a young man with a background in environmental science and has worked with SocialFarms, an agribusiness social enterprise that is into helping urban dwellers have easy acess to farmlands and inputs to farm as a junior consultant from Challenges Worldwide, now Challenges Ghana. He also has a certificate in social media marketing and with two years experience in briquetting.

01.09 Si vous avez un site web, une page sur les médias sociaux (Facebook, Instagram, Linkedin...) ou une application, veuillez fournir le(s) lien(s) ici :

https://www.linkedin.com/company/103832895/admin/feed/posts/

01.10 Quel est le secteur d'activité qui décrit le mieux votre projet ?

a) Énergie (équipements, services, énergie durable et fossiles)

02.01.01 Mon projet contribue à l'objectif 'Pas de pauvreté'

6

02.01.02 Justification de la contribution de mon projet

Zaabuno's collaboration with women shea butter processors, many of whom are below the poverty line or low-income earners, will offer them a crucial opportunity to increase their earnings. By purchasing their waste and converting it into efficient household energy, Zaabuno will provide these women with additional income streams, ultimately elevating their economic standing and helping to alleviate poverty. Furthermore, Zaabuno's initiative will extend to engaging other women who typically migrate to southern Ghana in search of better opportunities, particularly during the dry season. By offering them stable employment, Zaabuno will contribute to enhancing their economic stability and reducing their dependence on seasonal migration for livelihood. This approach not only benefits the individual women involved but also contributes to broader efforts to combat poverty.

02.02.01 Mon projet contribue à l'objectif 'Faim Zéro'

3

02.02.02 Justification de la contribution de mon projet

02.03.01 Mon projet contribue à l'objectif 'Bonne Santé et Bien Être'

1 - Pas du tout d'accord

02.03.02 Justification de la contribution de mon projet

02.04.01 Mon projet contribue à l'objectif 'Éducaiton de Qualité'

1 - Pas du tout d'accord

02.04.02 Justification de la contribution de mon projet

02.05.01 Mon projet contribue à l'objectif 'Égalité entre les Sexes'

7 - Tout à fait d'accord

02.05.02 Justification de la contribution de mon projet

Zaabuno, with its two male and two female co-founders, exemplifies its commitment to gender equality from its very foundation. This diversity at the leadership level underscores the importance Zaabuno places on gender balance and inclusion. Furthermore, Zaabuno's partnership with shea butter processors is aimed at boosting their incomes by purchasing their waste. In a patriarchal society where land ownership is predominantly male-dominated, shea butter processing stands out as one of the few avenues where women can independently own and operate businesses in northern Ghana. Zaabuno is dedicated to enhancing the benefits derived by these women in this sector, recognizing their vital role in the local economy. Additionally, Zaabuno pledges to prioritize gender balance within its workforce, aiming for at least 70 percent female representation among its employees. This commitment ensures not only equal opportunities but also acknowledges the invaluable contributions of women to the compa

02.06.01 Mon projet contribue à l'objectif 'Eau Propre et Assainissement'

2

02.06.02 Justification de la contribution de mon projet

02.07.01 Mon projet contribue à l'objectif 'Énergie Propre et Abordable'

7 - Tout à fait d'accord

02.07.02 Justification de la contribution de mon projet

Zaabuno is set to manufacture an environmentally friendly, highly efficient, and user-friendly household energy source derived from shea waste and rice husks. Currently, these materials are disposed of indiscriminately and burned openly. The resulting energy product is not only eco-friendly but also affordable, catering particularly to low-income households. It serves as a sustainable alternative to firewood and wood charcoal, addressing both environmental concerns and the energy needs of households.

02.08.01 Mon projet contribue à l'objectif 'Travail Décent et Croissance Économique'

6

02.08.02 Justification de la contribution de mon projet

02.09.01 Mon projet contribue à l'objectif 'Industrie, Innovaiton et Infrastructure'

2

02.09.02 Justification de la contribution de mon projet

02.10.01 Mon projet contribue à l'objectif 'Réduction des Inégalités'

4

02.10.02 Justification de la contribution de mon projet

02.11.01 Mon projet contribue à l'objectif 'Villes et Communautés Durables'

1 - Pas du tout d'accord

02.11.02 Justification de la contribution de mon projet

02.12.01 Mon projet contribue à l'objectif 'Consommation et Production Responsable'

3

02.12.02 Justification de la contribution de mon projet

02.13.01 Mon projet contribue à l'objectif 'Luttle contre les Changements Climatiques'

7 - Tout à fait d'accord

02.13.02 Justification de la contribution de mon projet

Zaabuno is dedicated to leveraging its operations to champion the cause of climate change mitigation. By offering an alternative to traditional charcoal production, Zaabuno aims to reduce deforestation and land degradation resulting from the felling of trees for charcoal carbonization. Additionally, Zaabuno's approach mitigates the release of CO2 into the atmosphere, which occurs during the traditional kiln-based carbonization process. Moreover, Zaabuno is actively combating climate change by addressing two significant sources of greenhouse gas emissions. By converting rice husks, which emit methane gas when left to dry, and shea waste, which adversely affects farmlands and contributes to soil infertility, Zaabuno is contributing to environmental sustainability and agricultural resilience. Through these initiatives, Zaabuno is aligning its operations with efforts to mitigate climate change and promote a greener, more sustainable future.

02.14.01 Mon projet contribue à l'objectif 'Vie Sous-Marine'

1 - Pas du tout d'accord

02.14.02 Justification de la contribution de mon projet

02.15.01 Mon projetp contribue à l'objectif 'Vie Terrestre'

6

02.15.02 Justification de la contribution de mon projet

02.16.01 Mon projet contribue à l'objectif 'Paix, Justice et Institutions Efficaces'

1 - Pas du tout d'accord

02.16.02 Justification de la contribution de mon projet

02.17.01 Mon projet contribue à l'objectif 'Parteneriats pour la Réalisation des Objectifs'

1 - Pas du tout d'accord

02.17.02 Justification de la contribution de mon projet

05.01 Il existe un grand nombre de clients qui utilisent déjà un produit/service très similaire à celui que nous envisageons de créer.

7 - Tout à fait d'accord

05.02 Le produit/service que nous voulons créer représente un type de produit/service entièrement nouveau

2

05.03 Le produit/service que nous voulons créer pourrait être décrit comme une nouvelle technologie

3

05.04 Le produit/service que nous voulons créer est une amélioration d'un produit ou d'un service existant

3

05.05 Le produit/service que nous voulons créer pourrait être décrit comme une extension d'une gamme de produits ou de services

1 - Pas du tout d'accord

05.06 Le produit/service que nous voulons créer répond à une demande ou à un besoin qui n'a pas été satisfait par d'autres produits/services.

4

05.07 Le produit/service que nous voulons créer est une nouvelle version d'un ancien produit/service

6

05.08 Justification de mon projet

Saana Briquettes by Zaabuno are designed to fulfill the same cooking energy needs as firewood, wood charcoal, LPG, and other charcoal briquettes. However, Saana stands out due to its innovative design: unlike other available cooking energy sources that often require the use of plastics or papers to ignite, Saana briquettes feature a built-in starter cube. This feature simplifies the fire-starting process for users, making it more convenient and efficient. With over 5 million households and small businesses relying on charcoal or firewood for cooking according to the Ghana statistical service, Saana Briquettes offer a promising alternative that is not only effective but also environmentally friendly.

05.09 Qui sont vos principaux potentiels concurrents et qu'est-ce qui vous différencie d'eux ?

Among our competitors, such as wood charcoal carbonizers, Zaacoal, Adepa Briquettes, Bidigreen, and Narr Briquettes, Saana Briquettes from Zaabuno shine for several reasons. Our unique formulation, utilizing rice husks and Shea butter waste, results in Saana Briquettes boasting a notably high calorific value. Furthermore, Zaabuno holds a significant position as the primary briquetting company in northern Ghana, ensuring proximity to both our customers and raw materials. Additionally, Saana Briquettes set themselves apart from competitors by featuring starter cubes. This innovative addition simplifies the fire-starting process for users, distinguishing Saana Briquettes as a more user-friendly option compared to those offered by competitors.

10.06 Menez-vous des actions au sein de votre communauté pour promouvoir le rôle des femmes entrepreneurs ?

Two female co-founders have been integral to Zaabuno's inception, actively contributing to the conceptualization and development of this groundbreaking idea and vision. Additionally, Zaabuno is committed to elevating the incomes of women shea butter processors by purchasing their shea butter waste, providing them with an additional source of income and fostering their economic empowerment.