Participants & Projects


Dominican Republic

Caterina
Vetrugno
Urban Agroecology Strategy for Climate Action: a network of organic waste collection and vegetable gardens development in educational centres in the National District of Santo Domingo

Corayma De Dios
Estrella Herrera
Capacities of local governments to adapt to climate change in the province of Santiago de los Caballeros
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Guatemala


Niger


Madagascar


Uganda

Annet
Dianah Nannono
Setting up a community based laboratory for sustainable soil management technologies that enhance prevention of agricultural nitrous oxide emissions

Rolex
Muceka
Solar E-kiosk: A solar powered energy kiosk for promoting e-mobility including other clean energy products and services
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Zambia
Biography
Caterina es arquitecta y diplomada en planificación urbana, gestión y herramientas de financiación para la mitigación y adaptación al clima. Trabaja en proyectos internacionales relacionados con el metabolismo urbano, la economía circular y la regeneración de asentamientos vulnerables. Su objetivo es poner en práctica la experiencia que adquirió primero en Europa y luego en América Latina sobre diseño sistémico, gestión e investigación para contribuir a la urgencia de la adaptación y la mitigación del cambio climático y el desarrollo sostenible de las ciudades.
Project
“Estrategia de Agroecología Urbana para la acción climática: red de acopio de residuos orgánicos y desarrollo de huertos en centros educativos del Distrito Nacional de Santo Domingo” en República Dominicana.
En República Dominicana no existe un sistema de diferenciación de los desechos domésticos y muchos hogares aún no cuentan con un servicio de recolección de basura. La materia orgánica acumulada en los vertederos produce gas metano que puede provocar explosiones y es responsable del 3% de las emisiones globales de gases de efecto invernadero.
La Estrategia de Agroecología Urbana propuesta prevé la creación de una red de acopio y transformación de desechos orgánicos en los centros educativos del Distrito Nacional de Santo Domingo. El flujo de residuos actualmente en salida de la ciudad es reintegrado nuevamente en forma de recurso (abono) utilizado para huertos educativos ubicados en las mismas escuelas, manejados por las niñas y niños, según un modelo de economía circular.
En una primera fase, de 6 meses, se implementarán dos proyectos piloto acompañados por talleres educativos para la capacitación de docentes, niños y familias.
El proyecto quiere concientizar sobre el valor ambiental y económico de los residuos; al mismo tiempo destacar que los cambios de paradigma empiezan desde nuestros propios hogares y que todos tenemos un papel fundamental.
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Asesora legislativa en políticas ambientales y desarrollo en la Cámara de Diputados de la República Dominicana. |
Biography
Corayma De Dios Estrella Herrera es abogada y asesora legislativa en la Cámara de Diputados de la República Dominicana. Desde esta posición, ha liderado la formulación de leyes y resoluciones de desarrollo con enfoque en medio ambiente, cambio climático e inclusión social. A su vez, trabaja como facilitadora de talleres de educación ambiental y liderazgo juvenil.
Project
“Capacidades de los gobiernos locales para adaptarse al cambio climático en la provincia de Santiago de los Caballeros” en República Dominicana.
La NDC-2020 de la República Dominicana reconoce que para alcanzar las metas de adaptación y resiliencia climática, las acciones del gobierno central y los gobiernos locales deben estar coordinadas. A su vez, se identifica la necesidad de crear un sistema de monitoreo y evaluación de las acciones de adaptación. No obstante, en el país aún no existe un sistema de indicadores claros para medir la capacidad de los gobiernos locales de liderar y reportar acciones de adaptación; y se evidencia una falta de datos sobre las necesidades reales de cada municipalidad en temas de adaptación.
Este proyecto busca fortalecer las capacidades de medir y reportar las acciones de adaptación al cambio climático lideradas desde la gestión municipal, mediante la implementación de un sistema de indicadores que permita evidenciar las necesidades prioritarias de cada demarcación. La priorización de las acciones permitirá a medio plazo eficientizar la inversión de los fondos destinados a iniciativas de adaptación y resiliencia climática.
El proyecto tiene una duración de 6 meses (septiembre 2022-febrero 2023) e involucrará al Ministerio de Medio Ambiente, los gobiernos locales de la provincia de Santiago, la Federación Dominicana de Municipios y la Liga Municipal Dominicana.
Biography
Rocío es bióloga y se dedica a la exploración, monitoreo biológico y educación ambiental. Ha participado en distintos proyectos de investigación a nivel nacional y regional sobre temas de diversidad biológica y comunidades. Es colaboradora de la Asociación Rescate y Conservación de Vida Silvestre (ARCAS) y cofundadora de Hylos, iniciativa que busca impulsar y revolucionar el desarrollo de Guatemala para generar impactos positivos en los indicadores sociales, económicos y ambientales del país.
Project
“Gestión participativa y resiliente de los residuos plásticos en el área protegida marino costera Hawaii-AUMH” en Guatemala
En Guatemala el 42.8% de los hogares queman su basura y son las mujeres las que más se exponen a los gases de alta toxicidad. La quema también genera gases de efecto invernadero que contribuyen al cambio climático. Además, la ingesta o inhalación de microplásticos a través de alimentos también es un riesgo para la salud humana y de la biodiversidad.
El proyecto se desarrollará en el área protegida de la costa pacífica guatemalteca “Hawaii -AUMH”, segundo remanente de manglar más grande del país, en coordinación con Hylos, la Asociación Rescate y Conservación de Vida Silvestre (ARCAS) y las comunidades locales. Su objetivo principal será implementar estrategias participativas para la gestión resiliente de los residuos plásticos lideradas por las comunidades locales. El área corresponde a un sitio importante para la conservación, ya que conserva el segundo remanente de mangle más grande del país. Además, la contaminación por plásticos tiene impactos negativos en las principales fuentes de ingreso de los pobladores (pesca y turismo), así como en la biodiversidad y ecosistemas del AUMH.
El proyecto se llevará a cabo en un periodo de un año a partir del segundo semestre del 2022. La primera fase pretende identificar los riesgos socioambientales, fortalecer capacidades y promover estrategias resilientes y participativas para el manejo de residuos plásticos; y la segunda fase contempla la medición en el cambio de comportamiento y la socialización de las lecciones aprendidas. El proyecto se aborda desde un enfoque de resiliencia, ya que reconoce las capacidades y liderazgo de la comunidad para gestionar el tema de residuos plásticos.
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María José Pérez de LeónGuatemala |
Biography
María José es licenciada en Pedagogía e ingeniera en Gestión Ambiental Local y se desempeña como técnico apoyando a los departamentos de Climatología, Vulcanología, Sismología e Hidrología en la Región de Occidente de Guatemala. Entre otros, María José ha desarrollado un proceso de investigación en temas de variabilidad climática y usos del suelo en el municipio de Quetzaltenango y ha contribuido en diversos proyectos como la ampliación de la red de estaciones meteorológicas y el procesamiento de información climática para una agricultura sostenible y resiliente al cambio climático de la Universidad San Carlos de Guatemala.
Project
Impulsando la construcción de la agenda climática y la gobernanza participativa en el Municipio de Retalhuleu, Guatemala.
En cuanto a los antecedentes del proyecto se encuentra las políticas de cambio climático, La política ambiental de género, el Plan de ordenamiento territorial, los ODS y el Plan Katún en Guatemala señala que deben promoverse y existir capacidades locales que permitan la toma decisiones, acciones y estrategias para abordar de forma correcta las líneas de adaptación y mitigación y reducir la vulnerabilidad ante el cambio climático de forma local.
El objetivo del proyecto es Fortalecer las capacidades de gobernanza de los actores locales a través de la construcción de la agenda climática en el municipio de Retalhuleu, Guatemala y así fortalece la capacidad de gestión de los actores locales para implementar acciones que contribuyen a la reducción de la vulnerabilidad climática y la emisión de gases de efecto invernadero.
El proyecto tiene una duración de seis meses y busca involucrar a los actores locales, principalmente a la municipalidad de Retalhuleu, el Ministerio de Ambiente y Recursos Naturales, a la academia, grupos de mujeres, jóvenes, comunidad indigena.
Biography
Mariama is a Geological engineer and an expert in the processing of fruits, vegetables, cereals and forest products. His passion for nature and his commitment to environmental protection and sustainable development led him to create the E-Himma platform which promotes vegetable forest products (everything that comes from bush trees) through education and the sale of products in Niger. Mariama has participated in several entrepreneurship, leadership and climate change programs in Africa, USA and Canada (DOW CHALLENGE YALI RLC Dakar 2021, LOJIQ-Canada 2019, IVLP-AWEP-USA 2018,…). Mariama is also the recipient of several awards and distinctions (FIJEV-OIF-2018 Excellence Award, 2nd and 1st environmental prize sahel fair 2017 and 2019, 1st innovation prize FIVI-2022…..)
Project
E-Himma platform
In Niger according to the Ministry of the Environment more than 100,000 hectares of land are degraded each year due to several causes such as climate change. Agricultural yields only decline over the years. For example, according to the Niger government the Agricultural campaign has a deficit of up to 50% in 2021. As a consequence, more than 80% of the population living in rural areas and depend directly on that land are facing starvation and poverty. To help the population to fight against these problems, the E-Himma platform was launched in 2019. The platform which promotes forest products of plant origin (everything that comes from bush trees), honey and agroforestry through education and the sale of products.. Forest products have always been neglected, their virtues and different uses very poorly known, yet they a real source of soil fertilisation, food, wealth creation, the fight against soil erosion and climatic changes throughout the year. The objectives are to maximize the benefits of forest products and agroforestry to the population through information, training, awareness, networking and sale of products. E-Himma is composed of a general website and a shopping page (launched in 2019), a voice server for information, awareness, aid… and agroforestry fields or “witness fields” to serve as a model, museum and especially to employ women who do not have access to land.
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Physician and Head of the Gender, Environment & Climate Change at the Nigerien Association of Environment Scouts (ANSEN) |
Biography
Zeinabou Maman Noura is the Head of the Gender, Environment & Climate Change at the Nigerien Association of Environment Scouts (ANSEN) and a dynamic physician with more than 15 years of climate leadership. She carried out her doctoral thesis in medicine with an innovative study on climate-sensitive diseases. She is a member of several networks and committees such as the NDC monitoring and implementing committee of Niger.
Project
“Center of education and research on Climate Change and Health: Magaria Project Niger”
The latest special report from the IPCC again alerted the whole world of the acceleration of global warming with all its consequences, including public health. It is foreseen that from 2030 to 2050, 250,000 additional case people will die per year from four diseases arising due to climate change: malaria, malnutrition, diarrhea and heat stress. Furthermore in Niger there is a lack of access to reliable data and a weak implication of health professionals to prevent this from happening.
To face those challenges the new Center of education and research on Climate Change and Health “Magaria Project Niger” will open. The center will build the capacity of health professionals on climate sensitive diseases through awareness, training and access to reliable data through a digital platform. The center will be coordinated by a multidisciplinary team of physicians, agroecologists and environmental lawyers.
The project started in March 2022 as a science coffee exchange facilitated by Zeinabou thanks to a partnership between ANSEN and the general delegation of students from the Faculty of Health Sciences of Niamey.
Biography
Livaniaina is the owner and manager of ‘Ikiray Miel de Madagascar’, a company that produces honey and offers beekeeping services. Ikiray partners with rural beekeepers to ensure honey production and to promote social and economic development in rural areas. Livaniaina is also a Ph.D. student in Economics at the University of Antananarivo. His research focuses on the links between economic growth and the development of entrepreneurship in Madagascar.
Project
Beekeeping for forests protection and rural development
In Madagascar, the level of deforestation is very high especially in rural areas due to the demand for fuel wood. This is also causing the disparitation of bees, and yet around 90% of the pollination of plants depends on bees. Furthermore, most of the rural population in Madagascar lives under the poverty line.
The objective of the project is to promote beekeeping in rural areas, to promote healthy ecosystems and to increase the wellbeing of vulnerable rural communities. Local communities will benefit from the income generation of the honey’s sale, while protecting the forests. The pilot phase of the project will start in January 2023 in Ikiray, a rural village of beekeepers in the highlands of Madagascar also affected by deforestation. The villagers interested in starting beekeeping, current beekeepers and the company ‘Ikiray Miel de Madagascar’ will be involved in the project.
Biography
Annet Dianah Nannono was raised in a family of coffee farmers in Kimaanya village, Masaka-Central in Uganda. Annet is an engineer in Agricultural Mechanization and Irrigation with strong experience on innovative climate smart agriculture practices obtained from her work with many diverse sectors (private sector, civil society organizations, public sector and religious institutions) and in many different countries (Kenya, Rwanda, Ethiopia, Israel, India, Ghana and Germany). Inspired by that experience she founded the community-based organization ‘Farm&Art Space’ in 2020, whose aim is to enhance rural farmers’ knowledge and skills on agriculture with practical ecofriendly, sustainable and innovative ideas in an enjoyable environment.
Project
Setting up a community based laboratory for sustainable soil management technologies that enhance prevention of agricultural nitrous oxide emissions
The agricultural farming community of Buwunga Sub-county in Masaka – Central Uganda is vulnerable to the effects of climate change due to droughts, excessive rainfalls and damaged ecosystems causing food insecurity. Furthermore, most farmers experience challenges in reviving soil fertility due to limited knowledge on precision soil nutrients and manure management.
The community-based laboratory for sustainable soil management technologies will provide training for rural communities in soil testing, organic fertilizer making, biogas installation and climate smart agricuture, as well as being a shopping point to buy organic fertilizer ingredients.
The key actors involved in the projects are: Farm&Art Space Community Initiative, Farmers from Buwunga Sub-county villages, Agricultural Engineers, Soil Science Researchers, Buwunga Sub-County village leaders, Busitema University Soil Laboratory Department, Organic Agriculture Civil Society Organizations, the Ministry of Water and Environment Climate Change Department, Masaka District Local Government Production Office and relevant private companies
The projects will be supported by Impulsouth from the 3rd October 2022 to 6th April 2023.
Biography
Rolex Muceka is an energy expert who believes that everyone should have access to clean, affordable and reliable energy. He is passionate about solar energy, and e-mobility. He currently works as energy advisor for GIZ where he implemented the first inter-city e-mobility charging infrastructure corridor in Uganda that stretches over 120km. He holds a MSc. in Energy Engineering from PAUWES and a BSc. in Biosystems Engineering from Gulu University.
Project
Solar E-kiosk: A solar powered energy kiosk for promoting e-mobility including other clean energy products and services
Globally, the transport sector contributes about 24% of carbon emissions from the energy sector. In Uganda, the energy sector (including transport) is the second most significant source of emissions after Agriculture, Forestry and Other Land Uses (AFOLU) sector. The transport sub-sector alone accounts for close to 66% of the emissions in Uganda’s Energy sector.
The public transport in Uganda is dominated by buses, mini-bus taxis and motorcycle taxis (commonly known as boda-bodas). To decarbonize the transport sector, Uganda is slowly embracing e-mobility with over 300 electric motorcycles and 5 electric buses now in operation. Despite the enormous benefit of electric boda-boda taxis, their adoption is still very low mainly due to lack of enough charging infrastructure.
As such the main objective of this project is to develop and operate a modular solar powered energy kiosk that will have a charging and swapping station for electric motorcycles and a service points for accessing other clean products and services.
Some of the key actors of the project will include Impulsouth, e-mobility companies, solar service providers, development partners in Uganda, and Uganda’s ministry of energy. The project will be implemented for a period of one year from October 2022 to October 2023.
Biography
Owen Machuku is an enthusiast in climate action, sustainable agriculture, food and nutrition security. His greatest satisfaction as a researcher is improving smallholder farmers´ livelihoods in rural areas through research for development and subsequently ensuring food security. Machuku is a DAAD award scholar at Bonn Universität (Germany), pursuing a MSc in Agricultural Sciences and Resource Management in the Tropics and Sub-tropics. He also holds a BSc in Agriculture and a Diploma in Agriculture with a major in Crop Sciences.
Project
Enhancing food security through sorghum processing into flour and sorgflakes in drought prone areas of Lusitu in Chirundu District.
The socio-economic development of the rural population in Zambia has significantly been affected by climate change. As such, the proposed project seeks to supplement the government’s effort on adaptation to the effects of climate change, in order to increase people’s resilience, particularly of those that are most vulnerable like smallholder farmers in the Lusitu area of Chirundu district. This district was chosen due to its vulnerability to climate change risks, which include rising temperatures, fluctuating low rainfall, increasing drought frequency, and sporadic flooding along with a high prevalence of poverty. In this regard, improving smallholder farmers’ capacity for adaptation and resilience to the impacts and shocks of climate change is critical to face climate challenges.
Therefore, the project’s objective is to improve food security by promoting the growing of drought resistant sorghum varieties and adding value through processing of sorghum grain into flour and sorgflakes. The key actors are the Ministry of Agriculture, especially through its Agriculture Research Institute (ZARI), as well as the and the Ministry of Environment, the Community Technology Development Trust and the Technology Development and Advisory Unit of the University of Zambia. The project timeframe of implementation is scheduled from July, 2023 to September, 2024.
Biography
Philippa Hamakasu is a committed climate change officer, passionate about caring for the environment with full knowledge of environmental and climate change regulations. With over 7 years in the environment and climate change space, Philippa possesses strong experience in formulating climate change and environmental policies, procedures, good practices and impact assessment, always implementing those following monitoring and evaluation processes. She has been part of the Zambian Government team in reviewing the Climate Change Policy of Zambia and the Zambian National Environmental Policy among many others. Philippa has worked in many sectors but under the field of environmental management, such as the energy sector and health sector. Philippa possesses a Bachelor’s Degree in Environmental education.
Project
Carbon Market viability for Small scale producers in Forestry and Agriculture Sectors
Carbon markets are one of the tools to tackle the climate change problem. The creation of markets for carbon trading should be seen as a key in which the development of new ‘cleaner’ energy options, as well as more environmentally appropriate industrial and corporate practices might be stimulated. The main objective of the project is to promote the participation of small-scale producers in the forest and agriculture sectors in carbon markets, by delivering cost-effective emission reductions, while promoting biodiversity conservation and poverty alleviation. The project will involve the rural community of Katete District in the Eastern province of Zambia who will also influence future projects based on the concept. This area was specially selected because the province has the highest rate of deforestation in the country and also has a massive presence of national parks and forest reserves. The initiative will begin in the last quarter of 2022 and will be implemented for 4 years.
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Division Chief in charge of the coordination of adaptation policies at the National Office of Climate Change and REDD+ |
Biography
Jonathan Mickaël Andréas is head of division at the Ministry of Environment and Sustainable Development of Madagascar in charge of the coordination of adaptation policies.Trained as a lawyer, he has been working for over 5 years on the implementation of climate policies in Madagascar. He is also a member of the coordination unit of the “Sustainable Landscapes in Eastern Madagascar”project which is the first project financed by the Green Climate Fund in Madagascar. This project aims to improve the resilience of small-scale farmers to climate change, improve the resilience of ecosystems and finally,reduce greenhouse gas emissions from deforestation and forest degradation.Having benefited from the training in climate leadership, he hopes to develop innovative solutions in the implementation of climate policies in Madagascar.
Project
Climate Change Center for Businesses
In line with Madagascar’s national climate change policy documents, the main objective of the Climate Change Center for Businesses is to strengthen the resilience of the Malagasy private sector to adapt to the effects of climate change. The centre will be hosted by the Madagascar’s chambers of commerce and industry. It will provide data on climate change for businesses and will serve as an incubator for climate action entrepreneurship and training. The centre will collaborate as well with other institutions like the Ministries in charge of the Environment, Transport, Trade, Agriculture and the Business Unions. The initiative will start with a projected duration of 4 years.