The National Environment Trust Fund (NETFUND) has over the last three years conducted the annual NETFUND Green Innovations Awards (GIA) whose objective is to boost communities’ awareness on the essence and need to promote environment-friendly (green) initiatives many of which also have the potential to generate revenue and create employment.
GIA helps in promoting an enabling environment for growth of ‘green’ initiatives and also supports growth of ‘green’ businesses . The objectives are underpinned by NETFUND GIA’s mission of promoting self-regulation and best practices in environmental management and the wider vision of having an environmentally responsible and motivated society that embraces the best practices for a clean, healthy and productive world.
According to Catherine Ndegwa NETFUND Chief Executive Office, solutions to environmental degradation are always available and profitable too if people can be responsible and innovative. “When we talk of the link between environmental degradation and poverty, what we are really talking about is cutting down a tree to sell charcoal, growing cash crops with chemicals that acidify our soils and dumping otherwise reusable waste. For us to combat environmental degradation we must be innovative,” she says.
The NETFUND GIA program works with innovative grassroot initiatives that have the potential to promote economic growth, generate employment and income as well as help in conserving Kenya’s natural resource base. “We believe that innovations, solutions and development can take place anywhere at any time and driven by anyone. We believe ‘green’ first shall be a source of inspiration for Kenyans’ continued endeavours in the green direction,” states Ms Ndegwa.
The third phase of the NETFUND GIA 2016 attracted 2,474 entries under its focus areas of agri-business, water, energy and waste management and sustainability. The first phase of GIA was held in 2012 and the second, which was enriched not only with efforts to upscale the projects but to also include incubation and commercialization components, in 2014. The awards come with grants for the winning initiatives while those with a strong business case are selected to join the NETFUND incubation programme.
During the GIA gala event, several grassroots initiatives were feted in various categories including agri-business, water, energy, waste management and sustainability, women, SMEs, schools, civil society and individuals. Ico Seed Banana Fibre Production project emerged the overall winner. The community-based society based in Kirinyaga County promotes growth of high breed bananas for improved food security and members’ income and also harnesses banana waste to produce products for sale.
According to Charles Kiprono, Principal Secretary in the Ministry of Environment & Natural Resources, NETFUND is doing a great job in promoting green consumerism and innovation in the face of dire global poverty. “We appreciate NETFUND for identifying innovations and incubating and improving skills and it is such initiatives that have earned our country recognition,” he said. He added that Kenya is committed to deal with climate change challenges through mitigation among other efforts including through proper environmental initiatives as seen in GIA.
Since its launch, NETFUND GIA has received overwhelming support from different partners. Some of the key partners represented at the event included the Swedish Embassy, African Development bank (AfDB) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).
According to Walter Odero, AfDB is a force behind green growth and has partnered with many bodies to promote green growth policies. “We are keen for sustainable growth and are pleased to note that foreign embassies in Kenya are also keen and key partners of the programme,” he said.
Notwithstanding that the Swedish Embassy supported the inaugural event with Sh60 million, the support continues to date. The Principal Coordinator at the Swedish Embassy, Nicholas Ngeche appreciated the fact that other embassies including that of Netherlands, Slovakia and the US among others are also now in support of GIA. He urged more partners to support the initiative.
UNDP Resident Representative in Kenya Nados Bekele-Thomas appreciated the broad-based nature of GIA and the resultant good stewardship of environment initiatives in the country. She explained that Kenya is enhancing sustainability of its environment-based programs through ‘Switch Africa Dream Project’ of Global Environment Facility – Small Grants Programme (GEF-SGP). UNDP launched the GEF in 1992 and is currently funding 1015 projects. “We support NETFUND’s GIAs as these support environment conservation and innovation and we are keen to keep up the partnership,” Thomas said.
