Meet young women turning world green

 

By ANNIE ZULU

GREEN Technology is becoming increasingly critical in addressing climate change and is currently a male-dominated field, despite women being more affected by this global phenomenon than men.

A recent study by the Women Entrepreneurship Knowledge Hub shows the existing disparity between men and women working in the clean energy industry in 2020; 30% female to 70% male.

However, this might soon change as more women are joining the industry and changing that narrative by taking the lead in developing Green Tech innovations to help protect the planet.

Green Technology is an umbrella term that describes the use of technology and science to create products and services that are environmentally friendly.

Meet two Zambian young female Green Tech innovators who are making a mark with their innovations in the country.

1.     Jane Nakasamu 26

Chief Executive Officer for Greenbelt Energy Zambia- Jane Nakasamu

Jane is a Renewable Energy Expert and Chief Executive Officer for Greenbelt Energy Zambia, a company bottling biogas from organic waste and producing smart stoves, as an affordable energy solution that enables primarily women to cook fast, safe and clean.

According to her, the high rate of deforestation in Zambia prompted her to set up her company  and be part of the people offering solutions to climate change.

¨In Zambia 90% of the population are dependent on charcoal and firewood for cooking, this has led to charcoal led to deforestation, making Zambia one of the highest in the world with 300,000 ha of forest being lost every year, so Greenbelt Energy is a social enterprise saving trees and lives,¨ Jane said.

She works with women, youths and farmers in selected communities around the country to turn waste into energy.

¨ We are currently working in Lusaka, Kitwe and Chipata where we have a 100 direct sales agents mostly women and youths who effectively distribute our products to target customers. We recently conducted in feasibility study in Chipata in partnership with the Global Council for Sustainable Industrial Development and Msekera Junction Industrial Park to provide biogas a biogas stoves to 2,500 households within the industrial park, she said.

Her  innovation has won awards among them, the 2021 Meaningful Business Award, 2021 SEED Award, 2020 Africa Funding Tour Award, 2019 Boost up award from the Southern African Innovation Support Program and 2019 Fembiobiz Award from the Southern African Network for Biosciences.

Jane was also last year appointed by the World Business Angels Investment Forum as an International Partner for Zambia during its Grand Assembly.
¨I have always dreamed of becoming a diplomat, the appointment enables me to function as an 'International Business Diplomat' supporting start-ups and companies in Zambia to access the world’s equity investment markets and, Zambia will now be able to connect more with the global investors market, which will open up splendid opportunities for the country,¨ she said.

Several investors have shown interest too in funding her innovation and talks are still ongoing.

Asides the business aspect, Jane has been active in advocacy work on climate change too, as she views it a serious issue that needs to be addressed urgently.

She has been sensitizing young people in communities, mainly on the effects of deforestation.

¨We have had trainings with young people on climate change, we can not ignore it anymore, because its impact is been seen and felt. Over the years in Zambia we have our rain season delayed. If we do not pay much attention it may be even worse than covid-19,¨ she said.

 

2.     Stella Ng'ona 24

                                                Co-founder of Trip-charc- Stella Ng'ona

Stella, is a 5th year Pharmacy Student at the University of Zambia (UNZA) Ridgeway Campus and Co-founder of Trip-charc, an initiative that produces clean and affordable energy blocks made from waste.

Trip-charc was born to help Zambia attain Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) number 7 of the United Nations, which encourages nations to have affordable and clean Energy.

She says the energy blocks are 40% cheaper than wood charcoal and smokeless,  and have a high calorific value compared to wood charcoal.

¨Using energy blocks as an alternative energy source that reduces wood-cutting that is contributing to deforestation. This allows trees to remain standing as carbon sinks, which prevents further climate change. The fact that our blocks are produced from agricultural wastes makes them way cheaper and affordable,¨ Stella said.

 

 Energy blocks produced by Trip-charc

However, she highlights that lack of machinery is a huge hindrance to producing enough energy blocks.

¨At the moment we do not have any source of funding, we fund our project through small contributions with my other six group members, so we are unable to produce enough energy blocks as we would want to,¨ she said.

She urged government and other stakeholders to support women-led innovations.

She noted that women have taken up the mantle to come up with innovations and be involved in issues of climate, but lack enough support.

¨There are a number of women-led innovations focusing on environmental issues, the only problem is that they do not have tools to do more aside from just speaking about it. There is need for financial support through grants, venture capital and debt financing.

¨Education is also crucial to promoting climate action, It helps people understand and address the impacts of the climate crisis, empowering them with the knowledge, skills, values and attitudes is needed too, ¨ She said.

Women have a critical role to play in addressing climate change, by being the engine for climate innovation and their engagement in every process of proffering solutions to climate change can never be over emphasised.

Supporting women’s involvement and investment in innovation processes and green technologies will not only enhance their capabilities and livelihoods but also contribute to the wellbeing and resilience of their communities and overall gender equality.

 

This story was produced under the WAN-IFRA Women in News (WIN) Social Impact Reporting Initiative (SIRI) Special Edition on Climate Change. Any views expressed in this story are those of the author and do not represent the views of WIN and its partners.