On my last trip to Kenya in February 2023, I had the pleasure of meeting Carol Wangu Wachira, who had just started making briquettes and decided to turn it into a business. She joined the United Briquette Producers Association and has made tremendous strides in getting her business up and running. We decided to interview […]
Kikopey Cleaning Up Cooking in Kenya Read More »
The Opportunity Clean burning charcoal briquettes have started to gain traction recently as viable clean alternatives to traditional charcoal or other biofuels. The feedstocks used to create briquettes vary, but include agricultural residues and other raw materials, most commonly bagasse and sawdust. However, coconut waste (shells and husks) also provide a viable alternative feedstock, which
Leveraging Coconut Waste to Maximize Impact Read More »
The Charcoal Project is seeking to expand its relationships with social impact investors to help facilitate funding for participants in the renewable biomass fuel sector, who are often unable to access traditional capital markets. We recently helped arrange a loan between Betty Zizinga Kaddu at Best of Waste Ltd (BOW) in Uganda and the 3rd Creek
Providing Social Capital to a Ugandan Entrepreneur Read More »
Join the United Briquette Producers Association‘s (UBPA) Annual General Membership Meeting on Nov. 10th, 3:30pm-5pm EAT. The guest speaker this year is Mary Ngotho, Standards Officer, KEBS, who will discuss the current state of briquette standard initiative in Kenya. This year’s event will be held online – please register here on EventBrite. UBPA was formed
UBPA General Membership Meeting 2020 Read More »
By Fatin El-Kabashi Abdullah Ibrahim Fatin volunteered with TCP this summer providing pro bono legal advice, researching and blogging about TCP’s work in East Africa. She is a recent Georgetown Law graduate. Fatin previously worked as a finance lawyer in London, UK. She is passionate about supporting entrepreneurship and innovation in developing countries and is
Clean Fuel, Charcoal Briquettes and COVID-19 Read More »
The Charcoal Project and MIT D-Lab co-hosted a webinar for charcoal briquette producers on adapting to COVID-19 restrictions. The webinar covered operational spacing, automating payments and orders and provided resources for more information on these topics. Dan Sweeney, MIT D-Lab, presented information on the spread of coronavirus and steps business could take to limit the
Adapting Business to Social Distancing – Webinar Read More »
The Charcoal Project Secures New Grant to Relaunch Harvest Fuel Initiative in Kenya Building on the prior success of the Harvest Fuel Initiative (HFI) Pilot and the Advancing Sustainable Charcoal Enterprises at Scale (AScHES) Convening in 2018, The Charcoal Project (TCP) is relaunching HFI with a program in Kenya, supported by Mennonite Economic Development Associates
TCP to Relaunch Harvest Fuel Initiative in Kenya Read More »
Emergency Funds for Fuel Providers The Charcoal Project (TCP) is raising funds to provide micro grants to fuel providers struggling with COVID 19 restrictions. TCP will dedicate all funds raised in conjunction with the Giving Tuesday Now campaign to help entrepreneurs with payroll and other necessary expenditures. The travel and transportation bans in East Africa
Emergency Funds for Fuel Providers Read More »
Clean Energy Companies Turn to Bamboo as a Renewable Resource Use of Wood Fuel is Still Prevalent Over 80% of sub-Saharan Africans are still relying on wood or wood charcoal for household energy needs. A large swath of the population still lack access to affordable modern cooking fuels, like electricity, LPG or ethanol. Dependence on
Clean Energy Companies Turn to Bamboo Read More »
The Charcoal Project is pleased to sponsor a Charcoal Briquette Industry Networking Event in Kampala, Uganda, on January 29th, 2020 Come join us for an afternoon of learning and sharing in the sector. Great chance to network with your peers! For producers and distributors of carbonized briquettes. Featured speakers from CIRCODU, UNSB and
Briquette Industry Networking Event – Uganda Read More »
Today we inaugurate SPOTLIGHT, a new regular series that focuses on social entrepreneurs on the frontlines of the battle to deliver cost-efficient, quality, and sustainable energy solutions to consumers and small businesses in sub-Saharan Africa. Our Spotlight today is on Raising Gabdho Foundation, a Uganda-based non-profit with robust charcoal briquette sales in Kampala. But Raising
SPOTLIGHT: RAISING GABDHO and Fuel for Refugees in Uganda Read More »
TCP and MIT D-Lab are excited to share the report of our October 2018 Convening – Advancing Sustainable cHarcoal Enterprises at Scale (AScHES). This was an amazing week of learning and community building for producers of sustainable biomass briquettes. Knowing that many producers were not able to join our group, we are happy to share
AScHES Convening Report Available for Review Read More »
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