News from the project

New publication out

Wekesa, C., Mutta, D., Larwanou, M., Kowero, G., & Roos, A. (2023). Effects of charcoal ban on value chains and livelihoods in Kenyan coast–Stakeholders’ perceptions. Environmental Development, 100809.

Publications

Roos, A., Mutta, D., Larwanou, M., Wekesa, C., Kowero, G., 2021. Operations and improvement needs in the informal charcoal sector – A participatory value stream analysis. International Forestry Review 23(3)

Mutta, Doris; Mahamane, Larwanou; Wekesa, Chemuku; Kowero, Godwin; Roos, Anders. 2021. "Sustainable Business Models for Informal Charcoal Producers in Kenya" Sustainability 13, no. 6: 3475. https://doi.org/10.3390/su13063475

Sustainable business models for charcoal in Africa

Date: October 13th

Time: 2020-10-13 14:00 - 16:30

Driven by population increase and urbanization, charcoal use is on the increase in Sub-Saharan Africa. It is an affordable energy source that generate rural jobs and incomes – however charcoal use is also associated with health-related and environmental problems. This webinar discusses opportunities for creating more sustainable charcoal value chains in Africa. What is required to promote charcoal value chains that provide affordable energy and rural income, without degrading the forest resources?

The Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU), in partnership with, the African Forest Forum (AFF), is implementing a research project “Sustainable Business Models for Tree based Value Chains in Sub Saharan Africa”. The goal of the project is to generate knowledge on the charcoal value chain, more specifically on its processes, actors, and their interactions. The research is conducted in Kenya and Niger in a participatory manner that involves various stakeholders. It is aimed at analysing resources, competences and business models among supply chain members in fostering sustainable and livelihood improving outcomes. At the webinar, results from this project are presented, together with findings from leading researchers in the field.

Läs mer om webinariet Sustainable business models for charcoal in Africa

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Workshop: Building sustainable business models for forest based value chains in Africa

 26-27 February 2020

Mombasa, 26-27 February 2020 – African Forest Forum (AFF), the Swedish University for Agricultural Sciences (SLU) and the Kenya Forestry Research Institute (KEFRI) held a two-day national workshop on, “Sustainable Business Models for Forest-Based Value Chains in Sub-Saharan Africa”.

The workshop covered emerging challenges and potentials of sustainable forest-based value chains for forest dependent people.

Specific objectives of the workshop were to:

• Receive and deliberate on findings of research conducted by AFF, SLU, KEFRI and ICRISAT on charcoal value chains in Kenya and Niger  in the context of sustainable livelihoods improvement and environmental sustainability;
• Provide an opportunity for stakeholders, policymakers and experts in forest-based value chains to meet and exchange information and experiences on such value chains, and on approaches to strengthen the value chains;
• Provide inputs to inform future initiatives for the promotion of sustainable business models for tree based value chains.

In Africa, supply chains for forest-based products mostly operate within the informal sector and involve harvesting, processing, and marketing of a range of forest-based products including timber, firewood, charcoal, and many non-timber forest products.

The tree based products in Africa, which is mostly consumed within the continent, employs tens of millions of mostly poor people in the supply chains, and reaches about 600 million consumers. Economic studies reveal that the production, trade and sale of these products are not captured in national or international statistics because either the whole value chain falls outside the measured and taxed market or the production, trade and/or consumption of them are not legal. However, they contribute significantly to employment and rural livelihoods.

The workshop brought together stakeholders from various sectors in forestry and related disciplines including government officials, research scientists, representatives from non-governmental organisations, international organisations, and key value chain actors.

Besides presentations by AFF, SLU, ICRISAT and  KEFRI, the invited speakers and participants represented County Administrations in Taita Taveta, and Kwale Counties, Kenya Forest Service, FAO, Kenya Ministry of Environment and Forestry, World Agroforestry Centre (ICRAF), Tanzania Forest Conservation Group, Kenya’s Ministry of Energy, Alliance of Civil Society Organisations for Clean Energy Access, National Government Affirmative Action Fund Taita Taveta County and South Coast Forest Owners Association.

The workshop is an integral component of the AFF and SLU research project, namely: “Sustainable Business Models for Tree based Value Chains in Sub Saharan Africa” funded by the Swedish Council for Sustainable Development, FORMAS.

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Projektet startade i januari 2018.