AFRICA: OIF grants €230,000 to 8 climate and sanitation start-ups

Of the 13 sustainable initiatives selected and funded by the Organisation internationale de la Francophonie (OIF) as part of its fifth call for initiatives, eight are being implemented in Africa, notably in Benin, Rwanda, in Burundi and Madagascar.

The verdict on the fifth call for initiatives issued by the Organisation internationale de la Francophonie (OIF) is in. In all, 13 start-ups from around the world working to implement the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) will share a budget of €230,000. “This programme for civil society organisations (CSOs) is supported by the governments of France, Andorra and Romania,” says the OIF.

Among the eight African winners is the Association guinéenne d’Éveil au développement durable (AGGED), which stood out for its initiatives in sustainable fish farming and raising awareness of climate change among local communities. Thanks to the 20,000 euros granted by the OIF, Agged will be able to continue its educational workshops on the preservation of biodiversity (MDGs 4 and 15), in particular the one organised for the people of Linsan Saran, a rural commune located 491 kilometres from Conakry.

There is also the non-governmental organisation (NGO) À portée de mains, which has been awarded up to €15,000 to fund its activities in Burundi. In this East African country hard hit by drought and poverty, it is promoting gender equality (MDG5) and eco-responsible production and consumption (MDG12) through its podcast called “liens durables” (sustainable links).

The Entreprendre pour le développement et l’environnement (EDEN) platform validly represented Madagascar in this fifth call for initiatives on sustainable development. The Francophonie jury awarded it a sum of 19797 euros to support its “utilisons balai sans dépenser” clean-up operation. It organises cleanliness campaigns (plastic waste collection, street and house sweeping) to encourage Malagasy people, particularly those living in urban areas, to make their neighbourhoods more attractive.