Publication database

Conexsus supports small farmers associations and cooperatives that work under a income-generating model that preserves standing forest and other biomes. It focuses on three lines of action: business model, market access, and impact finance.

Case study on Belle Verte, an ecoinclusive enterprise, which provides innovative waste management solutions and raises awareness on the problem of increased waste in Mauritius. 

Case study on the Youth Initiative for Community Empowerment (YICE), an eco-inclusive enterprise that provides a agricultural services to smallholder farmers to improve their livelihoods. YICE has trained a group of farm agents to act as YICE representatives and community leaders. Innovative mobile technology provides smallholder farmers with access to key information on trainings, quality farm inputs,  and fair market prices for produce.  YICE aims to use this information and the provision of microloans to empower the local community to make better, more informed decisions at various levels of the farming value chain.

Case study on Unique Quality Product Enterprise (UQE). UQE's business model is based on a market-leading approach to promote the production and processing of the cereal grain fonio. Fonio was once a major food crop across West Africa and is known for is nutritional value, taste and adaptability to local climate and soil conditions. However, the introduction of rice and other cereal crops largely replaced fonio. UQE believes in fonio’s commercial potential and identified community members who were still growing the crop for local consumption. The enterprise engaged with local landholders and wider communities to gain access to infertile, unused land for women farmers. UQE promotes the expansion and harvesting of fonio crops using traditional methods. 

Case study on WASHKing. The company aims to eradicate open defecation and poor sanitation in low-income urban communities in Accra, Ghana. To achieve this, WASHKing designs, supplies and installs affordable, eco-friendly bio digester toilets in poor urban households. 

Case study on Sahelia Solar, an eco-inclusive enterprise that specialises in the design and supply of a range of solar energy systems. Sahelia Solar operates in three main sectors; residential, commercial and industrial, and offers both pre-pay and pay-as-you-go (PAYG) models. The product range comprises solar back-up systems as an alternative energy source for customers who are already connected to the national energy network, solar kits for rural and remote communities who require night-time lighting, and solar hot water systems.

Case study on Safi Organics, one of the largest producers of rice in Kenya. The company aims to reverse declining agricultural yields, improve the income and food security of local farmers, and provide opportunities for local youth. Safi Organics created an agricultural value chain from the local organic waste stream. Using an open source technology, the enterprise produces valuable agricultural inputs such as fertiliser and soil treatments designed to meet local conditions.  Waste rice husk is collected from farmers and processed into bio char, the bio char is then stored, processed, and a local enzyme is added to enable microbial growth. The fertiliser and soil treatments are sold back to the farmers directly or through agents.