The past year at CO2balance has been a year of growth and success. In this blog, we will take a look back at some of the key outputs we have achieved. You can also take a look at all of our projects here.
Projects
CO2balance became the first project developer to achieve full Gold Standard Gender Responsive Certification. A major highlight of the year which you can read more about here.
Safe water projects in Zambia completed 50 borehole rehabilitations in the Eastern Province with project partner ROCs.
Following the devastation of Cyclone Idai, Mozambique, CO2balance rehabilitated 70 boreholes and installed 10 new boreholes in Manica Province with project partners Village Water and WATSAN Mozambique.
Our work in Ethiopia, with partners Vita, saw 30 new boreholes rehabilitated and around 5000 efficient cookstoves distributed to households.
In Kenya, 10 of the first CO2balance borehole projects were validated, rehabilitating 120 boreholes along Kenya’s Indian Ocean coast. New small-scale projects were also set up in Western and Central Kenya.
Exciting developments continue to be made in Uganda with 43 boreholes rehabilitated as well as a stakeholder consultation being completed for a project collaborating with a Rhino Sanctuary. Funds raised from the project will be donated to the sanctuary.
2019 also saw expansion into new regions for CO2balance. In West Africa 10 new VPAs have been developed in Sierra Leone, a new venture for us! In addition, CO2balance has began work in Vietnam to distribute efficient cookstoves with a stakeholder consultation successfully completed.
CO2balance also began work in The Gambia with successful completion of a stakeholder consultation and a country-wide baseline for a borehole rehabilitation project with partners United Purpose.
In addition to ongoing carbon project development, we carried out two CSR projects, in Ethiopia and Malawi. The Malawi CSR project focused on renovating two Health Clinics, partnering with First Climate and United Purpose, was successfully implemented with the final project update due later this month! The project will ensure better access to medical services for local people.
The Ethiopia CSR project focused on Community Led Total Sanitation, pioneering with community-led initiatives with partners EcoAct and Philips, and project implementer’s Vita. It promoted sanitation and hygiene behaviours and supplied hygienic toilet facilities within existing project areas. WASH activities and training were conducted in local schools and community centres also.
CO2balance also hosted a client trip for Canon Medical and MediaCom which involved a visit to Uganda, travelling to communities in our project areas and the Rhino Sanctuary we are collaborating with.
Online Revamp
2019 saw CO2balance’s online presence boosted with a brand new website launch and a revamp into our social media activities. You can keep up to date with important news and announcements across Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and LinkedIn.
Stay tuned for next week’s blog where we will be looking ahead to 2020 and what lies in store for CO2balance. Happy New Year!