Overview

Using Renewable Energy to Transform Fishing Livelihoods (RE4Ice) is a four-year project which where we are collaborating with a youth-led social enterprise to develop fisheries related infrastructure, focused on the provision of ice and purified water which will contribute to reduced post-harvest losses, and increased profit margin for artisan fishers. The project is contributing to the Homa Bay Integrated Development Plan (2018-22) through its focus on the promotion of post-harvest management techniques to tackle overfishing, whilst mitigating against further climate change through the introduction of clean technologies. In addition to the provision of clean ice, clean water is also being produced via a process of solar-powered purification and being sold at an affordable rate.

This pilot is taking a market systems approach to strengthen the market- system surrounding fisheries.  And this is being seen already by the fact that the ice is not only being bought by the fisherfolk on Takawiri Island but also being sold to communities on neighbouring islands.

Objectives & Outcomes

Impact Goal: Improved community resilience through access to clean energy technology for 1,970 households on Takawiri Island, Homa Bay County, Kenya

Outcome 1: A social enterprise, catalysed by grant funding from Renewable World, supplies solar energy-enabled services (filtered water and ice production), which are affordable, reliable and sustainable to strengthen livelihoods in one fishing community in Homa Bay County.

Outcome 2: 1 fishing community has increased capacity to operate autonomously within the marketplace.

Outcome 3: An evidence-based enabling environment is created, supporting increased public and private sector interest in investing in clean and environmentally low impact technologies linked to fisheries.