ETHIOPIA – Partnering for Green Growth and Global Goals (P4G), a Danish initiative has invested US$500,000 to fund a project to develop protein-rich biscuit in Ethiopia that will alleviate hunger in refugee camps and poor urban areas.
P4G is an initiative with the ambition of becoming the world’s leading forum for developing concrete public-private partnerships at scale to deliver on the SDGs and the Paris Climate Agreement.
The biscuits are made from whey protein and local quinoa produced with enzymes and manufactured in an Ethiopian biscuit factory.
According to State of Green, the recipe for the protein rich biscuit is developed in a partnership between DanChurchAid a Danish humanitarian non-governmental organisation, Arla Foods Ingredients global leader in value-added whey solutions and Novozymes a global biotechnology company headquartered in Denmark.
The sustainable food partnership was first initiated in 2018 and P4G funded the project with US$100,000.
Traditionally, relief organizations worldwide have sent money and relief to Africa but with this initiative its ambition is to create local jobs and ensure sustainable economic development.
“It is an ambition that can only be achieved through close collaboration with local actors, authorities and organizations,” said Peter Steen Mortensen of Novozymes’ Public Affairs team.
“Very many elements need to fall into place for this partnership to succeed, in collaboration and technically. It’s challenging and it’s difficult, ” Peter says. “But the ambition and aim here is that we strive to make a fundamental change to alleviate hunger and empower local development.”
Birgitte Qvist-Sørensen, General Secretary, DanChurchAid stated, “The nutritious biscuits are to be produced and distributed locally. In this way, the partnership helps to ensure better nutrition and create local jobs. In particular, this will benefit populations in refugee camps and vulnerable urban area.”
Another partnership that has received support from P4G is between Grundfos, Oxfam and the Kenyan water authorities which is in its start-up phase.
However, as it takes hold, the people of desert and arid lands in Kenya can look forward to easier access to clean drinking water. The aim of the partnership is to improve water supply and reduce water leaks.
“We’re excited to join forces with an organization of Oxfam’s capabilities and vision; we believe in the power of people and only through bold partnerships and collaboration will we make water work and find new and sustainable solutions to the world’s biggest challenge,” said Pia Yasuko Rask, Director of Safe Water at Grundfos.
The partnership’s target is to secure water supply for 240,000 Kenyans by reducing non-revenue water by 15 percent, increasing the life of water networks from an average of eight to twelve years, and halving the number of downtime in the water supply.
Liked this article? Subscribe to Food Business Africa News, our regular email newsletters with the latest news insights from Africa and the World’s food and agro industry. SUBSCRIBE HERE
