Kenya Nordic Green Hub
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by
quercusgroup
quercusgroupDescription of project
The project aims to enhance climate change resilience and reduce carbon emissions in Nairobi through transfer of technologies and experiences from the Nordic countries facilitated by the ‘Kenya-Nordic Green Hub’ (KNGH). The target group consists of public institutions responsible for urban development in Nairobi; local influencers; local sales channels; and Nordic companies and public institutions. The final beneficiaries will be urban residents in Nairobi.
The Kenya-Nordic Green Hub is led by a consortium headed by the Confederation of Danish Industry in partnership with the Kenya Association of Manufacturers (local partner and head of interim KNGH secretariat), Aalto University, Inclusive Business Sweden, Quercus Group, DI Learning Lab, Finpro, Innovation Norway, Business Sweden, State of Green (commercial management).
The project builds on the Sustainable Development Goals by offering concrete inputs on how innovative partnerships between Kenyan and Nordic stakeholders can contribute to solving the growing climate challenges in Kenya’s capital, Nairobi. The project is expected to pave the way for climate benefits in Nairobi through introduction of best practices and follow-up investments from the Nordic countries.
The project uses the potential of Nordic cooperation to transfer proven appropriate Nordic technology and urban climate change solutions into the Nairobi context and through this contribute to building resilience and reducing emissions. The KNGH initiative uses the Nordic brand, making both individual countries and companies more visible and even more interesting as partners. Nordic partners can through such cooperation be offered better services through a broader professional network and gain entry into the Kenyan climate resilience market. From the Nairobi perspective, the KNGH will provide a one-stop access to Nordic knowledge, technology and partnerships on urban climate solutions.
Type of services provided
The main activities to be undertaken include data collection, mapping and analysis to establish a baseline and provide inputs to Nairobi’s climate action plan; knowledge exchange and piloting of Nordic climate solutions; integration of appropriate products and technologies from Nordic countries; promotion and development of long-term strategy and business for continued operation of the Kenya-Nordic Green Hub.
Support for Private Sector Development: The KNGH will have a strong emphasis on private sector development through public-private partnerships and climate relevant business-to-business relationships. The host of the facility is the leading Kenyan organisation for the private sector with 700 member companies. The project team represents major Nordic private sector organisations and will facilitate and provide assistance to establishment of Public-Private-Partnerships in cities.
Catalytic Role and Leverage: The NDF support will lead to the establishment of the KNGH in Nairobi, the first ever joint Nordic platform in Africa for transfer of Nordic knowledge, technology and solutions for addressing urban climate challenges. It is expected that the small-grant will be able to leverage about EUR 4-7 million in follow-up investments.
Project Preparatory Funding: The proposal will prepare the ground for 2-3 climate change mitigation/adaptation pilot projects with Nordic involvement with projected early stage investments of EUR 4-7 million, and as such the proposal should be seen as an upstream initiative with the intent to prepare the way for larger private sector financing.
Support for Innovation: Innovations can be defined as diffusion of already developed and demonstrated technologies and practices which are new to a given context in the partner country. The NDF financing will translate successful Nordic climate and environmental solutions into a Kenyan context.
The activities will be facilitated by four working groups addressing Nairobi’s climate challenges based on different themes;
- High tech, low cost solutions: How advanced technology can provide accessible and sustainable solutions to low-income markets.
- Institutional capacity: How formal and informal institutions can facilitate sustainable solutions.
Financing modalities: How progressive investment incentives can catalyze sustainable solutions. Quercus is lead on this working group. - Climate co-benefits: How climate co-benefits can spur local communities to support the implementation of sustainable climate solutions.
Interested to learn more about Kenya Nordic Green Hub? Contact…
Mariam Njoroge from Quercus Group.
mariam@quercus-group.com
+254 723 341 220