What is ice_ribh?
ice_ribh is the GIZ focal point for responsible and inclusive business based at icecairo. It powers a paradigm shift towards sustainable development in the Middle East and North Africa. We assist the private sector with skills, networks and business model development support around corporate social responsibility and inclusive business.
Inclusive AGRIbusiness Case Studies
What is Inclusive Business?
Inclusive Business is a sustainable business that includes disadvantaged segments of society as consumers and/or producers into existing or new value chains. ice_ribh office: 32 Mohamed Sabry Abu Alam, Downtown, Cairo, Egypt Programme Coordinator Bernhard Rohkemper: bernhard.rohkemper@giz.de
Powered by:
.
Rooftop farming - Egypt
Goal: Income creation for low-income urban communities through sustainable rooftop farming
Model: Training and start-up support coupled with supply chain integration Size & Reach: Pilot program with 20 participants
Key Partners: • GIZ: Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit • Caritas
Key ingredients: • Training and initial set-up of rooftop micro-farms • Microloans to finance up-front cost
Background: Communities on the outskirts of Cairo are made up mostly of lowincome households. Cairo is also an extremely densely populated city and much of what used to be fertile farmland has been used to construct housing units, which is why, urban farming was a chance to replace the brown urban landscape with lush green, fresh air, and a sustainable environment. By dealing with NGO’s that have experience with certain neighbourhoods, Schaduf offers the training, loans, initial set-up they need to start their own rooftop farm.
Solution: Schaduf has come up with a creative use of space in the dense quarters of Cairo where traditional farms have been crowded out by the need for housing. The company offers a training course on hydroponic farming techniques and provides help in setting up farms as well as ongoing support. They plant leafy greens – arugula, lettuce, parsley, celery, spinach, mulukhiya.
Impact: Inclusive Business Impact: Schaduf helps increase the income for households. Given a half hour of care every day the rooftop farm generates about 300 Egyptian pounds profit per month depending on the size of the roof. Schaduf guarentees to buy produce from the farmers and resells it through sourcing deals with local supermarkets. Health Impact: Of course the farmers can also chose to consume part of their produce themselves.Thus, the farm can also bring health benefits to both the family and the community by making fresh, affordable and good quality vegetables available locally. Further Impact: People learn about sustainable farming techniques. The supermarkets find a local supply of high quality sustainably grown produce and save money by shortening their value chain.
Contact: Sherif Hosny sherif.hosny@schaduf.com
Sources: schaduf.com
.