The Elephant Charge 2021 is taking place on Saturday 25 September this year. So far, 33 teams have entered to compete in Zambia’s extreme 4×4 event which is held every year to raise money for local wildlife conservation organisations.
The money raised for conservation in Zambia focuses on conservation through education. In the ten years since it began, the Charge has raised over $1,181,000 which has been distributed to 22 conservation organisations and projects working across Zambia.
What is the Elephant Charge?
The Camel Team – Elephant Charge 2020
The Elephant Charge is an annual event which challenges teams of cars and motorbikes to complete a gruelling course through the Zambian bush. It is a trial of 4×4 driving, navigating and endurance. The Charge was inspired by Kenya’s Rhino Charge which has raised millions of dollars for the Rhino Ark Foundation and the Aberdares National Park, since it began in 1989.
The Charge is held at a different location each year, close to Lusaka, over the course of a weekend in September or October. The exact location is a carefully guarded secret until the day before the competition.
Entries are in one of two classes: car or motorbike. Car teams consist of a vehicle with between two and six passengers, whilst motorbike teams comprise of three to four bikes and riders. Each team designates a navigator who is issued with maps and checkpoint cards before the race. The car teams designate a driver who is responsible for all the driving during the charge. The other members of the team are the runners who scout through the bush for the shortest route that can be taken, fix broken vehicles and get the whole team back in one piece!
The venue is revealed just days before the charge, with maps being issued to each team the evening before the race. The team that picks the shortest possible distance to visit all the checkpoints, whilst avoiding chasms, peaks and rivers, wins! But, to make the course more exciting, three of the checkpoints on the course are designated as ‘The Gauntlet’ – these checkpoints are close together within extreme terrain. ‘The Gauntlet’ allows spectators to get close to the action whilst the teams show off their skills. Distance though ‘The Gauntlet’ is then multiplied by three and added to the final distance so it is vital that teams take the shortest route possible through this extreme terrain. A special prize is also given for the shortest distance taken between two checkpoints, called the ‘Tsetse Lines’.
In 2020, Elephant Charge funds were used to fully support @chipembelewildlife’s 4 Community Conservation Educators and their vital work engaging local communities in learning about wildlife
Each team is asked to raise money beforehand and to make a pledge to conservation charities that every dollar that they raise passes directly to beneficiary charities and NGOs as grants. The money needed to hold the Charge competition itself is raised by the organising committee and comes from sponsors and a small entry fee paid by each team. So all money teams raise goes directly into Zambian conservation.
Grant beneficiaries make applications each year, being selected based on their programs and projects which are in line with Elephant Charge’s mission of conservation through education in Zambia. The beneficiaries then report back, sharing how the money raised for the grants had been spent.
This months #WingedWednesday Webinar, hosted by Bats Without Borders, is being given by Dr Susan Tsang on Flying Fox hunting and trafficking in SouthEast Asia.
Susan is currently an AAAS Science and Technology Policy Fellow in the Branch of Counter Wildlife Trafficking Strategy and Partnerships in the Division of Management Authority at U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service HQ in the Washington, DC Metro Area. She serves as the Program Manager for a new FWS-INL joint initiative on combating wildlife trafficking in Southeast Asia, with a specific focus on Indonesia.
Her major research interests are in the biogeography and evolution of Southeast Asian pteropodid bats, particularly of flying foxes (genus Pteropus and Acerodon). She is a Research Associate at the American Museum of Natural History and the National Museum of the Philippines and is also a Visiting Researcher in the Division of Mammals at the National Museum of Natural History at the Smithsonian Institution. Susan has become deeply involved with regional bat conservation groups and is an active member of the IUCN Bat Specialist Group as well as having published a range of research papers
You can join Susan’s webinar at 15-16hrs CAT on Wednesday 28 July by signing up beforehand at www.batswithoutborders.org
Please note: you only need to register once, and then you will be emailed the day before with instructions on how to join in. You can also catch up on all the previous webinars on their website or via their YouTube channel – if you sign up you will be notified of new videos being added.The webinars are held on Zoom.
Batty Art Competition
Don’t forget, the second Batty Art Competition is still open for entries. You can enter three pictures, cartoons, games, photos, illustrations, etc. inspired by African bats and their landscapes. So get your creative ideas going! The competition closes on 6 August 2021. You can enter and find out more on the Bats Without Borders Facebook Page
Replicating a model like COMACO takes time, learning from mistakes, they have trained and built up staff numbers, put in infrastructures, engaged with farmers and scaled up their project to grow markets. Then they assess – is the model achieving its intended goal: reducing rural poverty in ways that keep forests and wildlife safe on a scale large enough to protect an ecosystem? If the answer is yes, then they think about replicating their model in other areas.
After 18 years they are now taking their model to entirely new districts around Kafue National Park, in Mumbwa and Itezhi-tezhi. These districts were chosen because of their high level of rural poverty and food insecurity which in turn threatens Zambia’s largest national park’s biodiversity, from poaching and deforestation.
“With our market reach and growing value for the It’s Wild! brand built around farmers and conservation, we have begun working with all 13 new chiefdoms in these districts to recruit another 20,000 small-scale farmers into the COMACO approach.”
For their replication to succeed, it was vital to have support from local traditional leadership. His Royal Highness, Chief Mulendema, extended his friendship to COMACO warmheartedly by offering them land to build their new manufacturing hub. He explained:
“We work closely with COMACO because there is a lot of deforestation here in Mumbwa, especially in my chiefdom. I have made a decree that there should be no charcoal-making in my chiefdom. This will be an uphill battle because it is a main source of income and many believe there is no alternative. I know that with the help of COMACO this will happen. We are excited about the new hub. It will create self-employment for many of our farmers. We struggle with markets and being able to sell our products. I can say that we are ready to learn and bring development to the area that will help in protecting the environment. We welcome COMACO.”
Establishing new home for the Mumbwa Hub
Chief Mulendema’s offer to establish their new manufacturing hub in his communal area is a first for COMACO. They will be close to farmers and so will be able to work together to combine solutions for local livelihoods and the surrounding environment. They have started construction, taking measures to leave trees untouched, showing how commerce and conservation can grow together. The surrounding villages are seeking their commitment to make this happen.
The hub is located on a 2.1 hecture plot, on the main road to Kafue National Park, about 15km from Mumbwa town. It will have a 4,000 ton capacity warehouse, with a grading/deshelling/sorting line facility, along with facilities for other processing lines, staff offices and a meeting room. It will be a location for both manufacturing and a place where neighbouring farmers and traditional leaders can come together to visit and to learn.
New Green Markets shops in Mumbwa
As part of their replication process, they will be giving the residents of Mumbwa a taste of their ‘It’s Wild!’ products, showcasing healthy, natural nutrition at an affordable price. They will be doing this by introducing two new Green Market Shops. Through these shops, they can communicate the role that COMACO plays in supporting local farmers, bringing extra value to their conservation efforts, both in the soil for restoring nutrients and to the land for sustainable forests and wildlife. This is being done with help from Musika and Irish Aid.
“We wanted the shops to be located where consumers could easily access them to learn about COMACO and taste our products. To do this, we decided to convert old shipping containers into attractive shops that could be easily and quickly placed. One is located in town and the other near the entrance to the Kafue National Park where buses stop in route from western parts of the country to Lusaka. Slowly but surely, through our It’s Wild! products, we’re getting the message across that conservation needs everyone’s help, and buying a product is one way to tell the farmer to keep conserving.”
13 Chiefdoms sign up for Carbon Markets
Many of Mumbwa’s and Itezi-tezhi’s forests have already disappeared and COMACO know that they are working against time. These local forests have been lost to charcoal burning and the illegal harvesing of timber for the wider market. This is the main reason COMACO decided to replicate their model in these districts.
It was thought that if these traditional rulers could help unify their communities to abandon the practices that are causing so much destruction, then their market could reinforce their efforts to make changes happen. They explained and presented their approach to all 13 traditional leaders who represent both districts and sought their views over the destruction that had already taken place in their chiefdoms. They then discussed ideas to gauge how they could all work together, such as by the ‘carbon market’, made available through the new Forestry Act.
COMACO works closely with the Forestry Department. They bridge technical and market needs for communities to make markets possible. This needs commitment from every local farmer to follow practices that reduce dependency on charcoal or the need to clear forests for more farmland. This is a tall order, but they have seen it work when the right skills and incentives are applied.
After a three week tour by two carbon expert COMACO teams, who visited each traditional leader, all 13 signed pledges to do everything possible to lead their communities to a better future, with conservation and the markets that come with it. The meetings represented a turning point. Although this is only the first step, it is a critically important one that allows COMACO to move forward with formal documentation for putting these pledges and agreements into a plan of action. This process has now started and they are finding out about various technical information on the carbon stocks and historical rates of deforestation to set the bar for what must be achieved in the coming three years.
Read more!
You can read more from the Traditional Leaders of Mumbwa and Itezi-Tezhi districts in COMACO’s latest newsletter, where you can also find out about the expansion of their radio program, how beekeepers are protecting forests and hear from their Chairman. You can also keep up to date with all their news on COMACO’s Facebook Page
Are you interested in studying a fully-funded master’s degree in one of Ireland’s prestigious universities? The Ireland Fellows Programme is now open and they are on the lookout for high-achieving Zambian professionals.
The Programme offers selected students the opportunity to undertake a fully funded one-year master’s level programme at a high education institution (HEI) studying in Ireland. It enables early to mid-career professions from eligible countries to benefit from a prestigious, world-class, quality education contributing to capacity building. It aims to nurture future leaders, to develop in country capacity to achieve national SDG goals, and to build positive relationships with Ireland.
The Programme scholarship covers programme fees, flights, accommodation and living costs. Once home, graduates are expected to bring their acquired skills to contribute to capacity building in their home country. It is envisaged that they will then contribute to building enduring positive personal and professional relationships with Ireland, promoting institutional linkages.
Master’s level programmes
The eligible master’s level programmes are listed in a Directory, which includes a range of areas such as climate change, conservation and behaviour, wildlife conservation and management, environmental science and renewable energy. You can find the Directory here for information on all the Programmes offered.
Programmes begin in Ireland in August or September each year and, depending on the programme chosen, run for between 10 and 16 months.
Eligibility
To be eligible for an Ireland Fellows Programme – Africa scholarship commencing at the beginning of the academic year 2022 applicants must:
Have a minimum of 2 or 3 years’ work experience that is directly relevant to your proposed programme(s) of study, depending on the country (see the Guidance Note for Applicants)
Hold a bachelor’s level academic qualification from an accredited and government-recognised higher education institution, with a minimum grade point average of 3.0 (4.0 scale) – i.e. a first class honour, or second class honour, Grade 1 (in some cases a second class honour Grade 2 may be accepted, if the applicant has sufficient directly relevant work experience). It must have been awarded in 2010 or later (i.e. within the last 12 years)
Not already hold a qualification at master’s level or higher. Not currently undertaking a programme at master’s level or higher, or be due to start a programme at master’s level or higher in the academic year 2021/22
Be applying to commence a new programme at master’s level in Ireland no sooner than August 2021
Be able to demonstrate the following: leadership abilities and aspirations; a commitment to the achievement of the SDGs within your own country; and a commitment to contribute to building positive relationships with Ireland
Have identified and selected 3 programmes relevant to your academic and professional background from the Directory of Eligible Programmes
Have a clear understanding of the academic and English language proficiencies required for all programmes chosen
Must not have applied to the Ireland Fellows Programme on more than one previous occasion
Be in a position to take up the Fellowship in the academic year 2022/2023
How to apply
Ireland boasts one of the most highly educated populations in the world, with many of the world’s biggest and best companies being located in Ireland. This has led to an unparalleled ecosystem of collaboration between Irish academic researchers and some of the most powerful multi-nationals of the planet.
The application process consists of three stages:
Stage 1 Preliminary Application
Stage 2 Detailed Application
Stage 3 Interviews
More information and application forms can be downloaded from here. All Stage 1 applications must be emailed to Zambiafellowships@dfa.ie. Applicants who are selected to go forward to second stage will be required to sit an IELTS, or Duolingo English Test unless they are already in possession of an IELTS certificate or Duolingo test certificate that is dated 2020 or later at the time of application which shows the applicant has achieved the necessary score for the course they intend to apply to. Early preparation for the IELTS and Duolingo English test exam is strongly advised, even for native English speakers.
The closing date for applications is 1 August 2021.Please include ‘Ireland-Africa Fellowship’ in the subject line of all emails.
The Ireland Fellows Programme is fully funded by the Irish Government and is offered under the Department of Foreign Affairs. The Ireland Fellows Programme promotes equal opportunity and welcomes diversity.
SEED announced the winners of their Awards for Entrepreneurship in Sustainable Development, at the United Nation’s High-level Political Forum on Sustainable Development (HLPF) this week.
The winners and runners-up came from nine countries across Africa and Asia. They had showcased their innovative and sustainable enterprises, contributing to climate adaptation and lower carbon use. Overall there were nine winners and 39 runners-up who are eligible for participation in the renowned SEED Accelerator and Catalyser programmes. This will help scale their enterprises and their impact locally.
Meet the SEED Awards 2021 Winners
The SEED Climate Adaptation Awards 2021 Winners were Wuchi Wami, Zambia, Kalahari Honey, Botswana and EcoGen, Malawi. The SEED Low Carbon Awards in Africa, included waste management companies with the winners being Regenize, South Africa, Peec Energy, Uganda and the Ghanaian start-up, JVL-YKMA recycling plant. In the same category, the winners in Asia focused largely on enterprises utilising the circular economy model – Indian start-up PadCare Labs alongside Sampangan from Indonesia and Thai start-up Moreloop which upcycles dead-stock fabrics to tackle waste in the fashion industry.
“Micro and small enterprises play a vital role in the transformation to a decarbonised, more sustainable development. Many of these enterprises contribute greatly to this transformation. The SEED Awards are instrumental for scaling such enterprises, equipping the founders with the tools, knowledge and networks they need to maximise their impact within their local communities and beyond.” Rita Schwarzelühr-Sutter, Parliamentarian State Secretary in the German Federal Environment Ministry (BMU), which is the primary sponsor of the SEED Low Carbon Awards.
SEED Climate Adaptation Award Winners
Winners included Kalahari Honey, Botswana, who train farmers to use bees to stop elephants destroying their farms. EcoGen, a Malawian enterprise that turns leftover food into cooking gas. The Zambian Wuchi Wami Company which promotes sustainable bee farming.
“When it comes to the impacts of climate change, countries like Malawi, Zambia and Botswana are on the front line. They are the ones who will feel the effects of a rise in global temperature most acutely. That is why we are so proud to support the SEED Awards, which recognise and scale the impact of eco-inclusive enterprises across these local communities. As we emerge from the COVID-19 pandemic, MSMEs are at the forefront of enabling green recovery and delivering on SDGs, for the good of the wider community and the planet.” Yves Wantens, General Representative of the Government of Flanders in the United States. The Government of Flanders is the primary sponsor of the SEED Climate Adaptation Awards.
About Wuchi Wami, Zambia
Wuchi Wami, the 2021 SEED Climate Adaptation Award Winner, has been operating since 2018 and are based in Mwinilunga, North-western Province. The company provides raw, organic and unpasteurised honey whilst creating a sustainable livelihood for smallholder farmers.
The honey is sourced from wild miombo forests, located around Mwinilunga. It is then processed through its registered cooperative which has 2,500 farmers participating in bee keeping in their out-growers scheme. Wuchi Wami then packages, brands, markets and distribute local raw and organic Honey for their health-conscious clients.
Wuchi Wami equips smallholder farmers with modern beehives that are environmentally friendly, so do not impact on deforestation. These modern beehives made from easy to plant pine, preserving the miombo trees that are destroyed in the traditional beehive production. Deforestation is further reduced by providing an alternative income source for women and men engaged in charcoal burning. Their brand is distributed in their out-growers scheme, registered under Kwasha indimi cooperative in Mwinilunga. This honey is then distributed to their clients who are countrywide stores and shops.
Their scheme is supported through its partnerships with various stakeholders, ranging from national and international organisations, investors, research institutes, suppliers, governmental bodies, NGOs, and other social and environmental enterprises. Prospero Zambia supports Wuchi Wami through grant, technical assistance and capacity building as well as investor readiness. The Zambian Development Agency promotes and facilitates trade, investment and enterprise development. Their clients include large chain stores, such as Choppies. Find them at www.wuchiwami.com
The SEED Awards
Winners will be awarded matching grants of between €10,000 – 15,000 and will receive tailored one-to-one advisory services for up to a year to scale their operations, as part of the renowned SEED Accelerator programme. In line with the principle of ‘awarding the best and moving the rest’, 39 runners-up are also being supported through the SEED Catalyser programme, to refine their business models and optimise their impacts while advancing their investment readiness.
Of the 2021 SEED Awards entrants, 69% were aged 18-35, with 52% being female-led enterprises. Since their inception in 2005, the SEED Awards have awarded 311 enterprises in 40 countries. They have facilitated the disbursement of over €1 million in grants. Each individual SEED enterprise has saved an average of 7,300 tonnes of CO2, generated more than 9,399 kWh of renewable energy, and created 28.4 jobs.
You can read more about all the winners on the SEED Website which also has lots of information in their Topics and Library pages, including videos, toolkits, case studies and more.
