MEK Green Solution for Disadvantaged Communities

• The specific problem within the Challenge is the clear geographical disparities in impoverished areas with conspicuous harm to the environment, lack of affordable building materials, the environmental dilemma of solid wastes, and the complete negligence to climate change issues resulting in lack of resilient ecosystems.
• The scale of this problem is vast all over Egypt cities, where the buildings are largely informal, creating slums with no sanitation, utilities or hygiene; and with formidable amounts of solid waste. Yet in the rural agricultural communities there is hope for a complete ecosystem model including agricultural waste that causes diseases, or causes tremendous environmental hazards from burning rice straws a waste and other waste such as pollution, as follows:

• In Egypt, there are 24 areas threatening human life (a first-degree danger), in which there are approximately 23 thousand housing units, and they are located on an area of more than 575 acres.
• The number of unsafe areas (second-degree danger) reached 247, with more than 114,000 housing units, and located on an area of more than 2,163 acres.
• The number of unsafe areas (a third degree danger) reached 60, with more than 48 thousand housing units, and located on an area of more than 1,127 acres.
• There are 16 areas (the fourth degree of danger) in which there are more than 25 thousand housing units, and their area exceeds 624 acres.
• Globally in Egypt, the total area of unplanned slums is 156 thousand acres, while the total unsafe slum areas are 4500 acres. The total area of slums is 38.60 percent of the total urban block area.

Creation of a model smart village center that is climate resilient, first by using eco-friendly materials for building the village center, having the community school as the core of the village for easily accessible, having an adjacent biogas unit for recycling solid waste, and acting as an awareness center for climate resilience in building materials, water, soil, and energy substitutes.

This smart building model is intended to be a model that can be replicated in many rural impoverished communities. Creation of such a model natural smart clusters in rural vulnerable communities in Upper Egypt marginalized communities through use of natural building materials, and construction of a biogas unit for solid waste management and clean energy production. The use of a natural soil Compressed stabilized earth block that is environmentally sustainable alternative for villages housing brick which has received an iso-accreditation. Using this natural soil brick to build vulnerable houses and building of community schools in Upper Egypt rural communities, is an ideal solution in hot areas because of the thermal comfort and insulation of the soil and its low impact on the environment. This brick is manufactured on site by the locals, which invigorates community participatory activities, and increases soft advocacy to these building trends. Government localities have to engage in enforcing these natural types of building and recycling units. Moreover, a centralized biogas unit can make an enormous difference in the mitigation of climate change by the solid waste management through dealing with all solid waste with proper guidance to inputs of solid waste that can be recycled, and generation of clean energy to .

The creation of such an integrated center is an ecosystem model to show-case the potential of building with compressed soil bricks for low rise buildings. This will reduce dependence on highly polluting materials. The use of climate designs can reduce dependence on electric fans. Introduction of old Islamic Arabian arid zone architectural elements as wind towers, domes with ventilation to encourage cross circulation, inner courtyards with water fountain and plants which is highly effective on reducing both of indoor air temperature and humidity due to the natural ventilation through the windows that are facing it.

The solution serves the vulnerable impoverished communities in rural agricultural villages in Upper and Lower Egypt if completed with all design components then replicated, where pollution has taken a toll on their environment.

They are underserved poor communities with less than 2 USD a day. The are large families who have no awareness about climate change. The get rid of waste by burning stalks and straws causing more pollution to the environment. The climate change model can positively impact their lives by providing climate change awareness services, solid waste management services. Such activities will hugely impact the lives of these impoverished communities if replicated in all similar areas. Such transformation will be evident through mitigation of climate change issues to the environment such as pollution, in addition to mitigation of the carbon footprint by resorting to climate building materials and green climate designs, and building materials, and lessening dependence on electricity. These building materials are manufactured on site by the locals, which invigorates community participatory activities, and increases soft advocacy to these building trends.

MISR ELKHEIR FOUNDATION-(MEK) is an Egyptian NGO- Established in 20/5/2007; Registered with Ministry of Social solidarity as 555/2007.The foundation is a developmental non-governmental organization mainly concerned with Human Development. Our Vision: To become a pioneering sustainable development organization to be heeded internationally. Our Mission: Comprehensive Human Development through the implementation of projects in order to diminish the levels of illness, poverty, hunger, illiteracy, and unemployment. The main goal of Misr ElKheir Foundation is human development, and thus seeks to achieve this through the development of seven sectors covering different aspects of Egyptian life. These are Social Solidarity, Life Aspects, Health, Education, Scientific Research & Innovation; Developing of NGOs Sector, and Integrated Development Sector, which unifies all the efforts of the other sectors to tackle needs of poorest Base of the Pyramid communities. Through these areas, Misr ElKheir Foundation seeks to contribute positively and actively to eliminate unemployment, illiteracy, poverty and disease, and to make Egypt an inclusive society, which can grow and remain sustained in the most vulnerable underserved areas.

This year 2022, MEK celebrates 15 years of its establishment with a clear mission of Human Development. During these 15 years, MEK had been the cause of happiness to millions of Egyptian neediest families all over the country. Misr ElKheir has played a crucial role in creating a sustainable and comprehensive human impact in the 1000 poorest villages’ portfolio in Egypt especially through integrated development and in alignment with CAPMAS targeting villages with lowest poverty index. MEK has achieved extraordinary contributions toward alleviating human suffering with more than 106 million direct services in seven sectors that serve the development of the neediest Egyptians. In addition to collaboration in Mega Projects aligned with the National Strategy 2030 of Sustainable Development Goals of Egypt for more than 200 million services.

GESR  is a program within the Scientific Research & Innovation Sector affiliated to MISR El KHEIR Development Non-Profit Foundation launched in 2013, showcasing its responsibility to contribute to a knowledge-based economy, through supporting innovators and technology startups. GESR supports social entrepreneurs with hardware/ IoT innovations throughout the various stages of the innovation cycle; from idea to prototype, turning their prototypes into market-fit products, and helps them finding the matching investment opportunity. GESR supports start-ups in incubation cycles that solve social  challenges in the fields of Water,Energy,Food/Agribusiness, Health, and Education.

In 2017, GESR became an EU-BIC Accredited incubator as part of The Social Innovation Cluster Project funded by the European Union and became 1st non-governmental incubator accredited in Egypt.

THE INNOVATION LAB

Aims to support innovators and entrepreneurs to transfer their ideas into prototypes. It offers access to mechanical & embedded system workshops, design lab, and provides technical trainings. In addition, it conducts activities such as pre-incubation program, and social innovation challenges that aim to encourage innovative affordable solutions to social problems. It also offers wide range of workshops and training programs to foster innovation among young makers and entrepreneurs.

THE TECHNOLOGICAL INCUBATOR

Aims to identify, support, promising social innovations and technology-based social startups, through providing seed funding, mentorship, training, legal and accounting support, co-working facility, and access to innovation lab. It offers an incubation program from 6-9 months to develop prototypes into market fit products with solid business plans.

Also MEK operational sectors as the Engineering department seeks to apply best cost-effective building solutions. 

MEK is applying to Solve  for technical and financial reasons.We need technical support in sharing the solution with global partners, and improving the model for best impact on the underserved. We need to overcome market barriers and outreach new stakeholders who are passionate about solutions for the climate ecosystem housing, and the poor while simultaneously engaging the underserved in participatory activities which benefit them economically, and environmentally. We are enthusiastic that Egypt is hosting COP-27 this year in November. Ever since  Covid-19 most donations are directed away from Innovation; and funds are scarce. We are eager to apply that model of "Smart Village" . We have started the model but haven't been able to completeit financially as donations and grants are directed to fast relief health issues, education, and income generation activities for the impoverished underserved communities all over Egypt.

Our solution is a social challenge that depends on creation of a service center to provide awareness, climate resilience, SWM solutions, and energy for use in needed activities. It is  a model smart village center that is climate resilient, first by using eco-friendly materials for building the village center, having the community school as the core of the village for easily accessible, having an adjacent biogas unit for recycling solid waste, and acting as an awareness center for climate resilience in building materials, water, soil, and energy substitutes.

The model can be catalytic and a market changer for SDGs and enabler for replicated models. Biogas units cannot be installed without awareness and centrality as it is quite costly and needs guidance for proper implementation.

We are looking to  finalize this pilot project with stakeholders interested in  going green and climate change solutions. Our main impact is helping these impoverished  communities economically and environmentally. These underserved communities will environmentally benefit from recycling their solid waste, using the energy produced by the biogas unit, and participating in manufacturing the compressed soil bricks that are enviromentally friendly, while advocating with local government to replicate such social solution that is a multiple-fold beneficial. 

To enhance inclusive and sustainable urbanization and capacity for participatory, integrated and sustainable human settlement planning and management in underserved communities.

To ensure  access of impoverished communities with pollution problems to affordable, reliable and modern energy services

To promote development-oriented policies that support productive activities, decent job creation, entrepreneurship, creativity and innovation, and encourage the formalization and growth of micro-, small- and medium-sized enterprises, including through access to financial services for impoverished underserved communities.

Overall Objective: 

To provide a smart village replicable model that solve social challenges of awareness, mitigation and resilience to climate change issues with participatory activities that empower underserved communities.

Specific Objective:

·        Complete the pilot project by adding the designed biogas unit 

·        Engage stakeholders to advocate for the smart village center model to enhance knowledge for best practices for operation of the service center in rural areas and benefiting from produced energy 

·        Engage locals to learn techniques of building for eco-friendly houses 

·        Empower the locals to initiate different income generation projects with 

·        Dissiminate best practices 

Expected Results:

·        Enhanced inclusive and sustainable participatory communities with integrated and sustainable planning and management for social challenges in underserved communities.

·        Ensured  access of impoverished communities with pollution problems to affordable, reliable and modern energy services in underserved communities.

·        Promoted development-oriented eco-friendly smart green solutions that support productive activities 

Our social challenge solution for smart village service center which provides services of recycling Solid Waste and produces energy; and awareness for the climate in rural areas with pollution problems uses simple technologies such as:

·        The compressed soil brick made of  71% sand and 21% mud with 8% cement.

·        The biogas underground unit rely on the natural interaction between microorganisms and organic wastes, then the gas is distributed through a network of pipes and is used for cooking and heating. 

Our mission is to engage diversity and inclusion in our teams and our local offices, and participatory actions which leaves no one behind as our teams come from different areas in the country and MEk always targets underserved communities.

The business model of the Social Challenge Solution "Smart Village Center": 

·        customer segments: underserved local community teenagers and adults

·        value propositions: MEK has resources to financially work on the pilot but need to make efficient replicable model of services B2C

·        channels: Banks  and microfinance institutions

·        customer relationships: B2C

·        revenue streams & key resources:  Banks  and microfinance institutions

·        key activities: awareness of climate acions, recycling center, production of biogas for energy and heating

·        key partnerships: Governement municipalities in villages, Funding Partners, Building Research center and technical consultants

·         cost structure: Banks  and microfinance institutions

The solution is nonprofit and provides services for free to empower locals to earn their living by learning manufacturing of brick and building, and reduction of expenses by provision of  biogas network to houses.

MEK seeks funds through various government and private institutions, banks and international grants. MEK empowers underserved communities for sustainability through income generation projects.

• Demonstration of a compelling programmatic approach to make a lasting impact:
• Innovation In Program Design:`

The Inclusive Sustainable Business Model, where beneficiaries learn vocations to empower them economically, save them from debts, and significantly reduce their poverty. Such projects: Abeis Carpet-Weaving Factory, Support for Indigenous Crafts in Sinai and Siwa; Ready-made garments factories in Minya; and Ard-Elkheir’s successful model of local start-ups in cattle breeding in a national initiative with the Ministry of Agriculture; for 51 farms in association.

• Demonstration of mega effective partnerships in the last 5 years through Mega Integrated On-going Programs( Education-Housing-Water-Empowerment) funded by Mega Donors:

1- Water Accessibility Programs & Improving drinking water stations to remote disadvantaged villages (2015-Ongoing) for 174,000,000 EGP funding partners: NBE, AlAbd Investment, Atlas Copco Co., Faisal Islamic Bank, AlNajat Kuwaiti, Lighting Investment Co., Qatar National Bank, Credit Agricole Bank, The Coca Cola Foundation, Abu Dhabi Islamic Bank, Emaar Co., Henkel; implemented by Holding Company for Water waste in 23 governorates serving 4.6 M beneficiaries.

2-Development of 29 villages in cooperation with Coca-Cola Foundation Egypt (2015-2018) for 20,400,000 EGP; in 13 governorates provided more than 2,800 services to 659,000 beneficiaries

3-Community Schools Program (2010-Ongoing)- UNESCO Prize Winner 2018 for Girls & Women Education; for 190,000,000 EGP funding by: Ministry of Social Solidarity, Credit Agricole Bank, NBE, Export Development Bank ,Bahrain Trust Foundation ,Canadian Cotton Co., Orange, Al-Futtaim Co., Sheikha-Ohoud Al-Sabah, Big-Heart Foundation UAE,UNICEF, CES English School, and self-funding with Ministry of Education, MOE supervisors, partner NGOs in poorest villages for more 35,000 Beneficiaries (1083 Schools & 2166 teachers).

4-Suttra 10,000 Houses-Housing Project (2016-2020) for 275,000,000 EGP funded by AlWaleed Philanthropies & collaboration with Ministries of Housing , Utilities, and Urban Communities; Local Development; and Social Solidarity in 24 governorates serving more than  50,000 Beneficiaries.

5-Integrated Development of (17) poorest villages in Egypt (2017-Ongoing) for 625,000,000 EGP funded by National Bank of Egypt, with Ministries of: Education, Health , Housing , Local Development , Social Solidarity , Drinking Water and Sanitation Facilities , Agriculture, Veterinary Medicine Directorates in 14 governorates serving more  than 200 M services.

6-Beyout El Kheir project Rebuilding houses for the poor (2018-2022) for 234,900,000 EGP funded by EMAAR –UAE, with Ministries of Housing , Utilities, and Urban Communities; Local Development; Social Solidarity in Luxor and Sharkeya Governorates 10,000 Beneficiaries so far in 2 phases.

7-Poorest Villages development project (2019-Ongoing) for 50,000,000 EGP funded by Tahya Masr Fund with Ministries of: Education, Health, Housing, Local Development, Social Solidarity in (Sheikh Zain-AlDin, AlSawalem and Arab Bakhwaj villages) Tahta Center, Sohag Governorate for 13,000 beneficiaries so far.

8-A Decent Life & Decent Housing Presidential Initiatives “Hayah Karima”& “Sakan Karim” (2019-Ongoing)-75,000,000 EGP funded by Ministry of Social Solidarity 80% & MEK 20% with Ministries of Health, Housing, Local Development, Social Solidarity, HCWW, Drinking Water and Sanitation Facilities, in Sohag, Assiut, Minya, Qena 1.8 M beneficiaries. It has reduced poverty in some villages by 14 %, provided basic services to 50% of villages, and raised efficiency of 12,000 houses.

• International Grants:

1-Women Economic Empowerment (WEE)-UN Women (2014 – 2016) for 1,100,000 EUR

2- Empowering the Bottom of the Pyramid EU (2014-2016) for 935,875 EUR

3-Agribusiness & Waste Management Value Chains–UNIDO (2015- 2016) for 30,000 EUR

4-Technical School Students Qualification & Employment-Drosos, EU (2014-2017) for 1,150,000 USD.

5-Vocational Training for Tourism Labor Market Employment and Tourism-related Start-ups- EU (2017- 2021) for 988,000 EUR.

6-Promotion of Inclusive Growth & Job Creation -European Commission (2020-2023) for 1,111,111.11 EUR.

7-Support GESR, MEK accelerator and their beneficiary startups through capacity building training-EBRD (2018- 2020) for 60,000 EUR.

8-Training for Employment in Hospitality Vocational Jobs-ILO (2017- 2018) for 707,507.43 EGP

9-Improve Food Security and Proper Nutrition for Poor Egyptian Families through Agriculture projects –FAO (2016 – 2018) for 5,047,640 EGP.

10-"Expanding Access to Education and Protection for at Risk Children in Egypt" by rehabilitation of 70 CSs in Matrouh- UNICEF (2018- 2020) for 8,815,993 EGP.

GESR Incubation Program supports innovators and technology startups solving social challenges in the priority fields of water, energy, food & agribusiness, health, and education. GESR start-ups work with MEK in its programs to innovate technical solutions for projects such as Biogas Units for recycling and production of fertilizers and house-gas, solar panels for conservation of energy, etc.

Scientific Research Sector Desalination Plants with Desert Research Center to provide clean drinking water to indigenous communities in border and inside desert communities, with agri-business from grey water.

Ard Elkheir Farms inclusive business model, training of locals especially economic empowerment for women to breed healthy cattle and establish start-ups to provide meat in Bayram campaigns and to their reduce-poverty by selling products to cooperatives and supermarkets.

“Containers” Community Schools model for easy mobility and cost-effectiveness in remote hamlets.

Use of “compressed earth blocks” for environmental green building for schools and houses, while empowering the locals to make their own bricks and build with eco-friendly material.