RCE Greater Nairobi - 2022

Location

Kenya
See map: Google Maps
KE
Solar Powered Street Food Vending Cart
CSV
Basic Information
Title of project : 
Solar Powered Street Food Vending Cart
Submitting RCE: 
RCE Greater Nairobi
Contributing organization(s) : 
Zuhura Solutions Ltd
Focal point(s) and affiliation(s)
Name: 
Llyord Mwaniki Gitau
Organizational Affiliation: 
Zuhura Solutions Ltd
E-mail: 
llyordgitau@gmail.com
Format of project: 
Audiovisual
Language of project: 
English
Date of submission:
Update
Web link: 
http://www.zuhurasolutions.com/
Additional resources: 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6nqQZ4fHYKE
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3nchmkmAdhM
Does this project link to any education and/or sustainable development policy or policies?: 
Yes
Ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy.
At what level is the policy operating?: 
International
Geographical & Education Information
Region: 
Africa and Middle East
Country: 
Kenya
Location(s): 
Nairobi
Address of focal point institution for project: 
Kasper Technologies,
Lunga Lunga Square
302 Lunga Lunga Rd, Nairobi
Ecosystem(s):
Urban/Peri-urban
Target Audience:
Youth (Informal)
Street Food Vendors
Socioeconomic and environmental characteristics of the area : 
The target group comprises low-income earners, mainly women and youth who sell street food. Most street food vendors use a typical street food cart that runs on charcoal or other solid fuels. Their customers are low to middle-income earners who love the food for its affordability and accessibility. Zuhura solutions provide an alternative, a clean vending cart that runs on solar power to keep food warm for up to 14 hours, charges at least 3 mobile phones and has a led light.
Description of sustainable development challenge(s) in the area the project addresses: 
Street food vendors contribute to a great extent to ending hunger in cities and urban centres, while they reduce poverty by providing for their families. However, the threat of charcoal to the environment cannot be ignored and calls for climate action by increasing access to affordable and clean energy in this sector and promoting responsible consumption.
Contents
Status: 
Ongoing
Period: 
January, 2021 to December, 2026
Rationale: 
The use of charcoal has a negative impact on the environment from carbon emissions and deforestation. Carbon emissions are a leading cause of respiratory illnesses and contribute to at least 22,000 deaths annually in Kenya. At least 80% of vendors continue to operate in unclean and unsafe environments using unergonomic food carts also made from non-food grade materials. These lead to at least 4,000 food-borne illnesses annually. The price of charcoal is also on the rise, affecting vendors' revenue. Zuhura Solutions provides a clean, solar power food vending cart that is made from food grade material and is easy to use.
Objectives: 
- Spur innovation in the urban food sector by providing reliable, clean, and sustainable energy to the street food sector.
- Increase revenue for vendors
- Decentralise restaurants and increase access to clean and healthy meals, especially to the base of the pyramid.
Activities and/or practices employed: 
- Manufacturing (building ) of a solar power street food vending cart
- Research: the most suitable product for vendors
- Testing the robustness and suitability of the vending cart.
Size of academic audience: 
20
Results: 
- Iterated and optimised a final product for mass production. Working with two engineering students to optimise the electrical components of the cart.
Key messages: 
Zuhura Solutions, a social impact company based in Nairobi working to spur innovation in the urban food sector by providing reliable, clean, and sustainable energy to the street food sector. This project is poised to help over 1 million street food vendors in Kenya and the region access clean energy and support in the decentralization of restaurants to give access to quality meals.
Relationship to other RCE activities: 
N/A
Funding: 
- Raised at least USD 10,000 through prototyping, iteration and testing phases.
- Seeking up to USD 200,000 to start mass-producing the cart.

Pictures:

File Name Caption for picture Photo Credit
Image icon IMG_9670.JPG (4.17 MB) Developing a solar powered food vending cart Zuhura Solutions Ltd
References and reference materials: 
PDF icon Zuhura Solutions .pdf
UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
(https://sustainabledevelopment.un.org/sdgs) and other themes of Education for Sustainable Development (ESD)
SDG 1 - End poverty in all its forms everywhere 
Direct
SDG 2 - End hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition, and promote sustainable agriculture 
Direct
SDG 3 - Ensure healthy lives and promote wellbeing for all at all ages 
Indirect
SDG 4 - Ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all 
Indirect
SDG 6 - Ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all 
Indirect
SDG 7 - Ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all 
Direct
SDG 8 - Promote sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment, and decent work for all 
Indirect
SDG 9 - Build resilient infrastructure, promote inclusive and sustainable industrialisation, and foster innovation 
Indirect
SDG 11 - Make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable 
Indirect
SDG 12 - Ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns 
Indirect
SDG 13 - Take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts 
Direct
SDG 14 - Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development 
Indirect
SDG 15 - Protect, restore and promote sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems, sustainably manage forests, combat desertification and halt and reverse land degradation, and halt biodiversity loss 
Indirect
Theme
Disaster Risk Reduction 
Indirect
Agriculture 
Indirect
Ecotourism 
Indirect
Forests/Trees 
Direct
Plants & Animals 
Indirect
Waste 
Direct
ESD for 2030-Priority Action Areas
Priority Action Area 1 - Advancing policy 
state: 
Direct
Priority Action Area 2 - Transforming learning and training environments 
state: 
Indirect
Priority Action Area 3 - Developing capacities of educators and trainers 
state: 
Indirect
Priority Action Area 4 - Mobilizing youth 
state: 
Direct
Priority Action Area 5 - Accelerating sustainable solutions at local level 
state: 
Direct
Update: 
Yes
I acknowledge the above: 
Yes