Description/achievement of initiative
Core focus: Digitalization of Green Infrastructure\\\\r\\\\n\\\\r\\\\nCreated in 1998, the Centre for Science and Technology Innovations (CSTI) is a Kenya registered trust associated with UNESCO and affiliated with the Kenya National Academy of Sciences. Our mission is to improve lives through science and technology innovation. Environmental pollution and the resulting effects such as increase of human illness, decreased biodiversity, and increasing climate variability are challenges which require co-creation and adaptation of new technologies. Science-as-a-Service is a transdisciplinary collaboration between investors, manufacturers, regulatory bodies, researchers, and the communities that aim to create sustainable transformation.
Implementation methodologies
We operate under the Climate, Health, Economy Nexus framework and use continuous learning as the process for improvement.\\\\r\\\\n\\\\r\\\\nThree core areas:\\\\r\\\\n1. Water Quality and Water Ecosystem Services \\\\r\\\\n2. 3D Printed Green Buildings and Green Construction Materials \\\\r\\\\n3. Science-as-a-Service focused on environmental data and IoT sensors\\\\r\\\\n\\\\r\\\\nData gathering is focused on developing business/commercially viable applications via which digital technologies (IoT sensors and 3D printing) facilities culturally situated solutions that building climate resilience and regenerative biodiversity. Circular bio-economy technology pathways are approached from the perspective of maximizing both advanced innovation and end product affordability in the context of developing economies. \\\\r\\\\n\\\\r\\\\nThe aim is to inspire local innovation that is on par with global leaders while developed from indigenous knowledge on product preferences and pricing. Climate risk and livelihood risk assessments are focused on developing sectoral (construction, water, natural resources) solutions for citizen science and crowd sourcing of new design prototypes that facilitate low carbon and net zero transition pathways.
Arrangements for Capacity-Building and Technology Transfer
Advanced innovation has historically been the exclusive domain of high-income economies. However, the escalating risks associated with climate variability necessitate massive deployment of autochthonous solutions. One example of need is the way in which the COVID-19 pandemic has created a global dual shortage of vaccines and microchips.\\\\r\\\\n\\\\r\\\\n Vaccine shortages have been in part due to supply chain disruptions but also due to contagion surges and new COVID-19 variants. Microchip shortages have been the result of production disruptions resulting from social distancing requirements and logistics disruptions to global trade. Both shortages have dramatically increased the demand for high tech local sourcing and local manufacturing in emerging economies.\\\\r\\\\n\\\\r\\\\nClimate finance mechanisms have been developed to facilitate patient capital for the non-revenue gaps between the concept stage of innovation and the market ready commercialization stage. Performance based financing is contingent on scalable impact measures in lieu of cashflows. Impact based repayable grants mechanisms serve as bridge financial instruments towards sustainable product solutions.\\\\r\\\\n\\\\r\\\\nTechnology Transfer: \\\\r\\\\n\\\\r\\\\nThe role of the CSTI Circular Bioeconomy Consortium members is to train local communities on the advanced skills needed to develop their own innovation. Prototype designs are developed to showcase the production capabilities that fit within local resource mobilization constraints.\\\\r\\\\n\\\\r\\\\nCapacity Building: \\\\r\\\\n\\\\r\\\\nThe role of CSTI is to facilitate ongoing dialog that links scientific acumen, innovation acumen, and financial acumen into the local sourcing and design of environmentally beneficial digital products for building construction, water quality monitoring, and ecosystems management. We use Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) metrics as our translation tool for the development of Future Fit business models. ESG metrics are rapidly becoming the preferred tool for unlocking climate and green finance. \\\\r\\\\n\\\\r\\\\nOur ESG parameters are:\\\\r\\\\n\\\\r\\\\n1. Environmental metrics – science based targets for emissions and toxin reduction in each manufacturing sector\\\\r\\\\n2. Social metrics – job creation, adaptive technologies, public health\\\\r\\\\n3. Governance metrics – financial investment linked to measurable biodiversity and human health improvements\\\\r\\\\n\\\\r\\\\nDetails on Future Fit business models can be found here: https://futurefitbusiness.org/\\\\r\\\\n\\\\r\\\\nInformation on ESG investing can be found here: https://www.ifc.org/wps/wcm/connect/topics_ext_content/ifc_external_corporate_site/sustainability-at-ifc/company-resources/sustainable-finance/sbn_ontheradar
Coordination mechanisms/governance structure
Following SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals), CSTI has developed a network of local and international partners all focused on developing digital tools and technical support toolkits that guide both manufacturers and communities towards improved environmental, social and governance (ESG) outcomes. \\\\r\\\\n\\\\r\\\\nMembers of the CSTI Circular Bioeconomy Consortium each have expertise in environmental scientific assessments and rapid prototyping for environmental solutions:\\\\r\\\\n\\\\r\\\\nCSTI – lead coordination and expertise in green chemistry, geology, material science, environmental policy, circular economy innovation strategies\\\\r\\\\nLiquid Intelligent Technologies – partner for Sigfox IoT innovation hubs and Office 365 collaboration tools\\\\r\\\\nGeviton Enterprises – partner for custom printed circuit board design with emphasis on affordable environmental data gathering\\\\r\\\\nParaclete Consult – partner for sub-national level municipal coordination and CBO financial capacity building\\\\r\\\\nFrontline Impact – partner for financial climate and digital innovation related impact evaluation reporting \\\\r\\\\nBesic Group – partner for green building certification and ESG metrics\\\\r\\\\nISC3 – global sustainable chemistry partner for building material innovation\\\\r\\\\nWEEE Centre – partner for electronic waste recycling and value addition\\\\r\\\\n14Trees – construction network partner for 3D printed construction and youth training\\\\r\\\\nNovation Hub Private Ltd – partner for training on 3D printing and block programming\\\\r\\\\nKijenzi Digilab – partner for custom 3D printed spare parts\\\\r\\\\nAfrican Centre for Technology Studies – partner for generating data on renewable energy uptake, technology brokerage, and policymaking\\\\r\\\\nClimate Change & Sustainability Basics (CC&SB) Society – partner for academic outreach and knowledge transfer on biocapacity modeling
Partner(s)
Lead: Centre for Science and Technology Innovations (CSTI)\r\nLiquid Intelligent Technologies\r\nGeviton Enterprises\r\nParaclete Consult\r\nFrontline Impact\r\nBesic Group\r\nWEEE Centre\r\nInternational Sustainable Chemistry Collaborative Centre (ISC3)\r\n14Trees\r\nNovation Hub Private Ltd\r\nKijenzi Digilab\r\nAfrican Centre for Technology Studies\r\nClimate Change & Sustainability Basics (CC&SB) Society
Progress reports
Goal 5
5.b - Enhance the use of enabling technology, in particular information and communications technology, to promote the empowerment of women
Goal 6
6.a - By 2030, expand international cooperation and capacity-building support to developing countries in water- and sanitation-related activities and programmes, including water harvesting, desalination, water efficiency, wastewater treatment, recycling and reuse technologies
Goal 7
7.a - By 2030, enhance international cooperation to facilitate access to clean energy research and technology, including renewable energy, energy efficiency and advanced and cleaner fossil-fuel technology, and promote investment in energy infrastructure and clean energy technology
Goal 8
8.5 - By 2030, achieve full and productive employment and decent work for all women and men, including for young people and persons with disabilities, and equal pay for work of equal value
8.8 - Protect labour rights and promote safe and secure working environments for all workers, including migrant workers, in particular women migrants, and those in precarious employment
Goal 9
9.4 - By 2030, upgrade infrastructure and retrofit industries to make them sustainable, with increased resource-use efficiency and greater adoption of clean and environmentally sound technologies and industrial processes, with all countries taking action in accordance with their respective capabilities
9.5 - Enhance scientific research, upgrade the technological capabilities of industrial sectors in all countries, in particular developing countries, including, by 2030, encouraging innovation and substantially increasing the number of research and development workers per 1 million people and public and private research and development spending
9.b - Support domestic technology development, research and innovation in developing countries, including by ensuring a conducive policy environment for, inter alia, industrial diversification and value addition to commodities
Goal 11
11.1 - By 2030, ensure access for all to adequate, safe and affordable housing and basic services and upgrade slums
11.4 - Strengthen efforts to protect and safeguard the world’s cultural and natural heritage
11.6 - By 2030, reduce the adverse per capita environmental impact of cities, including by paying special attention to air quality and municipal and other waste management
11.a - Support positive economic, social and environmental links between urban, peri-urban and rural areas by strengthening national and regional development planning
11.b - By 2020, substantially increase the number of cities and human settlements adopting and implementing integrated policies and plans towards inclusion, resource efficiency, mitigation and adaptation to climate change, resilience to disasters, and develop and implement, in line with the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015-2030, holistic disaster risk management at all levels
11.c - Support least developed countries, including through financial and technical assistance, in building sustainable and resilient buildings utilizing local materials
Goal 12
12.2 - By 2030, achieve the sustainable management and efficient use of natural resources
12.4 - By 2020, achieve the environmentally sound management of chemicals and all wastes throughout their life cycle, in accordance with agreed international frameworks, and significantly reduce their release to air, water and soil in order to minimize their adverse impacts on human health and the environment
12.5 - By 2030, substantially reduce waste generation through prevention, reduction, recycling and reuse
12.8 - By 2030, ensure that people everywhere have the relevant information and awareness for sustainable development and lifestyles in harmony with nature
12.b - Develop and implement tools to monitor sustainable development impacts for sustainable tourism that creates jobs and promotes local culture and products
Goal 13
13.1 - Strengthen resilience and adaptive capacity to climate-related hazards and natural disasters in all countries
13.2 - Integrate climate change measures into national policies, strategies and planning
13.3 - Improve education, awareness-raising and human and institutional capacity on climate change mitigation, adaptation, impact reduction and early warning
13.a - Implement the commitment undertaken by developed-country parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change to a goal of mobilizing jointly $100 billion annually by 2020 from all sources to address the needs of developing countries in the context of meaningful mitigation actions and transparency on implementation and fully operationalize the Green Climate Fund through its capitalization as soon as possible
13.b - Promote mechanisms for raising capacity for effective climate change-related planning and management in least developed countries and small island developing States, including focusing on women, youth and local and marginalized communities
* Acknowledging that the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change is the primary international,
intergovernmental forum for negotiating the global response to climate change.
Goal 15
15.1 - By 2020, ensure the conservation, restoration and sustainable use of terrestrial and inland freshwater ecosystems and their services, in particular forests, wetlands, mountains and drylands, in line with obligations under international agreements
15.2 - By 2020, promote the implementation of sustainable management of all types of forests, halt deforestation, restore degraded forests and substantially increase afforestation and reforestation globally
15.5 - Take urgent and significant action to reduce the degradation of natural habitats, halt the loss of biodiversity and, by 2020, protect and prevent the extinction of threatened species
15.6 - Promote fair and equitable sharing of the benefits arising from the utilization of genetic resources and promote appropriate access to such resources, as internationally agreed
15.9 - By 2020, integrate ecosystem and biodiversity values into national and local planning, development processes, poverty reduction strategies and accounts
Goal 17
17.1 - Strengthen domestic resource mobilization, including through international support to developing countries, to improve domestic capacity for tax and other revenue collection
Technology -
17.6 - Enhance North-South, South-South and triangular regional and international cooperation on and access to science, technology and innovation and enhance knowledge sharing on mutually agreed terms, including through improved coordination among existing mechanisms, in particular at the United Nations level, and through a global technology facilitation mechanism
17.8 - Fully operationalize the technology bank and science, technology and innovation capacity-building mechanism for least developed countries by 2017 and enhance the use of enabling technology, in particular information and communications technology
Capacity-Building -
17.10 - Promote a universal, rules-based, open, non-discriminatory and equitable multilateral trading system under the World Trade Organization, including through the conclusion of negotiations under its Doha Development Agenda
Systemic Issues - Policy and Institutional coherence
17.15 - Respect each country’s policy space and leadership to establish and implement policies for poverty eradication and sustainable development
Multi-stakeholder partnerships
17.16 - Enhance the global partnership for sustainable development, complemented by multi-stakeholder partnerships that mobilize and share knowledge, expertise, technology and financial resources, to support the achievement of the sustainable development goals in all countries, in particular developing countries
17.17 - Encourage and promote effective public, public-private and civil society partnerships, building on the experience and resourcing strategies of partnerships
Data, monitoring and accountability
17.18 - By 2020, enhance capacity-building support to developing countries, including for least developed countries and small island developing States, to increase significantly the availability of high-quality, timely and reliable data disaggregated by income, gender, age, race, ethnicity, migratory status, disability, geographic location and other characteristics relevant in national contexts
6/2022
