Garosolo

2000 Ethiopians benefit from 100 energy saving stoves

About Garosolo

The Nech Sar National Park near the city of Arba Minch is managed by a public-private partnership between the Ethiopian Government and the Dutch African Parks Foundation (APF). APF aims to ensure that the local population, who live and are dependent on natural resources in and around the park, will also benefit from this particular arrangement. Especially in de vicinity of Arba Minch biodiversity around the lakes is severely damaged. Inhabitants have to create new ways of generating income since the coming of protected National Parks, and the population of Arba Minch has grown considerably. Hence there is a need to develop alternative sources of income and also energy sources. This led to the idea of establishing Garosolo: a company to sell energy saving stoves for baking injera bread. In Ethiopia 50 per cent of the population has an income below the poverty line. For Ethiopians Injera is the most important food source. This flat bread is baked on a plate which is generally heated with wood. Deforestation and erosion created a shortage of wood, so the costs of baking injera on open fire increased. Nega Degu Gudaye Gudaye, entrepreneur of Garosolo: 'Also, women and children must walk for miles to collect wood to be able feed their family. As a result many children do not attend school.' The social impact of Garosolo will be:

• community involvement
• improving quality of life
• positive environmental impact

Business case and results

Garosolo approached SharePeople for the support by Dutch professionals for developing a financial plan and a sales and marketing plan. During the Developing Countries, Developing Leaders Programme in Ethiopia in 2006 the team consisting van Peter van der Pols (Accenture), Janny van der Vleuten (SNS bank) and Twan Wouters (TWC) together with Nega Degu Gudaye examined the possibilities for establishing Garosolo. The team sees potential in the model of the energy saving injera stoves. After their return to the Netherlands, the team fine-tunes the business plan. The plan reaches the finale in the BiD Challenge 2006, a business plan competition to combat poverty. Nega combines collecting his prize in the Netherlands with a visit to several professionals in the Netherlands, organised by SharePeople, to develop his sales and marketing skills. Shortly after Garosolo kicks off and soon production and sales are rising. Nega Degu Gudaye, in daily life a travel guide for tourists in the Nech Bait National Park, takes on the task of sales manager and sells energy saving injera stoves to the people in Arba Minch.

Impact on the overseas partner

Nega Degu Gudaye has gained knowledge about book-keeping, sales and marketing. For the first time he travelled outside Ethiopia and got  to know the Dutch culture and work ethos. Based on his business plan (submitted at the BiD Challenge) he receives pre-funding from ICCO, so he was able to start his business. This stove makes a huge (financial) difference for many families in Arba Minch.

‘The Dutch are my coaches. In Ethiopia we have a tremendous need for knowledge and experience of people in the west. In Ethiopia we have many good ideas, but we often lack sufficient technical or commercial knowledge to realize them. My Dutch friends challenged me to set up a full business for producing and selling these energy saving stoves. They helped me to crystallise my ideas to form a full business plan. Together with SharePeople they have made it possible for me to come to the Netherlands to defend the business plan for the jury of the Bid Challenge organisation.' 

‘With SharePeople I have been able to build a broad network. Doors open that were closed to me before. I am being taken seriously and the co-operation with local parties has improved.' 

(Nega Degu Gudaye Gudaye) 

Impact on the European

professionals

Business challenges were identified by the Dutch professionals (acceptance of current situation, no private banks). It was an eye-opener to see all aspects of problems around a city in a developing country. They made friends with Nega Degu Gudaye, a passionate man with a lot of life experience, which attributed to their personal development.

‘Personally I think CSR is very important. To me it means showing your involvement and, if possible, to help others. Like helping Nega with setting up his company Garosolo. It has nothing to do with my own company (ICT) but it has everything to do with being involved with fellow human beings. This brings balance to my life.' (Twan Wouters)

Follow-up

Unfortunately, we have to mention that Nega suddenly passed away in 2008. This was a great shock to his familiy, friends and to us. We wish his wife and children the best of luck in these difficult times.

More information on the BiD Challenge: www.bidchallenge.org