Local news

Refugees in Rwanda are transforming their futures by using renewable energy to power businesses and community services, supported by our Renewable Energy for Refugees project in its second phase. Through the project’s focus on the Productive Use of Energy (PUE), entrepreneurs are gaining tools to grow their livelihoods, foster collaboration, and drive progress for their families and neighbours.

In the Aymara language, Warisata means “seedbed of wisdom.” This describes fittingly the site where over 350 participants gathered in December 2024 to co-create an agricultural early warning system that incorporates Bolivia’s rich ancestral knowledge. Indigenous leaders, government representatives, academics, and civil society groups came together to propose a system powered by natural indicators and the collective wisdom of Bolivia’s indigenous peoples.

In Burkina Faso, where 80% of the population relies on agriculture for their livelihoods, the stakes are high. Farmers face relentless challenges including erratic rainfall, intense heat, and post-harvest losses.

138 forest fires were detected up to September 2024 in the province of Jaén and 65 in San Ignacio, adding to the fact that the provinces of Jaén and San Ignacio have already lost 73% and 43% of their original mountain forest area, increasing their vulnerability to climate change.

As part of the final, in-person stage of the School of Indigenous Governance and Amazonian Development (EGIDA—AIDESEP) course, young indigenous Peruvians in Chiriaco, district of Imaza, Amazonas, will complete the specialisation course ‘Indigenous Territories for a Full Life: Climate Change and Financing.’ Supported by the Biodiversity Landscape Fund (BLF) Andes Amazon project, this milestone represents the end of an empowering training journey, equipping indigenous leaders with tools to tackle climate change and navigate global climate finance systems.

To promote big change, we engage in forums across countries and regions where public and private entities convene, sharing the outcomes of our initiatives. The past six months have offered us remarkable opportunities to do so. Discover more about our change agenda in this article.

Practical Action’s REAL (Renewable Energy for Agricultural Livelihoods) programme in Burkina Faso works toward to address these pressing issues by empowering communities, enhancing their skills, and boosting their incomes. Communities are now fostering sustainable development and building resilient livelihoods with the support of this initiative funded by the Swedish Embassy.

As a member of the Zurich Climate Resilience Alliance (previously known as the Zurich Climate Resilience Alliance), Practical Action is proud to announce the launch of the third phase of this programme, which is focused on building community resilience. This new phase builds on the success of the previous ones, aiming to extend and deepen the project’s impact in vulnerable areas in the region and broadening its scope to heat events. In this blog, we share the plans in West Africa.

Practical Action, in collaboration with local authorities, is transforming Bolivian communities with solar-powered irrigation systems. By addressing water scarcity, improving crop yields, and raising awareness about climate-resilient strategies, these initiatives are reversing migration trends, enhancing food security, and boosting local incomes. The project aims to expand water storage and efficient irrigation, ultimately fostering sustainable development and a brighter future for small farmers in Bolivia.