Local news

Astou Dabo, a 40-year-old mother of nine, has been working as a recyclable materials collector at the Thiès landfill since 2019. Every day, she collects plastics, scrap metal, and bottles—materials that provide an essential source of income for her family.

On this International Women's Day, we are proud to shine a light on Ndeye Amy Kébé, Founder & CEO of Jokalante, a social enterprise created with the support of Practical Action. Jokalante – which means "facilitating dialogue" in Wolof – has been transforming lives in Senegal since its launch in 2016 by connecting organisations with hard-to-reach communities and empowering them with inclusive and innovative communication tools.

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.