Sustainable energy practitioners have long noticed energy access affects rural and urban populations’ livelihood, generation capacity, education attendance, health outcomes and overall quality of life. In response, SELCO India (for profit, social enterprise) created SELCO Foundation on 5th October, 2010 as a public charitable trust, with the mission to:
1. Systematically identify diverse needs of underserved communities, understand and define the role of
sustainability and energy in these communities.
2. Create and support innovative and sustainable solutions that positively impact well-being, education and livelihoods and work towards the alleviation of poverty.
3. Foster ecosystem development in the social sector through holistic thought processes in technology, finance, entrepreneurship and policy.
SELCO Foundation envisions a socially sustainable society: we seek to create avenues for asset building, enhancement in quality of life and wealth creation that will uplift deprived sections of society through sustainable development solutions. It uses soft funding and flexible capital to develop robust and field-proven technological and financial models in the field of energy and sustainability. It aims to generate public awareness about these models, while also building the ecosystem for the creation and delivery of such solutions. The foundation supports replication and utilization of these models in other deprived regions of India and the world, thereby achieving greater leverage on resources.
Clean energy access (Solar), Livelihoods, Education, Built environment and housing, Technology and Design, Agri-machines, Financial innovations for energy access, Basic Energy Access, Decentralized solutions, Sustainable Energy, Rural Development, and Energy Poverty
We’re all set for the CatalyseTech EntrepreneuHer Innovation Challenge – Grand Jury Event!🙌🏻
The event began with an inspiring address by Ms. Anna Roy, applauding the women entrepreneurs for their entrepreneurial vision and commitment to innovation.
This transformative 2-day event holds exciting programs, pitching rounds and sessions designed to help entrepreneurs enhance their strategies through on legal training, compliance and intellectual property rights.
Day 1 begins with a capacity-building session for 30 exceptional women entrepreneurs. Stay tuned for updates and highlights as the event unfolds!
Anna Roy | SELCO Foundation | AIC SELCO FoundationYashodhara Bajoria#WEP#TogetherWeCan#WomenEntrepreneurs#CatalyzeTech
Celebrating Women Entrepreneurs: CatalyseTech EntreprenueHer Innovation Challenge – Grand Jury 2024
The moment we've all been waiting for is here! The Grand Jury Session of the CatalyseTech EntreprenueHer Innovation Challenge is set to take place on December 3-4, 2024. This initiative, driven by NITI Aayog, AIC SELCO Foundation, and SELCO Foundation, is a platform to empower women entrepreneurs and spark innovative solutions addressing pressing challenges across key sectors.
This year, 30 incredible women entrepreneurs from across India will present their groundbreaking ideas in three transformative categories:
Agriculture & Allied Sectors
Food Processing & Micro-Businesses
Last-Mile Health Tech & Built Environment
🎤 Over two action-packed days, participants will refine their strategies through sessions on business plan development, compliance, and intellectual property rights, culminating in their solutions being showcased to an esteemed jury panel.
Join us in celebrating these visionary changemakers as they redefine innovation and entrepreneurship, paving the way for a brighter, more inclusive future!
Anna Roy | SELCO Foundation#WomenEntrepreneurs#CatalyzeTech#EntrepreneuHer#InnovationForImpact#SELCOFoundation
Championing inclusive development through 15th Finance Commission! #Unlockingpotential
We look at Gowramma, a resident of Devsuguru, Karnataka, who found a unique opportunity to diversify and add to her household income through Agarbatti (incense stick) making. Her husband runs a complementary coconut selling business near a local temple.
Gowramma was not able to previously engage in any income-generating activities due to her disability. Through the Gram Panchayat mobilization drive facilitated by SELCO Foundation in Raichur, she was able to learn about the Agarbatti business and invest in a Agarbatti making machine with 15th FC funds subsidizing the capital cost leading to:
• Increase in monthly household income by 50%
• Improved business via employment of 2-3 workers
• Increased confidence leading to establishing own brand of scented agarbattis
Access climate smart technologies on Solutions Portal: https://lnkd.in/g-aPgSY9
And stay tuned for more schemes and case studies of #Unlockingpotential!
Ministry of Rural Development, GoI
Championing inclusive development through 15th Finance Commission! #Unlockingpotential
A number of government schemes and inclusive financial products have been designed with the aim to #UnlockingPotential and strengthening value capture by end users at the last mile.
Entrepreneurs with Disabilities with the Panchayati Raj Departments have been unlocking the #15thFinanceCommission Fund in subsidizing capital investments for businesses to enable micro entrepreneurship. 5% of the development fund is reserved for candidates with disabilities at the Panchayati level.
1000+ Entrepreneurs with disability have accessed Solar Energy and Energy Efficient Appliances to strengthen their businesses!
Access climate smart technologies on Solutions Portal: https://lnkd.in/gjvfE7Fi
And stay tuned for more schemes and case studies of #Unlockingpotential!
Ministry of Rural Development, GoI
🌟 Celebrating Women Entrepreneurs Driving Change! 🌟
To create inclusive and effective solutions, a gender-inclusive lens is essential—not just for end-users, but as innovators, entrepreneurs, policymakers, and financiers.
The CatalyseTech EntreprenueHer Innovation Challenge, launched by Women Entrepreneurship Platform of NITI Aayog, AIC SELCO Foundation and SELCO Foundation is empowering women to lead the way in shaping a more sustainable future.
The initiative has received 432 applications from 25+ states across India, with women entrepreneurs addressing grassroots problem statements. The applications have undergone different stages of the evaluation process, and more than 50 have been reviewed by state juries from across the country.
The journey has now reached an exciting milestone: 30 finalists are heading to the Grand Jury which will include capacity-building sessions and a pitching of their solutions, showcasing innovative solutions and inspiring more women to step out of their comfort zones and drive change.
🌟 Event: CatalyseTech EntreprenueHer Innovation challenge Grand Jury
📍 NITI Aayog, New Delhi
📅 3 December & 4 December 2024
Let’s cheer for these incredible changemakers as they pave the way for a brighter, more inclusive future! 💪✨
SELCO Foundation | AIC SELCO Foundation | Anna Roy | Harish Hande | Huda Jaffer | Rachita Misra
Note: This is a closed-door event, exclusive to the participants of the COHORT
#WomenEntrepreneurs#InclusiveInnovation#CatalyseTech#WEP#Sustainability#EmpoweringChange
Hooked on sustainability!🎣
SELCO Foundation is proud to support sustainable fisheries practices With GIZ India, Kalong-Kapili and NABARD - National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development.
Our ecosystem approach ensures that we address the interconnected challenges of energy access, climate change, and sustainable livelihoods. By providing innovative solutions like solar-powered aeration systems and energy-efficient processing equipment, we empower fish farmers to improve productivity, reduce costs, and minimize their environmental impact.
Let's work together to build a more sustainable future for our oceans and the communities that depend on them.
#SELCOFoundation#SustainableFisheries#ClimateAction#FisherySolutions
Under the #NationalMissionOnNaturalFarming (NMNF), Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare, Government of India is prioritising the promotion of innovation, research and development for on-farm / agroecology solutions (involving KVKs), integrated Agri-animal husbandry models to reduce dependency on inputs, improve soil health and improving on farm savings impacting individual #ChampionFarmers, SHGs and FPOs!
In India, 55% of agricultural land is rainfed, producing 40% of food grains. Small and marginal farmers, especially Dalits, Adivasis, and women, face landlessness, exploitation, low wages, and lack access to resources and decision-making power.
Agroecology technologies (Agriculture – Solutions Portal) apply ecological principles to farming and this approach helps understand #NaturalFarming practices in India to integrate climate-resilient, decentralized renewable energy (DRE) livelihood solutions.
#NaturalFarming is a low-input, climate-resilient system that eliminates synthetic chemicals. However, it faces unique challenges and requires targeted support:
👉Labour & Mechanization - Critical farming periods require significant labour, often scarce in village areas near cities, but seed drills and planters help reduce manual effort.
👉Soil health - Irregular soil health checks impact yield and farmer earnings, but utilizing GPS, IoT devices, and soil kits aid precise management enabling better management of soil nutrients and moisture levels.
👉Feed Care - Farmers may need to purchase supplementary feed to compensate for the lack of green fodder, increasing their cost. With Hydroponic Fodder Systems green fodder can be produced year-round, regardless of climate conditions, using minimal water and space.
This method can significantly mitigate the lack of green fodder due to increased heat.
👉Lack of awareness on strategic crop management to cope with water scarcity - Planting water-intensive crops in water-scarce conditions leads to poor growth, reduced yields, and increased debt on farmers which can be supported by providing training on integrated farming crop management.
The aim is to blend traditional natural farming techniques with modern innovations to empower farmers, enhance productivity, and ensure sustainable agricultural practices for generations to come.
Narendra ModiShivraj Singh Chouhan
Driving Sustainable Aquaculture with Renewable Energy Solutions 🐟
Over the past two years, we have worked closely with Assam's Department of Fisheries to empower the #aquaculture sector through decentralised renewable energy (DRE) solutions. In partnership with Kalong Kapili, we conducted awareness campaigns, sensitisation workshops, and site assessments across four districts, namely Sonitpur, Biswanath, Karbi Anglong, and Nagaon. Our work focused on introducing solar-powered technologies like water pumps, aerators, dryers, and refrigerators, while also training a wide range of stakeholders, including fish farmers, government officials, financial institutions, and NGOs. Through this initiative, ten DRE units were deployed in individual and group models. This collaborative effort is a significant step towards promoting sustainable, eco-friendly practices in Assam's aquaculture.
Building on the success of this pilot initiative, we have teamed up with the SELCO Foundation and NABARD - National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development to expand the adoption of #DRE technologies in Assam's aquaculture sector. This collaboration aims to scale up sustainable practices, improve livelihoods, and increase the impact for fish farmers and our environment.
𝐌𝐨𝐯𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐰𝐚𝐫𝐝, 𝐰𝐞 𝐰𝐢𝐥𝐥
💡 deploy 20 DRE technologies across the Nagaon district, enhancing sustainable aquaculture practices.
🌊 equip selected fish farmers with two advanced DRE units to enhance their resources sustainably.
📈 enhance farm production, improve productivity, and boost income generation by promoting the adoption of renewable energy solutions.
𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐧 𝐒𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐠𝐢𝐞𝐬 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐒𝐜𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐔𝐩 𝐃𝐑𝐄 𝐓𝐞𝐜𝐡𝐧𝐨𝐥𝐨𝐠𝐢𝐞𝐬 𝐢𝐧 𝐀𝐪𝐮𝐚𝐜𝐮𝐥𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞:
💼 Partnerships: Collaborative efforts with like-minded partners can fast-track the adoption of DRE technologies.
💰 Blended Funding Models: Leveraging government schemes and programmes to create blended funding models ensures financial sustainability and scalability.
📖 Expanding Learnings: Sharing insights and success stories with officials from other districts fosters replication and scalability of innovative solutions.
Together, these strategies can create a robust pathway toward sustainable aquaculture and renewable energy integration. Through our joint efforts, we are promoting the widespread adoption of renewable energy solutions and encouraging sustainable agricultural practices. These are also key objectives of the Green and Sustainable Development Partnership (#GSDP) between #India and #Germany.
This benefits both farmers and the environment. Learn more about our work: https://lnkd.in/g-5xsSjf
📌 Bundesministerium für wirtschaftliche Zusammenarbeit und Entwicklung (BMZ) | Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit GmbH
Promoting Horticulture development through MIDH! #Unlockingpotential
We follow Kattangur Farmers Producer Company Limited (FPCL) in Hyderabad, Telangana exceling in agriculture and horticulture, incorporated in January 2019 with 10 farmer board members and a shareholder base of nearly 1100 farmers.
Core activities include seed supply to members and local farmers through an outlet in Kattangur including a packhouse to sell produce at the market. The FPCL mainly produces lemon, ivy gourd, red chili, tomato, seed potato to name a few. However, without cold storage facilities, the post-harvest losses were immense.
The FPC invested in 12 units of Solar Powered Cold Storage of 10MT each (Cold Storage - SolutionsPortal) and 1 Reefer van across 12 villages in a Hub and Spoke model with loan from the State Bank of India and 35% from #MIDH + 3% #AIFF (Interest subvention), the FPC was able to:
☀️ Reduce distress sales and post-harvest losses of individual farmers
☀️ Increase in income via 10-15% price hike for the same produce
☀️ Increased quality of produce
☀️ Diversification of business
Access climate smart technologies on Solutions Portal: https://lnkd.in/gjvfE7Fi
And stay tuned for more schemes and case studies of #Unlockingpotential!
Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare, Government of India | NABARD - National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development | State Bank of India
