As we welcome the spirit of the new year, the Water and Energy for Food South and Southeast Asia Regional Innovation Hub (S/SEA Hub) takes a moment to reflect on a year filled with triumphs, learnings, and impactful collaborations. In this comprehensive review, we delve into the key achievements that have laid the foundation for our ambitious 2024 plans.
HIGHLIGHTS OF 2023
70+ Technical Assistance Provided
The Technical Assistance Unit (TAU) achieved significant milestones in 2023, completing 72 instances across diverse themes such as end-user financing, business development, investment readiness, investment facilitation, PR and communications, partnerships, and more. ESG Integration remained a consistent focus throughout these instances.
The TAU introduced field visits as an integral part of technical assistance, enhancing the effectiveness of recommendations to innovators. Workshops on investment readiness were conducted. Collaborations with the technical assistance units of other hubs were initiated to share knowledge on new scopes like carbon credits to provide innovators with comprehensive support and promote cross-hub learning.
Almost 400 Applicants Through Open Call for Innovations (OCFI)
In the second quarter of 2023, the S/SEA Hub embarked on a transformative journey by launching the Open Call for Innovations (OCFI). Initiated in May 2023 and conducted in English, Khmer, Nepalese, and Thai languages, the OCFI attracted 396 applicants to propose groundbreaking solutions addressing water and energy challenges in food production and processing.
A Q&A webinar was organized in May for the S/SEA Hub team to answer applicants’ queries. The response was overwhelming, with 77 participants from the South and Southeast Asia region. The OCFI is still open and interested parties can learn more at we4f.org/apply-ssea.
Power of Partnerships: One Hub-level MOU and Beyond
The year 2023 emerged as a pivotal period for forging strategic partnerships. The S/SEA Hub joined forces with Acumen to introduce the “Energy for Livelihoods Accelerator,” an acceleration initiative benefiting early-stage companies using energy productively to uplift low-income communities. The collaboration extends to mentoring startups and enabling promising companies from Acumen’s portfolio to apply for the WE4F Open Call for Innovations.
The Hub’s support extended to facilitating MimosaTEK’s participation in the 2023 Global Food Security & Sustainability Summit in Vietnam. This engagement facilitated networking and allowed the company to share its insights to enable water-saving agricultural innovations.
Additionally, a dynamic collaboration with the Rural Environmental Management Centre, part of the Vietnam Farmers Union, resulted in four signed Memoranda of Understanding (MOUs) between the Centre and our innovators, opening doors to remarkable opportunities through a larger farmer base.
Regional Advisory Board (RAB) Meeting
In September, the RAB Meeting provided a platform to update members on program advancements, discussion of potential awardees under the OCFI and subsequent RAB contributions to shortlist the finalists. These sessions offer crucial guidance on industry insights, business strategies, partnerships, and fundraising. Ongoing collaborations with RAB members are explored, including requests for knowledge sessions, and program partnerships for investments, and technical assistance.
CAPACITY BUILDING THROUGH WORKSHOPS AND TRAINING
HR and Talent Management Workshop by Sagana Capital
In November 2023, the hub organized a dynamic workshop on the power of people practices. This interactive session engaged 11 innovators, guiding them on HR practices incorporated within their organizations. Topics covered included best practices on talent pitch, creating inclusive job descriptions, and more.
Environmental Sustainability Training
The year commenced with a crucial training session emphasizing the significance of Environmental Management and Monitoring Plans (EMMPs) and Environmental Mitigation and Monitoring Reports (EMMRs) during the operational stage. It has allowed innovators to understand the environmental challenges created by their business on local natural resources and mitigation measures to address the same. Three vital training sessions were organized, elaborating on steps and introducing toolkits for innovators to implement the recommendations in the EMMPs, and explaining how it will help the organization sustainably grow in the long run. This exercise also strengthens the environmental safeguards and opportunities for our innovators making their businesses more attractive to donors, governments, and investors.
Investment Readiness Workshop
- Basic Financial Modelling and Best Practices (June 2023): Led by the S/SEA Hub’s Brokering Unit, this session provided early-stage startups with a deeper understanding of financial models, including financial forecasts and implications.
- Addressing Strategies for Successful Early-Stage Fundraising in Impact Investing by Acumen India (April 2023): This session provided clarity on the fundraising process, investment materials, and financial projection best practices.
ENGAGING EVENTS AND CONVENINGS
S/SEA Regional Convening 2023
From April 24-26, 2023, the S/SEA Hub hosted a regional convening in Goa, India, bringing together 49 participants, including 29 innovators spanning eight countries. The event featured:
- Expert-led discussions on end-user financing, blended finance, monitoring and evaluation, and Life Cycle Assessment (LCA).
- Nine unconference sessions covering themes such as end-user financing, leveraging grants for raising private capital, climate adaptation and mitigation, digital platforms for agri-services, and HR management for SMEs.
- Over 20 individual sessions with the S/SEA Hub team and WE4F Donor Partners, providing invaluable guidance on grant management, monitoring and evaluation, technical assistance, environmental sustainability compliance, and beyond.
A noteworthy addition to this gathering was a session on “failures”. As entrepreneurs navigating converging personal and professional boundaries, this space provided a welcoming opportunity to openly discuss and learn from each other’s professional and personal vulnerabilities.
Annual Convening 2023
The WE4F Annual Convening in Bangkok, from August 29-31, 2023, saw the participation of over 150 individuals from five WE4F Hubs across Asia and Africa. The event provided a unique opportunity for innovators from different hubs to meet in person, share experiences, and learn from one another. The convening fostered new connections and collaborations among innovators.
Decarbonization Hackathon of the Sustainability Transformation Xponential (STX)
In November 2023, Radtasiri (Bes) Wachirapunyanont, the S/SEA Hub Manager, contributed as a speaker and judge at the Decarbonization Hackathon of the Sustainability Transformation Xponential (STX) program by RISE. Representing WE4F, Bes shed light on innovative technologies that support smallholder farmers in increasing food production while conserving water resources and biodiversity.
Digital Agriculture Solutions Forum 2023
September 2023 witnessed S/SEA Hub Manager’s participation in the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO)’s Digital Agriculture Solutions Forum 2023 for Asia and the Pacific. His presentation focused on fostering digital agriculture ecosystems and successful initiatives for promoting agritech startups, SMEs, and social enterprises.
Roundtable Discussion at the U.S. Embassy Bangkok
S/SEA Hub Manager attended a dynamic roundtable discussion at the U.S. Embassy Bangkok in August 2023, alongside Senator Tammy Duckworth and U.S. Ambassador to Thailand Robert F. Godec. During the discussion, Bes emphasized how innovations supported by WE4F can play a crucial role in assisting smallholder farmers in overcoming water scarcity while promoting responsible resource use.
APEC Water Security Workshop
S/SEA Hub Manager along with Dr. Ku McMahan, participated in the APEC Water Security Workshop. Sharing WE4F’s lessons learned on using locally collected data for multi-donor coordinating and best practices for on-farm investment in agricultural water efficiency, the hub contributed valuable insights to the workshop.
LOOKING AHEAD TO 2024
2023 has been a year of growth, collaboration, and empowerment for the S/SEA Hub of WE4F. As we step into the new year, we carry with us the lessons learned, the partnerships forged, and the determination to continue making a positive impact on agriculture, water, and energy in the region.
In 2024, we remain committed to scaling innovations that impact the water-energy-food nexus, enhancing the sustainability of agricultural production, and creating income opportunities in developing countries and emerging markets. We will onboard at least eight new innovators who will benefit from technical assistance and matching grants. To explore more about our initiatives on the Open Call for Innovations and stay updated on our progress, we invite you to visit our website: https://we4f.org/apply-ssea
