As we reflect on 2024, the WE4F South and Southeast Asia (S/SEA) Regional Innovation Hub celebrates a year of transformative achievements, partnerships, and progress in addressing the water-energy-food nexus. Through innovative solutions, robust partnerships, and empowerment of smallholder farmers, the S/SEA Hub made significant strides in sustainability and resilience across the region.
ONBOARDING 9 NEW INNOVATORS – 41 IN TOTAL
In 2024, the S/SEA Hub onboarded nine organizations from five countries through the Open Call for Innovations (OCFI), namely Husk Ventures, Shreenagar Agritech, Dvara E-Registry, Devidayal Solar, Human Ventures, Equilibrium (formerly Climeverse), FarmConnect Asia, CoolCrop and First Consolidated Cooperative Along Tañon Seaboards (FCCT) – our first innovator from the Philippines.
These innovators are driving impactful changes in areas such as climate finance, carbon emission reduction, biodiversity preservation, and environmental sustainability. Their solutions range from solar-powered cold storage to biochar-based fertilizers and regenerative agriculture. Many of these innovators actively participated in regional and annual convenings, sharing how their innovations address pressing climate and development challenges.
IMPROVED LIVELIHOOD OF ALMOST 2 MILLION FARMERS
In 2024, the S/SEA Hub supported its innovators to improve the livelihoods of nearly 2 million end-users, including 28.5% women and 72% from the base of the pyramid (BoP). These efforts underscore the program’s dedication to empowering communities. Innovators such as Village Link, Claro Energy, EGreen, and RDO Trust played a pivotal role in producing over 3 million tons of food.
Beyond improving food production, innovators achieved remarkable progress in energy conservation, saving over 610 million kWh of energy and 6 billion liters of water. Claro Energy’s solar water pumps, EGreen’s biogas systems, and S4S Technology’s solar dryers significantly reduced the energy footprint of agricultural activities. Meanwhile, innovators like Village Link and MimosaTEK employed digital tools to optimize water usage, and Equilibrium (formerly Climeverse) supported water-saving rice cultivation techniques alongside regenerative agriculture practices.
PROMOTE SUSTAINABILITY THROUGH KNOWLEDGE SHARING
Sustainability and Water Solutions
At the 10th World Water Forum (May 18–25) in Bali, the S/SEA Hub organized a side event titled “Accelerating the Adoption of Agricultural Water Innovations.” Innovators Claro Energy, Komodo Water, and MimosaTEK showcased their water-saving technologies, which emphasized the program’s commitment to prosperity and resilience through sustainable solutions.
Regional Convening
The Regional Convening, held from May 14–16 in Bali, brought together 36 innovators from eight countries. The event aimed to accelerate their growth by providing tailored support in areas such as technical assistance, investment readiness, grant management, water management, and monitoring and evaluation. A standout feature of the convening was the unconference, where innovators led nine sessions on topics like AI for business growth, aquaculture, women’s financial empowerment, and human resource management.
The event also incorporated five sessions covering the critical themes of climate finance, regenerative agriculture, water management, and performance management systems. The program also included field visits to Kopernik and Umah Pupa, offering participants a chance to explore innovative solutions in waste management and lean experimentation for advancing sustainable agriculture.
Annual Convening
Following the Regional Convening, S/SEA innovators participated in the Annual Convening, held from November 13–15 in Marrakech. With over 200 participants, the event featured interactive workshops, networking sessions, and an unconference, providing a platform for innovators to exchange ideas and share their experiences. Six S/SEA innovators participated in the global pitch competition, where Komodo Water won the competition for the over $1.5 million track, earning recognition for their contributions to water management and sustainable agriculture.
Lessons Learned Sharing
The S/SEA Hub participated in multiple key events throughout the year to amplify the voices of its innovators and promote sustainable practices:
- At the 80th UNESCAP Commission (April 22–26), the Hub Manager presented innovative solutions in the Mekong subregion, featuring impactful work by Husk Ventures, Khmer Green Charcoal, Covestro, and MimosaTEK.
- At ICTforAg (May 28–30), the hub team emphasized the importance of localized ICT tools for smallholders, discussing ways to empower producers with tailored digital solutions.
- The Asia Clean Energy Forum (June 3–7) saw the Hub Manager share lessons learned from water-energy-food nexus technologies to accelerate renewable energy adoption.
- During the 6th Greater Mekong Subregion (GMS) Environment Ministers’ Meeting (September 10–13) in Phnom Penh, innovators like Pteah Baitong and Husk Ventures showcased their solutions at a WE4F exhibition stall.
STRENGTHENING PARTNERSHIPS WITH REGIONAL PARTNERS
Memorandum of Understanding with USDA RAIN
The S/SEA Hub partnered with the USDA-funded Regional Agriculture Innovation Network (RAIN) to promote climate-smart agriculture innovations across Southeast Asia. This partnership established a Climate Hub to enhance knowledge-sharing, capacity building, and the adoption of sustainable agriculture practices.
Acknowledging Regional Advisory Board (RAB) Members
The RAB members provided invaluable guidance in scaling water-energy-food innovations, enabling innovators to access grants, technical assistance, and investment facilitation. Their expertise has directly benefited women and BoP communities, advancing climate resilience and food security while ensuring sustainability.
LOOKING AHEAD: PREPARING FOR THE CONCLUSION OF WE4F IN 2025
As the WE4F S/SEA Hub approaches its conclusion in June 2025, the focus remains on ensuring the sustainability and scalability of its supported innovations. Over the next few months, the hub will:
- Provide tailored support to help innovators scale their impacts and be more self-sustainable even beyond WE4F.
- Strengthen partnerships with potential partners in the region, who can potentially co-support our innovators, to ensure continued growth and community impact for innovators.
- Document and celebrate achievements through comprehensive impact reporting and storytelling aiming at sharing the lessons learned from the five-year experience supporting innovators in the region.
Lastly, our ultimate goal is to ensure that the impact of WE4F’s innovations will continue to drive sustainable change, improving livelihoods and advancing resilience across South and Southeast Asia, even after the conclusion of WE4F.
