infoDev’s Climate Technology Program and the African Center for Technology Studies (ACTS), established EACIN, the first regional climate innovation network supported by the World Bank. EACIN aims to accelerate climate technology innovation by creating a network of private, public, academic and community actors. This will allow several East African countries: Ethiopia, Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania and Uganda to take a more proactive and profitable role in the ongoing clean technology revolution.

EACIN will join forces with the Kenya Climate Innovation Center (CIC) to offer a wide range of services to help researchers, entrepreneurs, and Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) realize their goals in climate innovation. Currently, EACIN and the Kenya CIC are working together to support local innovators and identify climate change technologies for sustainable business development.

The first EACIN conference held during January 17-18, 2013 was a dynamic event that brought together a variety of stakeholders, including: entrepreneurs, SMEs, multilateral and bilateral institutions, government agencies, academic institutions and civil society to discuss innovative solutions to local climate challenges.

The Kenya School of Monetary Studies in Nairobi became a venue for knowledge-sharing and proactive discussions on ways to apply climate technology solutions to East Africa. Exhibitors from EACIN partner countries showcased climate change innovative technologies from the East African region. Exhibitors included: SCODE (energy saving stove), Sunny People (solar-powered mobile charger), Biossal (Storene-powered stove), Nyangorora Banana Youth Group (tissue culture technology and value-addition for bananas), and Groasis Waterboxx (device to restore vegetation using rainwater and condensation). Through the network’s partnership with the UN and the South-South Global Assets and Technology Exchange (SS- GATE), EACIN aims to carry these regional climate innovations to the global arena.

During the EACIN conference, the Coordinator for infoDev’s Climate Technology Program, Jonathan Coony, announced the upcoming launch of the CIC in Ethiopia, and six others worldwide. He also reminded innovators to think globally in their work, not only in the creation of a product or service, but by grasping the opportunities available for collaboration at the international level, through the CICs-with a link to researchers, entrepreneurs, and pioneering SMEs.

Ultimately, EACIN aims to develop innovative, sustainable and profitable solutions to climate challenges. The network will help East Africa benefit from a promotion of innovative enterprises for job creation and inclusive growth.

Pictured: a CIC Client shows the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Environment, Edward Sambili, a stove powered by Storene, a renewable biofuel

EACIN was established with support from the World Bank/infoDev through the African Centre for Technology Studies (ACTS) in partnership with the East African regional partners: University of Dar es Salaam (Tanzania), National Agricultural Research Organization (Uganda), Addis Ababa University (Ethiopia), Practical Action Consulting (Rwanda), Egerton University (Kenya) and an international partner: South-South Global Assets and Technology Exchange (SS- GATE).