Transfering experience

Sharing success...

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Slovakia is an emerging actor in international development cooperation. The Slovak official development cooperation program – SlovakAid – has been launched in 2003, following the country’s own transition to a prosperous and democratic society. Slovakia shares the responsibility for global development. We believe that by transferring the experience, which provided a basis for Slovakia’s own development, we can positively contribute to development processes in our partner countries. We seek to support the most effective and viable solutions to address the global development challenges. Some of our most successful initiatives include projects concerning social and economic development of rural areas, environmental protection and transfer of green technologies. In all our initiatives, we encourage strong local ownership, capacity building and community empowerment. Our goal is to support innovative solutions, and to replicate the ones that have proven successful. Only in such way we can make a significant contribution to sustainable and equitable development in our partner countries and bring about positive changes in people’s lives. We believe that the experience, know-how and technologies we transfer to our partner countries can help pave their way to future success.

Official Development Cooperation of the Slovak Republic

Promoting sustainable agriculture and protection of natural resources

In rural areas of Kenya, South Sudan and Afghanistan, SlovakAid has worked to help farmers strengthen their food and income security through a combination of interventions which aim to boost agricultural production and profits, while introducing strategies to reduce the impact of farming on the environment. The protection and sustainable management of natural resources has been a priority in many projects supported by the SlovakAid.

An organisation People in Peril has

implemented projects to improve the

economic efficiency in agriculture and

sustainable resource management in rural

areas of Kenya, South Sudan and Afghanistan.

These projects generally aim to provide

motivation and job opportunities for young

people to work in agriculture thus preventing

them from migrating to the cities. Through

practical and theoretical trainings new

ecological farming techniques such as

rainwater harvesting or drip irrigation and

efficient animal husbandry are being

introduced to students, small scale farmers and

other community members. In order to

increase producers’ profits, trainings are also

provided in various value adding techniques,

such as fruit drying or meat and wool

processing. Furthermore, the establishment of

farmers’ cooperatives are being encouraged

to facilitate the access of small farmers to the

local markets.

Activities to increase the protection of natural

resources are central to these projects.

Through working with communities they focus

on introducing alternative livelihood strategies

such as energy-saving stoves, biogas

technology, or tree nurseries to expand green

space. The organisation has worked to

develop community management of natural

resources as one of the most efficient methods

of protection.

When trading is FAIR

Supporting Fair trade and organic farming for sustainable development

SlovakAid has worked to improve social and economic conditions in rural areas by enhancing local capacities for production, processing and marketing of farmer‘s output and by offering better trade conditions to disadvantaged farmers and workers. Our aim is to contribute to a world in which justice and fair trading conditions are at the centre of sustainable and equitable development.

Integra Foundation has worked to improve the living standards of cashew

farmers in Lamu District in Kenya, where the cashew growing and export

industry have been in serious decline over the past 20 years. Through a range of

interventions, this project aims to improve the production, sales, exports and

eventually the income of 2000 cashew farmers living in the district. These

interventions include trainings of farmers in modern growing techniques, fair

trade and organic production and financial management. A new technology

for the processing of cashew is being introduced in the nut factory in Nairobi in

order to increase the processing capacities and fulfil international food quality

and safety standards, thus improving the sales potential of Lamu cashew.

Through fair trade and organic certification, Kenyan and international markets

for Lamu cashew farmers will be opened, while the workers’ rights to a decent

pay will be protected. Furthermore, the fair trade social premium will allow

farmers and workers to invest in development of their own businesses and

communities.

Transferring green

and innovative technologies for better life SlovakAid engages with partner countries to help them towards green economic growth by expanding green technologies and innovations. We have worked with the private sector and various civil society groups to promote clean energy and sustainable technologies in Kenya and South Sudan. The long-term objective of these initiatives is to help mitigate climate-related threats which adversely affect the most vulnerable sectors of society. In cooperation with the AUREX Company, SlovakAid has developed a series of photovoltaic systems, which

positively contribute to the climate change mitigation efforts, while making the power supplies available in

rural areas of Kenya. Furthermore, the solar electricity produced is being used for the purification and

disinfection of water in order to improve the hygienic standards of local population and enhance the overall

living conditions in these areas. In addition to such interventions, SlovakAid has supported projects that

provide vocational training to improve the sustainability of renewable energy investments in developing

countries, by increasing awareness, knowledge and capacity of local stakeholders. In South Sudan, a

Slovak organisation eRko - Christian Children Communities Movement has organised trainings in the field of

solar technologies, which include modules on design, installation, operation and maintenance of solar

systems. Through educational activities in WATSAN technologies as well as through small-scale participatory

projects, the organisation is helping local communities to improve the water and sanitation conditions,

introduce the sustainable waste management and use of irrigation systems, and to reduce the pollution and

environmental degradation.

Slovak Agency for International Development Cooperation Drotárska cesta 46 811 02 Bratislava Slovak Republic www.slovakaid.sk