What is the Artisanal Charcoal Incubation Programme?
A green business programme that develops entrepreneurs with a keen interest in the green economy to establish successful green charcoal businesses. These businesses will be taught how to produce international quality and FSC-certified charcoal, using biomass from alien and invasive plants. These businesses are then able to create jobs for local communities and solve the alien and invasive plant crisis South Africa faces and thus contribute to reducing water scarcity, improving biodiversity, and restoring landscapes.
What is the duration of the programme?
The programme runs over 24 months.
What is the Artisanal Charcoal Incubation programme curriculum?
In the GBVC programme participants learn business skills, how to run a business, access finance, business growth, how to produce international quality charcoal, mentorship, and business coaching.
What conditions are needed for this programme to succeed?
For success, certain conditions need to be present, such as dedicated incubators, sufficient biomass coverage, easy accessibility of biomass, logistical feasibility, land usage agreements.
What does success look like for this programme?
The programme aims to tackle the issue of water scarcity and restoration of land for agricultural use by establishing sustainable and profitable green charcoal businesses thus creating jobs, restoring water into water systems, and rehabilitating land through alien and invasive plant removal.