Clean Cookstoves: Changing the Energy Paradigm in Kenya

MONUMENT, Colo., Sept. 20 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Josie Noah, Commitments Senior Associate, Environment & Energy for the Clinton Global Initiative announced that The Paradigm Project was selected as representing  "an exemplary approach to addressing challenges in Environment and Energy."  Paradigm, a first year member of the Clinton Global Initiative, was selected from a large pool of contenders in the their category.  Neil Bellefeuille, CEO of The Paradigm Project will represent The Paradigm Project on-stage during the Clean Technology and Smart Energy: Deploying the Green Economy session during the Clinton Global Initiative annual meeting on Tuesday, September 21 in New York.  

The Paradigm Project is a low-profit, limited liability company (L3C) whose mission is to create sustainable economic, social and environmental value within developing world communities. It was founded by a group of businesspeople with a heart for the world's poor. Their desire to create a lasting, positive impact on these communities was the impetus for the creation of a unique model that combines best practices from market driven and philanthropic sectors to deliver sustainable change…this model is The Paradigm Project.

Creating project sustainability in serving the poorest of the poor is difficult. Pure market systems don't function well in situations where people have minimal income. And yet pure aid-based systems often fail to "teach people to fish," and instead create a culture of long-term reliance. Paul Kagame, President of Rwanda, recently said, "Over the past 50 years, Africa has received more than $1 trillion in foreign assistance, yet none of us really have much to show for it. Per capita income across the continent remains essentially where it was in 1960. The cycle of aid and poverty is durable: as long as poor nations are focused on receiving aid they will not work to improve their economies."

Paradigm's aim is to bridge the divide—to couple serving the immediate needs of the poor with a unique process that can fund itself over time and eventually build income for local constituents. To do this, Paradigm has partnered with world class global relief & development organizations, technology providers, carbon aggregators and brokers to ensure lasting results are delivered. Scalable projects that meet immediate needs and create long-term economic and environmental benefit are identified and developed. Paradigm's initial vehicle for this model is efficient cookstoves connected to the carbon markets. The use of efficient cookstoves reduces emissions, which in turn generates carbon credits that are sold on the open market. Proceeds from these sales create a self sustaining mechanism that ultimately eliminates the need for continued outside funding. Surplus proceeds support other community projects such as clean water, health clinics and schools at the discretion of the community.  

Currently Paradigm is focused on programs in Kenya and Haiti and has identified a pipeline of future projects in at least 10 other countries. Based on forecasts from Food for the Hungry and World Vision in Kenya, Paradigm's current projects could distribute a million or more stoves over the next 10 years.  In Haiti, World Vision and Paradigm intend to distribute 100,000 efficient stoves to Internally Displaced Persons over the next 6 to 12 months and long-term, up to 500,000.

The Clinton Global Initiative, part of the Clinton Foundation, facilitates the collaboration of heads of state, leading global corporations, philanthropists, foundations, non-governmental organizations, and prominent members of media to address and promote solutions to the world's most pressing problems.

For more information on the Paradigm's other projects and more details, please visit www.theparadigmproject.org or call Scott Hitt at 801-608-2338.

SOURCE The Paradigm Project

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