Dr. Natangue Shafudah from the University of Namibia (UNAM) has been awarded a research grant of N$890,878 by the National Commission on Research, Science and Technology (NCRST).
The grant will support a nine-month project aimed at harnessing methane energy from food waste in informal settlements.
This innovative project addresses two pressing issues in Namibia’s informal settlements: waste management and energy access. By converting food waste into energy, the project has the potential to improve the living conditions of residents and reduce environmental impact.
The commission said the expected outputs of the project are the reduction of food waste, strategies that will be implemented to help reduce food waste within the community, improved waste collection and separation, and the development and promotion of effective waste collection and separation methods that will enhance overall waste management practices.
“We expect a biogas production system that converts organic waste into renewable energy, providing local households with energy for cooking and heating, environmental benefits will also be thereby diverting organic waste from landfills, the project will reduce greenhouse gas emissions and lower the overall carbon footprint of these communities, the health of the community will also improve because enhanced waste management practices will reduce pest breeding grounds, leading to better health outcomes for resident and more jobs will be created because the project will create local job opportunities related to waste collection, biogas production and system maintenance,” they emphasised.
They said this initiative is supported by the Science Granting Council Initiative and funded by the International Development Research Centre, reflecting NCRST’s commitment to collaborative research in areas such as Climate Smart Agricultural Technology, Space Science, Artificial Intelligence, and Renewable Energy.
“We are excited about the potential impact of this project, which promises to improve both the environment and socio-economic condition in Namibia’s informal settlements,” they concluded.