Rural Smiles Foundation will equip 100 vulnerable women and youth in Kibaale District, Uganda, with skills, tools, and enterprise support to produce and sell affordable cooking briquettes from agricultural and organic waste. The project will create green livelihood opportunities while providing communities with an alternative to conventional charcoal and firewood, helping reduce pressure on forests and promote cleaner, more sustainable local energy solutions.
Women and youth in Kibaale District face limited livelihood opportunities, while many households depend on firewood and charcoal for cooking. This dependence increases pressure on forests and exposes families to rising fuel costs. At the same time, agricultural and organic waste that could be converted into alternative cooking fuel is often underused. Vulnerable women and youth need practical green enterprises that can generate income while addressing local energy challenges.
Rural Smiles Foundation will train and equip 100 vulnerable women and youth in Kibaale District to produce and sell affordable briquettes from suitable agricultural and organic waste. Participants will receive briquette-making equipment, protective gear, business and financial skills, product-quality training, and market-linkage support. They will work in five producer groups, turning locally available waste into an income-generating alternative to conventional charcoal and firewood.
The project will establish five women- and youth-led green enterprises capable of generating income through briquette production and sales. As local demand grows, briquettes can provide households and institutions with an alternative to conventional charcoal and firewood, reducing pressure on woody biomass resources. The model will strengthen economic resilience, promote productive use of waste, create green livelihood opportunities, and demonstrate a locally driven approach to climate action.
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