Solution Lab for #EUGreenWeek

Impact Hub Phnom Penh, with the support of the Delegation of the European Union to the Kingdom of Cambodia, is excited to launch the Solution Lab.

You don’t need to be an expert on NTFP or social entrepreneurship: everyone is welcome! We embrace diversity through collective intelligence, so we can develop together the most creative solutions for the entrepreneurs. 

03 February 2021

02:30 PM – 5:00 PM
Registration open at 2:00PM

Impact Hub Phnom Penh
(#17, St.306, BKK1, Phnom Penh)

Solution Lab 2021

What is Solution Lab?

Solution Lab is a creative problem solving workshop to support Biodiversity and NTFPs (Non-Timber Forest Products) Enterprises in Cambodia. This workshop will be held in 3 hours, as a public event, to find the creative solutions to the challenges faced by non-timber forest products (NTFP) social enterprises in Cambodia. The problem statements gathered from 1- 3 NTFP social enterprises will likely focus on areas such as product development, branding and marketing their products, and access to new markets.

 

What is Biodiversity? 

Biodiversity is the variability among living organisms from all sources, including terrestrial, marine, and other aquatic ecosystems and the ecological complexes of which they are part; this includes diversity within species, between species, and of ecosystems. Biodiversity forms the foundation of the vast array of ecosystem services that critically contribute to human well-being. Biodiversity is important in human-managed as well as natural ecosystems. (The source document for this Digest states)

What is NTFPs Enterprises? 

Non-Timber Forest Products are the products or services other than the timber that are naturally produced in the forests and can be harvested for human use without cutting down trees. For example, fruits and nuts, vegetables, fish and game, medicinal plants, resins, essences and a range of barks and fibres such as bamboo, rattans, and a host of other palms and grasses. Moreover, NTFPs are used and managed in complex socio-economic and ecological environments.

 

Crucially, the NTFPs have been encouraged by the government, conservation and development agencies and non-government organisation in a way of helping the sale in order to boost income for indigenous people in tropics and encourage forest conservation. 

Challenges

Challenges are waiting to be solved by you. They are coming from Tani Chi Kho Leu Honey Collection Community, Mondulkiri Wild Honey and Forefront (bamboo) which are all the Non-timber Forest Products communities in Cambodia.

Communities’ struggle:

Their experience and ability are limited to business, promotion concept and the natural honey processing method. They were introduced to the method and machinery that extract the moisture from the honey. However, their community cannot afford that processing method.  

Communities’ struggle:

Their experience and ability are limited to business, promotion concept and the natural honey processing method. They were introduced to the method and machinery that extract the moisture from the honey. However, their community cannot afford that processing method.  

Communities’ struggle:

These communities produce around 10-20 tons of wild honey each year, yet they are struggling to sell the honey to the market, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. With the very limited knowledge of business and digital skill, plus lack of human resources in sales and marketing, the communities find it difficult to sustain in the long run. 

Communities’ struggle:

There is a lot of misunderstanding about bamboo. Bamboo houses are often seen as a house for poor people. Most believed that bamboo is a fragile construction material that won’t last long. Because bamboo is cheap, people also think it is a low quality product. In Cambodia, the development companies focus on luxury housing/boreys. This makes it even harder for construction companies to accept bamboo as a building material as the demand for it is too little.

JOIN US!

Join us to form a specific creative solution to help startups in this area together! 

 

We are looking for participants from a range of backgrounds such as students, entrepreneurs, leaders of NGOs and private sector, and government.

  • Help generate creative solutions to real-life challenges for NTFP ventures
  • Understand more about the problems faced by the NTFP ventures 
  • Recharge your inspiration tank and mobilize!
  • Build your network with social enterprises

 

Apply to join us as one of the participants: Click Here to Apply

Deadline to apply: 31 Jan 2021

Please note: Registration does not guarantee a place. Your place will be confirmed by our team. 

 

Timeline

Event date: 03 February 2021

Time: 2:30PM to 5:00PM

(Registration Open at 2:00PM)

Location: Impact Hub Phnom Penh

Brought By:

This “The Green Week Solution Lab” website was created and maintained with the financial support of the European Union.  Its contents are the sole responsibility of Impact Hub Phnom Penh and do not necessarily reflect the views of the European Union.