CaDev Spotlight: Starting Local for Lasting Change

CaDev, a Zambian social enterprise focused on localised innovation, technical assistance, and knowledge management, got its start looking for ways to address critical gaps in sustainable development.

While biochar came later in their organizational story, what quickly became clear to its founders, and what would become its guiding light, was that local problems need local solutions. 

In the context of the Global South and social impact, CaDev founders share there’s often an over-reliance on external assistance from the Global North. Add in low rates of awareness around new solutions and a lack of locally driven initiatives, and there’s a landscape for lagging  meaningful progress on a wide range of issues from water and sanitation to agriculture and climate mitigation. That’s not to say local communities aren’t rich sources of solutions to these issues; yet the status quo often incorporates models without strong local involvement, leading to often unsustainable impact.

The name CaDev itself, short for catalyst development, signifies the organization’s focus on empowering those on the ground to overcome challenges too often seen as in the domain of governments and global organizations. 

“In my search for solutions to problems like water access, climate resilience, and sustainable development, it became clear to me that most of these problems were not seen as addressable by the locals themselves,” said Chaiwe Mushauko, founder and CEO of CaDev. “By supporting local people and organisations, we hope to unlock innovative, sustainable solutions that bring meaningful change.”

It was this ethos that brought CaDev to explore biochar as an accessible, circular solution to waste management and climate adaptation. Though not an initial or sole focus of the organization, CaDev’s biochar projects are a great illustration of how their search for locally driven solutions can help communities take ownership of the issues affecting them most.  

How CaDev Discovered Biochar

Agricultural producers in Zambia often fight an uphill battle. In recent years, the country has seen the impacts of climate change first-hand, experiencing longer periods of drought that sometimes leave parts of the country without rainfall for up to five weeks at a time, prompting the president to declare a state of emergency.

In addition to drought, Zambia has long struggled with soil degradation caused by unsustainable agriculture practices, over-dependency in the use of inorganic fertilizers, and the increased demands on land from growing populations, alongside the rise of monoculture crop growth.

“We’ve seen yields plummet over the past few years due to drought, poor soil health, and a lack of consistent access to fertilizer,” said Mushauko. “In researching traditional practices and modern solutions for improving soil health, we came across biochar. It seemed like a great way to support Zambian agriculture in a sustainable way and aligned with our organization’s interest in creating income-generating opportunities for women, the youth, and farmers.”

By tapping into the power of biochar, CaDev and Zambian communities have been able to enhance soil fertility, better utilize waste materials, improve water retention, and reduce their reliance on often unavailable chemical inputs.

CaDev’s Biochar Roadmap

CaDev has established itself as a pioneer in Zambian biochar, but it’s still early days. Among the many challenges they face is a low rate of awareness of biochar as a solution. To highlight the process and its benefits, CaDev conducts wide ranging community outreach efforts, including hosting workshops and demonstrations across Zambia. CaDev training includes how to select appropriate feedstocks, biochar kiln operation, and how to ensure consistent quality in the process and product.

“First and foremost, we need to inform farmers of biochar and how they might use it to improve their yields and deal with waste byproducts,” said Mushauko. “We’re working to provide technical, practical training, and resources to all interested in biochar’s promise.” 

As an alumna of IBI’s inaugural Biochar Academy in 2023, hosted in New York, Mushauko and CaDev have taken the learnings and expanded what’s possible for biochar education in their local region.

CaDev also works with non-governmental organizations and private entities to help bridge the gaps in knowledge and resources that might slow down adoption in the country. Partnerships with companies like Microsoft allow CaDev to leverage cutting-edge tools and existing data to monitor production, improve training programs for farmers, and connect communities that are hard to reach.

The Future of Biochar in Zambia

Over the next five years, CaDev aims to reach between 50,000 and 100,000 farmers through its awareness and training efforts, significantly increasing adoption of biochar. As more communities get off the ground, CaDev hopes to unlock even more potential for locals through third-party partnerships and by tapping into carbon credit markets. 

Despite the myriad of challenges facing farmers in Zambia and populations around the world as the increasing ramifications of climate change become more present, CaDev’s focus on local engagement and ownership offers a roadmap for action. By taking on local problems and empowering communities to work on solutions, anyone can have a global impact. 

“Small, localized projects can create meaningful change. With sustained effort and a little bit of patience, I’m confident we’ll see more African faces taking the lead in biochar and building resilient communities.”

– Chaiwe Mushauko, Founder and CEO of CaDev