How the fishermen of Madagascar are pulling together to combat climate change The Guardian published an article about our efforts in Madagascar. It explains how by joining local cooperatives, fishing communities in the island nation are being taught sustainable fishing practices, with benefits to their livelihoods and the environment. You can read the article here. […]
Maria joined the WECONNEX team last October and has been supporting us with energy and enthusiasm since then. She reaches out to potential partners on a global scale, fills out award applications and prepares videos, factsheets and further acquisitions material for WECONNEX. We are happy to have her on our team. Meet Maria: Tell us […]
It has been over a month since my return to Switzerland and – a feeling we all know – the time spent on this fascinating island already seems so far away. Still, I am often reminded of the little moments, struggles, highlights, encounters and small daily adventures that I had the opportunity to be part […]
The term Bottom or Base of the Pyramid (BoP) is well-known and broadly used today. It has emerged as the more sophisticated term for poverty and is mainly used in business and management circles. At WECONNEX, we use the term regularly to describe the target group of our NEXUS Projects to indicate who shall benefit from […]
The Project: Pêche Cotière Durable (PCD) Short recap of the last travel blog: I returned to Morondava, Madagascar to consult the sustainable fisheries project of the WWF. Their staff consists of excellent and diverse experts: conservationists, (marine) biologists, geologists and socio-organizers. What is missing at times is the knowledge to approach a project in a […]
According to the UN, five to seven trillion US dollars a year are lacking to achieve the sustainability goals. It is therefore clear that the international community will not achieve these goals by 2030 without a substantial contribution from the private sector. WECONNEX develops business models for achieving these goals in developing countries. The young […]
The Swiss regional TV station TVO portrayed WECONNEX and its NEXUS projects. Take a look (in German): 14. October 2018 / http://www.tvo-online.ch/mediasicht/65721 Source: nexus ch
Sustainability: the term is used today in an inflationary way. Nonetheless, it is at the heart of our work. How sustainable is sustainable enough? There are major differences depending on the industry. We take a closer look at selected sectors. Sustainable action means using the available resources responsibly. This includes social (employees, partners, customers, etc.), […]
Emanuel Grüger spent several weeks in Madagascar for WECONNEX. As part of his bachelor thesis, the student analysed the potential of plants for the NEXUS Madagascar project. In an interview he looks back on his experience in the deep south of Madagascar. Emanuel, you spent several weeks travelling in the ‘deep south’ of Madagascar. What […]
Or: “Dear Andrina, great news, we now have all the signatures!” It has been a while since I last published an update on my Madagascar adventures. Back in July, I originally travelled to Madagascar for WECONNEX with the intention to support, in the role of a consultant, the sustainable fisheries project of the WWF team in […]
Faly miarahaba indray. A Malagasy saying for ‘happy to greet you again’. The Madagascar-Travelblog continues. I hope you are all as excited to read about my newest daily adventures, highlights and struggles as I am to share them with you. There have been plenty – apologies for the length of the tale – but they […]
Did you see the videos of rivers in India filled with plastic rubbish on social media lately? Unfortunately, Nepal as an upstream country is a contributor to the tremendous amount of waste, which flows from the Himalaya region into the Indian Ocean. Since our projects are located in the South of Nepal, we feel that […]
Investors believe in the NEXUS concept: CHF 630,000 is being invested in the projects in Nepal and Madagascar. WECONNEX continues to develop the existing NEXUS Centers and supports smallholders in the sustainable production of food. We are excited to advance in our expansion and thank our partners for their commitment! Support us, too?! More than […]
Nepal is a country with one of the highest amounts of registered non-government organisations (NGO’s). Currently over 47’000 NGO’s are registered with the Social Welfare Council, whereas a few hundred are actively working. Out of them we count over 200 international organisations (INGO’s). Despite this significant amount of foreign aid, Nepal still remains one of […]
Akory Aby. Malagasy for: Hello everyone. My name is Andrina. Since January 2018 I’ve been working for WECONNEX. Instead of sitting in our co-working space in St. Gallen, I currently have the privilege to be working directly with the local fishing communities on the southwest coast of Madagascar for the next four months (read to […]
Fragile, unstable, war-torn countries are perhaps not the easiest places to do business – but they are also the places offering the potential to make the greatest difference in ending extreme poverty and boosting shared prosperity. These are the places where economic and social progress could bring peace and stability. These are the places where […]
NEFACO (NEXUS Farmers Company) sustainably develops the income opportunities of rural smallholder farmers in the Chitwan Region in Nepal. The project embodies the understanding of development work that builds on the threefold combination of environmental, social and economic impact as an ingredient to success. To work towards this triple-bottom-line goal, three specialized team members now […]
WECONNEX develops and manages projects to reach the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDG). We focus on sustainable business models around water supply, energy, communication and on specific infrastructure for fishermen and farmers by implementing the so-called NEXUS Concept. Currently, we are active in Nepal, Madagascar and Cambodia. Together with our local organisations, we are currently […]
Since mid-April 2018, Angelo Rabearisoa is a member of the NEXUS Madagascar Company (NEMACO)-Team, supporting us in the role of Community Outreach Officer. Rural infrastructure projects depend strongly on the commitment of the local population. Angelo’s efforts ensure that the communities learn to carry responsibility for the longterm success of the project. His expertise in […]
Michel Stadelmann is the man behind the lens: In August 2017 he accompanied Anthony on his trip to Nepal and shot impressive photos and breathtaking video scenes for us. He is the movie maker behind all the video statements as well as our resource for several of our published photos. We are thankful for his […]
According to the United Nations, cities and towns are expected to be home to over 66% of the world’s population by 2050. Cities are, as reported by the World Bank, the ‘places where dreams for joining the middle class can come true and where better futures can be built for young families.’ The unbridled appeal […]
A month ago, we announced Bhakta Karki as Guneshwar Mahato’s successor in Nepal. Bhakta was appointed as our project manager for the new NEXUS Farmers Company (NEFACO) and took over the job with great enthusiasm. As of now, Susant Tiwari, our former commercial manager, has taken over Bhakta’s position. Sometimes, life brings unexpected turns and […]
Have you heard of the latest trend? Blended Finance. The initial question out of which blended finance emerged is: how do we narrow the 2.5 billion dollar SDG-investment gap and make the best use out of the available billion dollar investment opportunity? While donations continue to make an important contribution to development cooperation, investments in […]
WECONNEX recently increased the team in Nepal and hired a new project manager: Bhakta Karki will head the new NEXUS Farmers Company (NEFACO). This company is responsible for implementing the extended NEXUS Concept in Nepal and is gradually taking over the activities of NEXUS Technology P. Ltd. Bhakta has more than 7 years of relevant […]
For the 25th time, the world is joining forces to celebrate World Water Day and to direct attention on the importance of water. Today, 2.1 billion people live without safe drinking water – a situation that affects health, education and livelihoods. SDG6 commits the world to ensuring that everyone has access to safe water by […]
Since October of 2017, Vola Ramahery is an essential member of the Madagascar Project Team. The benefits of being on-site, knowing the local conditions and important contacts ensure a more targeted project progress and Vola’s sunny spirit boost the credibility and reputation of NEMACO. Vola, where are you from in Madagascar, what language do you […]
The NEXUS Madagascar Cooperative, in short NEMACO, embodies a multi-faceted project approach. The core of NEMACO remains the NEXUS Centers but the concept has been enlarged to include a range of services and aspects aiming towards reaching the aspired triple-bottom-line impact and a lasting development of the rural communities. After two weeks in Madagascar, Adrian […]
Can we be proud of the state of our world and global developments in 2017? Quite some reactions are most likely to be a shaking of the head, a frown, or a throwing up of hands in frustration. “2017 was probably the very best year in the long history of humanity” are the contradictory words […]
For the 6th time the Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week (ADSW) took place and attracted over 38’000 attendees, representing the largest sustainability gathering in the Middle East. WECONNEX was present throughout the week at the SWISS Pavilion and introduced the extended NEXUS Concept to interested contacts. The fair is “dedicated to furthering our understanding of the […]
WECONNEX follows the mission to contribute to reaching the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030. Our NEXUS Projects are aligned towards creating a lasting and sustainable impact on a social, environmental and economic level. Among the pursued goals is SDG7 that aims for affordable and clean energy for all. The access to affordable and clean […]
Our Commercial Manager, Susant Tiwari, who is responsible for all the NEXUS Centers and Projects in Nepal, offered fascinating insights into his daily responsibilities, challenges and highlights. He also shared his vision and dream for Nepal with us. Enjoy reading his capturing story. Susant, where are you from in Nepal and what is your family […]
We are proud to announce that WECONNEX is now a member of the World Alliance for Efficient Solutions. Established by the Solar Impulse Foundation of Bertrand Piccard, the Alliance brings together startups, corporations, investors and associations involved in creating solutions that protect the environment in a profitable way. The 470 members are committed to offering […]
Last December, I participated in the Global Solutions Summit 2016 in Little Rock (Arkansas, USA). Even though me being not a very religious person, I was inspired by a quote of Bishop Michael Curry from the Episcopal Church of America: Some people see things as they are and ask: „Why?“ Others are dreaming of things that never were and […]
Yullie and Filippo are currently supporting the NEXUS team in Nepal. While Yullie is mainly dedicated to the further development of the concept, Filippo is developing an improved monitoring system. After one month and one week respectively in Nepal, they answer four questions. Filippo, how did you experience your first week? Filippo: The first week […]
Krishna has started his own hotel three years ago after working 28 years in the tourism industry in Nepal. During his career, he was a guide at the Chitwan National Park, worked in several positions in Hotels and Guesthouses until he finally became Hotel Manager. Tourism was not always the career goal of Krishna. He […]
Fabien Matthias was in Nepal from July to October. As an intern he supported our local NEXUS organisation in various tasks. Fabien likes special challenges and uncertain situations – and got along well in Nepal. In the interview he talks about his experiences in the last four months. What were your tasks during your time […]
WECONNEX is a developer and manager of sustainable infrastructure projects in remote areas. We focus on water supply, energy, communication and on specific infrastructure for fishermen and farmers by implementing the so-called NEXUS Concept. Currently, we are active in Nepal, Cambodia and Madagascar. Together with our local partners, we are currently rolling out brand new NEXUS Centers and […]
Managing a NEXUS Center is challenging and versatile: for example, the tasks include the maintenance of the facilities, bookkeeping or the sale of water. It also requires an understanding of the customers and, above all, ideas on how to expand the business. Muna in Gochhada is talented and manages her center successfully. In the last […]
With the NEXUS concept, WECONNEX is a new member of the UN alliance “Business Call to Action” (BCtA). The network includes 200 renowned companies worldwide that are committed to achieving sustainability goals in developing countries through sustainable business models. BCtA supports leading companies that develop and implement profitable, scalable and integrative business models for people […]
Während ihres Aufenthalts in Madagaskar trafen Lars & Adrian das Unternehmerpaar Julia und Peter Schachenmann-Razafimanga. In der Nähe der NEXUS-Watershops baute das schweizerisch-madagassische Ehepaar 2011 eine Öko-Lodge auf – mitten im typischen Dornbuschwald und direkt am Meer. Während der Vorbereitungen auf die Expansion des NEXUS Madagaskar Projekts war der Erfahrungsaustausch besonders wertvoll. Peter und Julia […]
The heavy monsoon in Nepal affects over 48,000 families – a lot of them living in our project area. Only one NEXUS Center (Sauraha) was damaged by flooding, the remaining nine NEXUS Centers immediately began to provide drinking water for the population. The advantages of a decentralized, autonomous infrastructure have thus once again become obvious […]
WECONNEX is now developing a second NEXUS Project in Madagascar. WWF Switzerland, WWF Madagascar and the Solarspar Foundation have been cooperating with WECONNEX on a water supply project in the South-West of the country for several years. As many people in this region still have no or inadequate infrastructure, we were thinking about a sustainable […]
On the 1st of August 2017, Adrian Rutishauser joined WECONNEX in project management and will mainly focus on our activities in Madagascar. Adrian was with his wife in Madagascar between January and June 2017. During the six months he conducted a field study and designed a business plan on how to develop sustainable infrastructure in […]
After a not so easy fund-raising phase, WECONNEX was finally able to successfully complete the planned capital increase in July. The Fortimo Group from St. Gallen decided to invest first. The Group is not only a shareholder of WECONNEX AG, but is also investing into the NEXUS Project in Nepal with a loan. With Mr. […]
A new cooperation for clean drinking water at schools in Bharatpur, Nepal The NEXUS Centers in Nepal are very pleased to announce their collaboration with Solaqua. The Swiss foundation supports projects in Nepal to ensure that underprivileged people have access to safe drinking water. In addition to the transfer of know-how and low-cost products, behavioral […]
According to Wiktionary, an investment is the “placement of capital in expectation of deriving income or profit from its use or appreciation”. Under the term “sustainability”, we find the definition of a “principle which is not consuming more ressources than being renewable, regenerated and re-deployed in the future.” So what do you do if you […]
“I think it is such a shame that so many young Nepalese leave the country to work abroad. Nepal needs young people to help with its development, but they choose to go abroad for quick easy money and a good lifestyle. This is short-term thinking! It is important that we look at the challenges and […]
During the development of the NEXUS Concepts, we tried not only to incorporate our own experiences into the model, but also to consider various recommendations from international relief organizations. The target is set: we want to achieve a social and ecological impact with a commercial and entrepreneurial business model which is financially attractive for all […]
Good April Morning, everyone! Today we welcome Lars Willi – a globetrotting philanthropist at heart with a focus on providing clean energy, pure water and stable connectivity to the impoverished areas of the world. Having changed the lives of so many around the world, he shares his learning and journey as an entrepreneur. Fly: Welcome to […]
Last month NEXUS Madagascar conducted a feasibility study in the field to find suitable solutions for new NEXUS Centers and to identify the needs of the local population. One of interviewers was Eddy, who questioned families in Salary Nord to understand their needs when it came to drinking water. The most common problem here is […]
Inspired by Humans of New York, we would like to feature some highlights of the special people we meet in Nepal. For more stories follow us on FB @nexuscenter1 “I was born and raised in Sauraha, into a family of three. Being the eldest it is normal that I am responsible for helping my family […]
If you followed our Crowdfunding campaign on 100days, you have certainly noticed that we are still far away from the target of CHF 60,000 with a current comittment of CHF 9,499 with only 14 days left to go. From a realistic point of view, we can say that we most probably will not hit the target. […]
Since the very beginning of WECONNEX, the company can bank on the experience of a diversified advisory board which is helping in suggestions, consulting, network and ideas. But also more than once the board has raised critical questions which lead to a change in the strategy of the company. We are very pleased to have […]
This week we had the privilege to supply the Sauraha Food Festival with 10,000 liters of NEXUS Water. The idea behind the Food Festival is to promote the beautiful and natural Sauraha among tourists. All visitors are treated to wonderful Nepalese dishes including specialities made by the Tharu people. The combination of excellent food with […]
In the next few weeks the construction work for the two new NEXUS Centers in the Southwest of Madagascar will start. Together with the WWF team of Toliara we visited the villages of Ambola and Befasy. The villagers look forward to the new facilities. From other villages with already operational NEXUS Centers they know, that […]
We are very pleased and honored that we have cracked the limit of 1’000 likes on our FB Fanpage! Thank you all for this achievement! But this is just the beginning, we will come up with a lot of great news and invite you all to continue to support us. Keep on sharing our news […]
We are happy to announce that we are delivering safe drinking water to Shree Saraswoti Secondary School in Gochhada! #nexuscenter1, #sustainablewater, #safewateratschool Source: nexus ch
The NEXUS team was extremely busy this weekend. The grand opening of Sauraha and the filming of our NEXUS Centers by a Swiss TV team who is making a documentary on how Swiss companies are making a difference by providing sustainable infrastructure to ensure economic independence for the locals. #nexuscenters #swisstv #sustainablewaternepal #weconnex Source: nexus […]
Good morning Marit, training has begun with our new operators. Meet Samjhana, Sabina, Krishna, Kamala and Muna. We wish you all well in your new adventure and look forward to your stories. Source: nexus ch