OUR PROGRAMS
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The Clean Electric Cooking program addresses the pressing issue of indoor air pollution and deforestation in underserved communities by promoting energy-efficient electrical appliances for cooking. By replacing traditional biomass-based cookstoves, this program aims to improve health outcomes, especially for women and children, reduce environmental degradation, and lower carbon emissions.Objective:
To reduce carbon emissions and indoor air pollution by promoting the adoption of energy-efficient electric cooking appliances for households, institutions and commercial establishments.
Key Activities:
We are working with local enterprises to distribute energy-efficient electric cooking appliances to households, institutions, and commercial establishments in target communities.
Provide education on using clean cooking appliances and training to support proper service and maintenance.
Track and trace sustainable cooking solutions’ social, economic, and environmental impact.
KPIs:
The number of end-users adopting cleaner, electric cooking appliances.
The number of hours the electric cooking appliances are used daily is based on real-time data collected from external or built-in energy meters.
Reduction in indoor air pollution by displacing energy-inefficient and polluting traditional cookstoves.
Reduction in carbon emissions as traditional cookstoves use cleaner electric cooking appliances. The Energy Access program seeks to overcome the lack of electricity in remote and underserved regions by providing solar energy solutions. This program emphasizes installing portable solar systems for households and solar mini-grids for businesses, schools, healthcare facilities, or small communities. Moreover, this program fosters local economic growth and development and enhances quality of life through reliable and renewable solar energy services.
Objective:
Expand access to solar energy services, particularly in off-grid and weak-grid communities, empowering those communities to improve their livelihoods with energy access.
Key Activities:
Empower local solar companies to deploy solar energy systems and solar-powered devices that deliver optimal solar energy services to local communities.
Provide technical training to local businesses and organizations on maintaining solar energy systems, ensuring maximum benefits throughout their lifetime.
Partner with local governments and organizations to ensure more sustainable scale solar energy solutions.
KPIs:
Number of solar energy systems deployed in target communities.
The amount of solar energy (Wh) delivered to power services such as illumination (LED Lighting), communications (charging mobile/cell phones), cooling (DC Motor Fans), refrigeration, entertainment (DC LED TVs and Rechargeable Radios), and more.
Reduction in reliance on diesel generators, kerosene lamps, and carbon emissions. The Safe Water program addresses a significant gap in access to safe drinking water free of microbes that cause water-borne diseases, diarrhea, and even death. Through Community Solar Water Kiosks utilizing UV water purification and Smart Water Dispensers, the program provides income-generating, pre-paid, safe water services that are the most cost-effective and sustainable, particularly for rural, off-grid communities.
Objective:
To improve access to clean and safe drinking water by leveraging energy-efficient and affordable solar-powered water purification technologies in underserved communities.
Key Activities:
Working with local water companies, deploy solar-powered Community Safe Water Kiosks.
Train local businesses to operate, service, and maintain the Water Kiosks.
Collaborate with local authorities, organizations, and community leaders to educate local households on the significant harm of consuming untreated water and the considerable health benefits of safe drinking water.
KPIs:
Number of Community Water Kiosks installed.
Number of people gaining access to clean, safe drinking water.
Reduction in waterborne diseases in target communities.The Digital Infrastructure program addresses the digital divide in underserved communities, particularly in regions like Sub-Saharan Africa, where unreliable internet access combined with high costs to access mobile telephone networks inhibits access to valuable information and cost-effective collection, storage, and transfer of data through backup power solutions for internet access devices and a unique Edge Computing device, TWB aims to support interventions that enable reliable connectivity and facilitates cost-effective, local data management which is essential in understanding and verifying the impact of interventions deployed.
Objective:
To expand access to digital infrastructure solutions that bridge the digital divide in sub-Saharan Africa and other underserved regions.
Key Activities:
Collaborate with ARED, a Rwandan company, to support deploying Edge computing devices for both public and private projects that expand Wi-Fi services, deliver essential information, and manage data.
Supply backup power systems for wifi routers to ensure uninterrupted internet access during power outages.
Explore long-range data transfer: Given the absence of low-cost, long-range data transfer solutions such as LoRaWan and SigFox in most of sub-Saharan Africa, support research on alternative solutions for African markets.
Training and capacity building: Train local communities to utilize and maintain Edge devices and other digital infrastructure technologies to ensure long-term sustainability.
KPIs:
Number of Edge Computing devices installed in target communities.
A number of schools and businesses are accessing offline digital content through Edge devices.
Reduction in internet connectivity costs for local businesses, institutions, and community organizations.
Number of wifi routers equipped with backup power systems.
Pilot projects initiated for long-range data transfer solutions in remote areas. The Humanitarian Aid program leverages TWB’s core competencies and expertise in solar-powered solutions and extends access to these solutions to displaced populations. Whether dealing with natural disasters or conflict, this program ensures that vulnerable communities access essential solar energy services, enabling immediate relief and long-term recovery.
Objective:
To provide crisis-affected populations with essential solar-powered services that provide near-term humanitarian relief and long-term productive and income-generating solar energy services.
Key Activities:
In collaboration with global and local organizations, engage directly with displaced populations to understand their needs and the current gaps in effectively meeting those needs.
Partner with local organizations to ensure efficient distribution and sustainable use of supplies.
Train local partners on the long-term maintenance of solar-powered systems.
Leveraging TWB’s digital infrastructure solutions, gather and manage data collected from refugee camps and other communities for displaced persons to fully understand the impact of interventions deployed.
KPIs:
Number of solar-powered solutions distributed in crisis-affected areas.
Number of people provided with access to reliable and sustainable humanitarian energy services.
Reduction in CO2 emissions due to switching to renewable solar energy services.
WHAT MAKES US SPECIAL
Expand (global) trade of productive, income-generating and impactful products and services (to developing regions of the world)
Support local businesses to expand access to the products and services within their local markets
Leverage technology to monitor, report and verify the impact of the products and services locally
OUR PROFESSIONAL TEAM
FounderJoseph Fernandez, founder of Trade Without Borders (TWB), combines extensive global trade experience with a deep understanding of developing regions. A former U.S. Peace Corps Volunteer in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, he previously provided trading services to major clients like Wal-Mart and Bajaj Electricals from Hong Kong. Motivated to address the lack of affordable essentials in developing regions, Joseph established TWB as a sustainable and inclusive alternative to traditional donation-based NGO models. Senior Manager
Yvan Castro, MSA, MSMkt, brings over 15 years of leadership in international development, managing over 35 projects worth $310 million across Latin America, Asia, and the Middle East. His expertise spans education, economic development, food security, and disaster risk reduction, collaborating with organizations like USAID and BHA. A compliance expert and seasoned professor, Yvan focuses on sustainable development and effective proposal writing, with advanced degrees in International Development, Marketing, and Civil Engineering.I consider myself fortunate to have had the opportunity to live in and travel to around 40 countries and territories around the world. I’ve stayed in the finest 5-star hotels in the world and lived in a rural African village where a mud hut with a thatched grass roof and no running water or electricity was home for two years. Having lived in Hong Kong since before its Handover to Mainland China, I have witnessed first-hand the benefits of economic growth and the challenges with economic development. Through TWB, in some small way, I hope to contribute to sustainable and inclusive economic growth and development in more regions of the world. At Trade Without Borders, I am dedicated to empowering local enterprises and communities with practical solutions like clean cooking, safe water, energy access, digital infrastructure, and humanitarian aid. Through these efforts, we are improving lives and contributing to a healthier environment by reducing emissions. I’m proud to be part of this mission and invite you to join us in making a lasting difference for those in need.