Octavia Carbon, the company behind the first direct air capture (DAC) project in the Global South, has published an elaborate community engagement strategy for its operations in Kenya.
The strategic set of guidelines serves as proof of Carbon Octavia’s commitment to not only tackle climate issues with its novel technology, but also to contribute to the wellbeing of the people in this region of the world.
The company put together this strategy led by the belief that the Kenya DAC project will be successful only in the presence of strong and responsible local community engagement.
To that end, with the help and consultations of Carbonfuture, Klimate.co, Terraset, Agendi, and Tomorrow’s Air, Carbon Octavia outlined a comprehensive plan focused on creating opportunities in this region while delivering benefits and building relationships with the local community.
The strategy is summarized in five main areas of focus: local leadership, relationship building, informed consent, local value creation and zero corruption.
By channeling efforts into local leadership, Octavia Carbon is confident that it will be able to foster a seamless communication and cultural alignment with its 98% Kenyan team, building genuine trust within the community.
The company will prioritize long term interactions that extend beyond formal limitations, hoping to build relations that will be centered around respect and understanding.
In order to bring DAC technology closer to the community and familiarize locals with its operations, Octavia Carbon will open the doors to its project, offering hands-on demonstrations and answers to questions that will enhance the confidence in this project.
Relevant: Octavia Carbon Unveils Project Hummingbird, Global South’s First DAC Plant
The DAC project activities will create job opportunities for the residents, and Octavia Carbon intends to also invest in regional R&D operations that will introduce further economic benefits in this area.
Lastly, the DAC project will operate led by a Zero Corruption policy, which contains strict anti-corruption rules that also serve to reinforce fairness and transparency.
The company has shared that this is just the begging of their journey as they shape and evolve future plans for empowering local communities.
Read more: Octavia Carbon Receives The Highest Possible Rating From BeZero
