From Cairo to Rio: Q & A with Mostafa Hussein on Rio+20

At the start of the Rio+20 Summit, an IREX alumnus offers his views of the Summit and realities for green economic growth in Egypt. Mostafa Hussein is co-founder of SOLAR C3ITIES and an advocate for affordable, sustainable energy alternatives in Cairo. He is an alumnus of the 2011 Community Solutions Program. During his four month fellowship in the US, Hussein worked at the Institute for Market Transformation, where he learned about alternative energy cooperative models and market solutions for creating consumer demand for sustainable energy alternatives.

Q: One of the major themes of Rio+20 is building a “green economy in the context of sustainable development and poverty eradication.”  How do you see yourself and others working to make that change?

I see myself and others participate in sharing and pooling resources with those who can be classified as "the poor". I don’t see them as poor, but as rich and skillful. That's how we make change: to see ourselves as equals, working together to create a winning future for all. I know there is a need for a green economy in Egypt; “the poor” have the skills to apply, so all we have to do is show them green ideas, like rooftop gardening, solar water heaters, and biogas digesters. The good news is, they know where to get the materials and how to make them as  cheaply as possible. All they need is access to markets and opportunities, tools and technologies, and information in high quality formats; I can provide some of that.

Q: In your experience working with communities around Cairo, are you seeing green jobs as a real economic opportunity?

There are at least two "poor" families whom I know personally that make their living from green jobs; they know how to build locally made, renewable energy units (solar heaters and biogas units). They not only build them, but also provide eco-tours. During these tours, they show visitors the locally manufactured green units and how they function, and at the end, they serve them tea cooked on burner supplied with methane gas produced from organic waste through a biogas unit.

Q: In a recent blog post, Rio+20 Secretary-General Sha Zukang said: "Governments cannot do it alone, but neither can other stakeholders working in isolation. This is why at the end of the Conference I hope to see hundreds of voluntary commitments and initiatives by all stakeholders… which complement the official commitments."

How can you see yourself continuing to contribute towards a sustainable Cairo? What commitments would you like to see from the Egyptian government? From world governments?

I see myself continuing to contribute towards sustainable Cairo through connecting community catalysts for a green economy around the city. At the same time, I am continuously learning about new technologies, sharing experiences and training others.

Green Cairo, where any person or institution, whether it's educational or financial, can contribute is definitely achievable. I believe it's just a matter of time before my dream of a city that runs on green, clean technologies that are affordable to all comes true.

To achieve that dream, I would like the Egyptian government to learn from and work with the people, non-governmental organizations, and local groups and initiatives. I want them to commit to open channels with the public and working together towards a greener future. I would be happy if the Egyptian government looked into applying participatory rapid appraisal approach to funding for green projects.

From the world governments, I would like them to commit to providing access to markets and opportunities, tools and technologies and information in high quality formats. A lot of information and resources exist, and I want them to exchange ideas and benefit from each other in a win-win exchange, creating wealth by adding value.

The Community Solutions Program is a program of the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs of the U.S. Department of State and is implemented by IREX.