In Sub-Saharan Africa, poverty has many dimensions: 

• poverty is hunger; 

• poverty is no access to shelter; 

• poverty is being sick and not able to see a doctor;

• poverty is not being able to go to school;

• poverty is not knowing how to read and write;

• poverty is losing a child to illness brought about by unclean water;

• poverty is not being able to secure a food a day;

• poverty is not being able to afford a pair of shoes and walk without,

• poverty is living with less than one US dollar a day;

• …the list is endless!

It is against this background that ACREST attempts to present concrete ways of fighting poverty, borrowing from the western and Islamic world’s historical experiences. 

Developed countries reached their present level of prosperity by applying affordable, reliable and sustainable technologies. One common example is the intensive use of small-scale waterpower (watermills) throughout Europe and North America during the early stages of their industrialization.

In Africa, there is lacking awareness about some of these people-centred technologies that have great development potential.   These technologies could play a crucial role in the fight against poverty, particularly in areas with abundant human and natural resources.

The aim of this initiative is, therefore, to showcase some of these affordable technologies, in order to provide Africans in general and decision-maker in particular with practical ideas and solutions for wealth and job creation policy to eradicate poverty once for all.

I am convinced that if the technologies presented in this site receive due consideration and attention, they will empower people and involve them more actively in the rebirth of this beautiful continent, origin of the humankind.

Dr. Vincent Kitio
Expert in Renewable Energy and Sustainable Technologies