Shell Foundation

Shell Foundation, an independent, UK-based charity established in 2000, inspires, develops and takes to scale sustainable solutions to social problems arising from the links between energy, poverty and the environment - as well as the impact of globalisation on vulnerable communities. The Foundation applies a business or enterprise-based approach to deliver self-financing solutions with measurable social benefits that can be replicated, to achieve large-scale impact. It works through external strategic partners who deliver and manage initiatives and who are able to make financial and in-kind investments themselves. However, in many cases, particularly in the larger programmes, the Foundation will take an active part in their overall governance. Through its programmes, Shell Foundation the organisation supports the start-up and growth of SMEs in Africa (Aspire) as a way of reducing poverty: is helping to bring down the number of deaths caused by indoor air pollution (Breathing Space); helping to easetraffic congestion and pollution clogging up developing country mega-cities (EMBARQ), assisting developing-country producers to get improved access to world markets (Trading UP) and helping to provide modern energy and infrastructure services to poor people (Excelerate). Some $15million is committed each year - but several times this amount is leveraged through strategic partners and investors. Where appropriate, the organisation will deploy Shell's 'value-adding assets' - people, knowledge and infrastructure - in ways that help to deliver charitable objectives. Breathing Space is one of five key programmes now being run by the Foundation. It was set up in 2002 with the aim of achieving a significant long-term reduction in the incidence of IAP at the global level, by deploying approaches that are market-oriented and commercially viable. The motivation for the project was the lack of a coordinated international campaign to find a viable solution to IAP. The charity felt its international reach and expertise could be applied to finding a solution and bringing together the patchwork of existing parties concerned with tackling IAP. Several years into its involvement, the Foundation believes the 'market-oriented' approach it has developed - which offers a radical departure from most traditional approaches - could lead to a significant reduction in the global incidence of IAP. For more information please visit www.shellfoundation.org/breathingspace.