Hope in action: 20 years of the Elsevier Foundation’s global impact

Transforming energy and lives in Somalia

Somalia, one of the world’s lowest-income countries, faces a daily struggle to meet basic energy needs. More than 90% of the population relies on charcoal from burned trees – a practice that accelerates deforestation and deepens the impacts of climate change. But a transformative solution is taking root.

Mohamedweli Mohamed and his team at the Somali Social Entrepreneurs Fund, winners of the 2023 Elsevier Foundation Chemistry for Climate Action Challenge, are pioneering a new approach. By producing methane gas from fruit waste and cow manure, they are introducing affordable, clean energy to communities that need it most.

“Receiving this award means a lot to us, and it will help save the lives of poor women in our communities,” Mohamedweli shared. “This transformative solution will help with the climate, social and economic challenges we are facing, and help reach the SDGs 2030 targets.”

The impact extends beyond energy. The biogas systems also generate high-quality fertilizers, which are powering solar-irrigated cooperative farmland across the Beled-Hawa community in southern Somalia. This holistic approach addresses energy, food security and environmental sustainability – demonstrating the power of local innovation supported by global collaboration.

Building partnerships for progress

From the cooperative farmlands of southern Somalia to the rice fields of Malaysia and the clinics of rural Ethiopia, the Elsevier Foundation stands beside innovators turning research into real-world solutions. Since 2005, the Foundation has contributed over $18 million in grants, supporting more than 100 partners across 70 countries. Funded by Elsevier, the Foundation is a vital part of advancing research and health partnerships worldwide.

Ylann Schemm, Executive Director of the Elsevier Foundation observes, “If you look at our history, you’ll find a common thread: a focus on recognizing and supporting impact makers whose work often goes unseen. Early on, we launched the OWSD-Elsevier Foundation Awards to honor excellent scientists in the Global South, and today their stories continue to inspire new generations of impact makers.”

Dr. Tasrina Rabia Choudhury, a 2024 award winner from Bangladesh, exemplifies this spirit: her research on water purification addresses extreme river contamination, despite t challenges of limited resources and persistent gender barriers.

And In Indonesia, Falling Walls Impact Award winner Dr. Antonia Morita Saktiawati is revolutionizing TB screening with a portable and affordable electronic nose device, bringing life-saving diagnostics to under-resourced populations in rural areas. “Science, at its core, is about solving problems,” she noted. “The greatest impact often comes from addressing the challenges closest to home.”

Sustained commitment, evolving vision

The Foundation’s impact is built on listening to communities, adapting to emerging needs and supporting bold ideas with the potential to make a difference. We believe that real progress happens when people are empowered to support local initiatives to create sustainable solutions. Schemm continues, “Over the years, our programs have evolved: from improving access to scientific information in low- and middle-income countries, to championing research for the UN Sustainable Development Goals, and investing in health equity and climate resilience.”

After 20 years and across 70 countries, the Elsevier Foundation’s work creates ripples that reach beyond any single program or discipline. In Tanzania, library professionals are gaining new skills and resources to support local research communities with the Research4Life Country Connectors. In Kenya, in a collaboration with the World Academy of Sciences our support for climate-resilient pastoralism is helping communities adapt to shifting weather patterns. In India, frontline healthcare workers are strengthening care delivery with the Climate Care Champions program, while in Indonesia, partnerships with Aidsfonds are tackling the HIV epidemic through community-led strategies. Each initiative is rooted in collaboration, adaptability and the drive to build fairer, healthier futures for all.

The world’s greatest challenges cannot be solved in isolation. That’s why as we celebrate 20 years of impact, we remain committed to fostering collaboration, amplifying voices and providing resources and recognition to those on the front lines of progress – ensuring that solutions reach those who need them most and that the journey of progress is shared by all.