Green-Tech Development & Supply
Difaf designs and/or procures decentralized green technologies sourced from trusted suppliers and technology partners, applying circular economy principles to recover valuable resources (irrigation water, fertilizers, energy, animal feed, and nutrients) from waste streams. Solutions range from proven plug-and-play systems to fully customized designs built from scratch, selected through a participatory process tailored to each locality (farm, neighborhood, or institution) and prioritizing low operational and maintenance costs (OPEX) and Nature-Based Systems (NBS) for long-term feasibility and sustainability at communal level.
Specialized Technologies
- Decentralized Wastewater Treatment Systems (DEWATS): compact, ecosystem-based wastewater and sludge treatment solutions that use natural processes to enhance water quality, resource recovery, and climate resilience through water harvesting, retention, and landscape-based interventions. They include anaerobic baffled reactors, constructed wetlands and reed-bed filters, rotating biological contractors, anaerobic filters, aerobic reactors, and drying beds for sludge treatment.
- Sustainable Agri-Tech: sustainable and circular agriculture solutions that optimize resource use, improve soil health, and promote the recovery of water, nutrients, and energy through innovative waste biomass processing and resource recovery technologies, including techniques for treating wastewater and organic waste while producing valuable by-products such as compost, biochar, animal feed, aquaponics, soil enhancers, and treated wastewater for irrigation.
- Clean-Energy Tech: eco-friendly technology that can be plug-and-play or designed from scratch in support of sustainable development and renewable resources, through the valorization and recycling of waste, the utilization of locally available material, and the non-invasive methods of technologies selected. These include micro to small-hydropower, biogas reactors, pyrolysis units, and other clean tech for generation of renewable energy.
Sample Projects
Sanitation Technology Demonstration in Emergency Settings (STDP)
Client: UNICEF / B&MG Foundation Program I Location: Lebanon
Details
Difaf was commissioned by UNICEF to conduct an independent technical audit investigation of several models of innovative decentralized wastewater treatment systems (DEWATS) introduced in both refugee and host community contexts. The mission also included project end-term evaluation in relation to milestones reached and critical barriers faced with recommendations and lessons learnt. These also included assessing innovation success factors, and potential for upscaling and replicating in other similar contexts. The final deliverable was shared with donor B&M Gates Foundation and was approved for publishing
Sample Projects
Small to Medium Biogas System Site-Identification in Lebanon
Client: SES – UNDP CEDRO Program I Location: Lebanon
Details
Difaf’s main objective was to compile a technical assessment report that identifies 7 or more potential biogas system sites preparing a methodology, target lists, logistics, developing questionnaires, surveying sites, data cleaning, and analysis. The report further provides technical and economic insights and recommendations on the feasibility of small to medium size systems with notable positive impacts on the environment and with a high chance of succeeding.
Sample Projects
Nature-Based Wastewater Treatment for School in Akkar- ABR
Client: NRC I Location: Akkar, Lebanon
Details
Following a request by a Amaret El Baykat School in an impoverished area in Akkar, the Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) commissioned Difaf to design, install, and monitor a simple decentralized wastewater treatment system using nature-based physical and biological processes called an Anaerobic Baffled Reactor (ABR). With no requirements for chemicals nor energy, such decentralized treatment unit are ideal for such communities due to their low requirements for high operational skills and maintenance expenditure, while treatment reaches sufficient levels for irrigation or safe return to the environment. After two years, Difaf validated that the system was still treating efficiently after a sampling and lab analyses campaign.