EcoLinks brings Korean innovation to Rwanda's water crisis

Johnson Penn, the CEO of EcoLinks, attends the Africa Singapore Business Forum in Singapore, Aug. 26. Courtesy of Johnson Penn

When Johnson Penn first arrived in Korea as an international student from Cameroon, he quickly realized that Seoul was not just a hub of technology and trade — it could also be a bridge for global climate action. Today, just five years after founding his startup EcoLinks, Penn is preparing to launch one of the most ambitious Africa-based water purification projects ever backed by the Korean government.

Recently, EcoLinks was selected for the 2025 International Carbon Reduction Program run by the Korea Trade-Investment Promotion Agency (KOTRA). The recognition will allow the startup to begin a full-scale feasibility study for its Solar-Powered and Smart Tap-Based Water Purification Project in Rwanda. The initiative aims to install 150 decentralized clean water systems across seven underserved districts, providing safe drinking water to more than 210,000 people while generating significant carbon reductions.

For Penn, the project represents both a technological milestone and a personal mission.

“This is more than just technology transfer,” he said in an interview with The Korea Times. “It’s about creating a comprehensive climate solution that couples carbon mitigation, public health and community empowerment.”

Korean tech, African need

At the heart of the project is Korean water purification technology developed by INNOCEP Inc., combined with solar power and digital SmartTaps. The system is designed to replace the long-standing reliance on firewood to boil water for drinking — a practice that not only accelerates deforestation but also contributes to greenhouse gas emissions and respiratory illness.

By eliminating that need, EcoLinks estimates the project could cut 485,000 tons of carbon dioxide emissions over 10 years. Certified under the Gold Standard for climate projects, the systems are also expected to generate 55,000 high-integrity carbon credits annually, tradable under Article 6 of the Paris Agreement.

That link is crucial for Korea, which has committed to reaching carbon neutrality by 2050. Through a mechanism known as Internationally Transferred Mitigation Outcomes (ITMOs), Korean firms will be able to purchase verified emission reductions abroad to help meet their targets at home.

“EcoLinks is actively facilitating the bilateral carbon trading framework between Korea and Rwanda,” Penn explained. “This project shows how Korean innovation can have global impact, while also helping Korea fulfill its international commitments.”

Tackling water access head-on

For the communities in Rwanda, the project’s most immediate benefit will be access to clean water.

“In some areas, people are still obliged to fetch water from outside,” Penn said. “Even in urban centers in Africa, water shortages can force families to collect water the old-fashioned way. This project offers a clean, reliable alternative.”

EcoLinks plans to work closely with local stakeholders at every stage. Before construction begins, the company will hold consultations with district officials and community members, who will provide feedback on project design, pricing and management. The water systems will operate on a “pay-as-you-fetch” model, ensuring affordability while also covering maintenance costs.

“When communities feel ownership of the system, they take care of it,” Penn said. “That’s how you ensure it runs not just for two or three years, but for decades.”

A pan-African vision

Although Rwanda is the current focus, EcoLinks’ reach extends far beyond one country. The company is also running clean cooking projects in Rwanda and renewable energy programs in Cameroon and Ghana and is developing initiatives in South Africa.

“We’re very pan-African,” Penn said with a smile. “We don’t limit ourselves to one or two countries. Wherever there’s opportunity, and where it fits our vision, we go.”

This approach, he believes, sets EcoLinks apart from many development-oriented ventures that tend to cherry-pick locations or rely heavily on donor agendas. By contrast, EcoLinks combines Korean technology, international climate finance and local community networks into projects that can be replicated across the continent.

Challenges ahead

Still, hurdles remain. For carbon credits to be transferred between Rwanda and Korea, both governments must finalize a bilateral agreement under Article 6 — something that has yet to be signed.

“At COP29 last year, I personally facilitated discussions between the Korean and Rwandan governments,” Penn said. “Talks are ongoing, but without that agreement, carbon transfers can’t move forward. That’s one of the big challenges.”

There are also logistical challenges: constructing and deploying 150 solar-powered systems in rural areas will take at least a few years, after which EcoLinks expects them to operate for several years. Each system requires ongoing maintenance, training of local technicians and integration into community governance structures.

Yet Penn is optimistic. “The solar panels last 25 years, the pumps can be replaced as needed and with the right training, communities can sustain these systems themselves. The idea is long-term resilience.”

Beyond carbon, toward community

For Penn, the facts and figures only tell part of the story. What excites him most is the chance to transform lives on the ground.

“When women and children no longer have to walk hours to fetch water, when families don’t have to burn wood just to drink safely, when communities have ownership of sustainable systems — that’s the real impact,” he said.

With construction expected to begin within the next two years, EcoLinks’ Rwanda water project could soon become a flagship case of how Korean technology and African resilience can meet at the intersection of climate and development.

“This is a model,” Penn said, “a model for how Korea can lead abroad, and how Africa can leapfrog into a cleaner, more sustainable future.”

Alice Hong is a freelance writer and comedian based in Seoul. Follow her at @hippohong on Instagram.