-Based on Project Experience from Nepal

Transcription

1 RENEWABLE ENERGY EDUCATION FOR GRASS-ROOT PEOPLE -Based on Project Experience from Nepal Presented by Merina Pradhan (Ph.D Researcher) Kiran Man Singh (NPM, REDP) for Renewables 2004, Higher Education Forum Bonn,Germany

2 Where is Nepal?

3 Area: km 2 Nepal (885 km west-east / 193 km north-south) Population: 23.4 Mio. (Germany: 82.1) ; Population density: 156/km 2 (235.1) Growth Rate: 2.4 % (0.1 %); Rural: 88 % (Germ.: Urban 87 %) Literacy: 40 % (99 %); Life expectancy: 58 years (77 years) GNP/Capita: 220 US$ (25 350) ; Poverty: 42 % of Population (-)

4 Human Resource Development (capacity building) on Renewable Energy Sector Formal Education University Degrees (BE, M.Sc., Ph.D) Rural Situation No formal or informal education on RE sector About 1.3 billion people (70% women) in developing countries (30% of their pop.), daily consume less that equivalent US1$ in good and services source: Energy After Rio, UNDP

5 Why RE Education for Grass-root People? The benefits of modern energy supplies and services are unevenly distributed in the world and have yet to reach approximately one third of the Earth s population More than 2 billion people continue to cook using traditional fuel billion people lack electricity thus limiting their energy choices Estimated : 20% of the people in developing countries do not have access to health services 30% lack access to safe water 60% lack access to sanitation (HDR 1996) Infact and child mortality rate 5 times higher than Industrialized countries maternal mortality rate 14 times higher Source:Energy after Rio-Prospects and Challenges, UNDP

6 Rural Scenario More than half the worlds popu. lives in rural areas, nearly 90% of them some 2.8 billion in the developing countries source: World Energy Concil (1999) 1. Poverty 2. Illiteracy 3. Over exploitation of natural resources 4. Unemployment 5. Drudgery 6. Social Dogma 7. Lack of capital

7 Villager s Needs 1. Capacity to overcome the situation (socio-economic) - Individual - Household - Community 2. Access to technology, energy, services, information and market 3. Enabling environment where people can - maximum utilise the available resources. - generate capital in their own locality. - manage collectively.

8 Can Energy Technology alone fulfill the villagers need? Conventional Discussions: -Energy as a technical subject -Energy Policy often grounded in technical approaches that look at electrical grid expansion, oil and gas extraction -There is a realisation that most conventional energy strategies fail to help meet basic human needs for the poor in developing countries Looking at Energy Technology from Broader Perspectives!

9 Who are directly affected and why? Women because they are the primary users of energy at the household and community levels.

10 How to Overcome the Situation? Its a challenging question for all Development Practitioners, Academicians and Researchers

11 RE Education for Grass-root people through Capacity Building One Option

12 Project Experience From Nepal Rural Energy Development Programme A joint programme of UNDP/World Bank and His Majesty s Govt. Of Nepal Project started in August 1996 with an Aim to enhance rural livelihoods and preserve environment through the promotion of Rural Energy Systems in Nepal Functional in 25 Districts of Nepal Established in rural areas of the country 128 Community owned Micro-Hydro Schemes 3,611 Nos. Biogas Plant with Toilet attached 1,644 Nos. Of Solar Home Systems 7,304 Nos. Improved Cooking Stoves Source: REDP Dec A leading Organization in producing human resources in Renewable Energy Sector at district and grass-root levels

13 Approach Giving equal attention towards strengthening the capabilities of People at different levels on Effective planning, implementation, operation and maintenance, monitoring of Renewable Energy Systems NATIONAL DISTRICT GRASSROOTS Policy makers, Beaurocrats, Academic Institutions,Private Sectors and others Policy makers, Politicians, Beaurocrats, Academic Institutions, Private Sector Village level political bodies, local community, schools, Rural Enterpreneurs etc.

14 Approach (cont..) 1. Need based 2. Commitment Fee 3. Gender balance approach DISRICT 4. Encourage Women to participate in technical training GRASSROOTS

15 Capacity Building at Center Level Orientation on Renewable Energy Technology was given to Senior Govt. Officials (Under Secretary Level) Member of Parliament Journalists Gazetted Officer/non- Gazetted officer Jointly organized by REDP and Center for Energy Studies, Tribhuban University

16 Capacity Building at District Level Orientation on Renewable Energy Technology and District Energy Planning to -Elected Bodies, -District Development Committee Board -Different Line Agencies (Foresty, Irrigation, Soil Conservation, Bank etc.)

17 RE Reaching the Rural People 1. Mass Awareness and Sensitization on RE

18 How to Reach to People (cont..) 2.Teach One Each One (From People to People)

19 How to Reach to People (cont..) Teach One Each One (From People to People): Roles responsibilities of Energy Projects

20 How to Reach to People (cont..) 3. In-country Observation Study Tours (Seeing is believing) Policy Makers (Center/Districts) District/Village Development Committee/Communities About 4000 people have benefited from the study tours

21 How to Reach to People (cont..) 4. Adult literacy classes (Mandatory for rural women) Ms Chij Maya Gurung From Piughar to Quito Ecuador

22 Developing Grass-root level Technicians in RE Sector 1. Village level Micro Hydro Operators About 256 Micro Hydro Operators are employed in 128 MH Schemes Some MHP Operators are even installing the Micro Hydro Plants in villages

23 Developing Grass-root level Technicians in RE Sector 2. Village Level Micro Hyro Managers About 128 Local Micro Hydro Managers are employed in different villages for managing the Micro Hydro Schemes: Account keeping, tarif collection, overall management etc. More than 15 Micro Hydro Plant managers are women from the village itself

24 Developing Grass-root level Technicians in RE Sector 3. Improved Cooking Stove Technicians These village level technicians have installed about 7,300 Improved cookings stoves in the villages, generating income for themselves.

25 Developing Grass-root level Technicians in RE Sector 3. Bio-gas and Solar Home Systems Technicians Solar Technicians, Biogas Motivators (especially female), Biogas technicians were trained at village level. These village level technicians. The village level technicians have opportunity to generate income for themselves by providing technical services both to Private & Public sectors

26 Developing Grass-root level Technicians in RE Sector 4. Pivate Sector: Rural Energy Service Centers Technicians District and Village level - for any kind of technical backstopping (repair maintenance) services on RE - promotion of RE technolgies in remote villages About 15 RE Service Centers are in operation

27 Developing Grass-root level Technicians in RE Sector 5. Developing Micro Hydro Surveyors in the District level. About 150 local MHP Surveyors were trained

28 Energy Related Income Generating Training Outputs Poultry Farm in Gumlekh Furniture Shop in Pinthali VDC Agro-processing Mill in Gumlekh Photo Studio in Thampalkot VDC Computer Learning Center in Sera Bazar, Sarkuwa VDC

29 Development means: Changing the Situation... Biogas ICS REDP 1999: URJA Publication Vol. 11, Oct-Dec. 1999, Coverpage, Kathmandu/Nepal

30 Capable Human Resources for What?? Successful Implementation and sustainability of Energy Projects in Rural Areas

31 Some Important Lessons Learnt 1. Nothing is available free of cost: This concept is used for orienting the people to instill the feeling of importance of training/education programme. 2. The demand driven approach: It is the method used for identification of training/education basically to address people s need. 3. Equal opportunity and access to education/training: This practice ensures equal opportunity for both men and women to the training/education programme thereby leading to the balanced development in the village. 4. Empowerment of women: As a result there are more than fifteen women micro hydro managers working in rural areas.

32 Conclusion Human Resource Development is an indispensable component of a country s development process. Without this, no country can achieve the pace of development. Energy alone is not initiating a process of development: to use (renewable) energy as an effective tool for sustainable socio-economic development it must be combined with nontechnical strategies with emphasize on education and capacity building at all levels : (from University, Policy to Grass-root Levels)