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| | Every year, almost two billion people die due to diseases caused by Indoor Air Pollution (IAP) and a substantial number of children suffer serious burns. The use of clean burning stoves can lead to:<br> | | Every year, almost two billion people die due to diseases caused by Indoor Air Pollution (IAP) and a substantial number of children suffer serious burns. The use of clean burning stoves can lead to:<br> |
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| − | *A reduction in mortality and morbidity, especially among women and children, through:<br>- A reduction of respiratory diseases. <br>- A reduction of eye diseases.<br>- Less health hazards for pregnant women and infants.<br>- Relief for HIV/Aids patients and families through reduced respiratory ailments, improved nutrition and hot water for hygiene purposes.<br>- Reduced risk of accidental burns especially for children through provision of safer stoves and kitchens. <br> | + | *A reduction in mortality and morbidity, especially among women and children, through:<br>- A reduction of respiratory diseases. <br>- A reduction of eye diseases.<br>- Less health hazards for pregnant women and infants.<br>- Relief for HIV/Aids patients and families through reduced respiratory ailments, improved nutrition, and hot water for hygiene purposes.<br>- Reduced risk of accidental burns especially for children through provision of safer stoves and kitchens. <br> |
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| | *Healthy people are generally more productive, enabling some people to break the vicious circle of poverty.<br> | | *Healthy people are generally more productive, enabling some people to break the vicious circle of poverty.<br> |
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| | == Rural Development - Integrated approaches<br> == | | == Rural Development - Integrated approaches<br> == |
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| − | *Access to affordable and reliable cooking energy allows for rural development activities such as:<br>- income generation in rural areas: If people spend less time for collecting fuels and cooking, they are able to spend more time on productive activities. New jobs are created in rural areas by decentralized production of efficient cooking stoves.<br>- improving living standards: money saved on fuel is used for education and convenience goods.<br>- improving health: People who are less effected by smoke are more likely to work and foster rural development.<br>- improving food security in rural areas: Since 90 % of all daily food requires energy (cooking, baking, and drying), and energy efficient stoves can save between 40 and 80 % of fuel, increasing fuel availability for food preparation can facilitate more regular and nutritious meals, especially for families coping with fuelwood shortages. <br>- improving levels of basic educational: In rural areas time and forces saved through improved cooking stoves enable especially children to spend more time for their education. <br> | + | *Access to affordable and reliable cooking energy allows for rural development activities such as:<br>- income generation in rural areas: If people spend less time for collecting fuels and cooking, they are able to spend more time on productive activities.New jobs are created in rural areas by decentralized production of efficient cooking stoves.<br>- improving living standards: money saved on fuel is used for education and convenience goods.<br>- improving health: People who are less effected by smoke are more likely to work and foster rural development.<br>- improving food security in rural areas: Since 90 % of all daily food requires energy (cooking, baking, and drying), and energy efficient stoves can save between 40 and 80 % of fuel, increasing fuel availability for food preparation can facilitate more regular and nutritious meals, especially for families coping with fuelwood shortages. <br>- improving levels of basic education: In rural areas, time and energy saved through improved cooking stoves enable children to focus more on their education. <br> |
| − | *Access to affordable and reliable cooking energy also allows for conservation and sustainable utilisation of natural resources:<br>- it avoids deforestation, soil degradation and erosion <br>- use of dung as fertilizer on fields instead of as a fuel.<br>- re-afforestation measures to support sustainable wood fuel supply, such as by planting multi-purpose trees for fuelwood, fruit production and animal fodder<br>- introduction of sustainable forest management systems as source of income<br>- encouraging the shift to alternative renewable cooking fuels (green fuels), such as plant oils, ethanol, and solar<br> | + | *Access to affordable and reliable cooking energy also allows for conservation and sustainable utilisation of natural resources:<br>- reduction of deforestation, soil degradation, and erosion <br>- reduction of dung needed as a fuel, thereby enabling dung to be used as a fertilizer on fields, yielding a more productive harvest<br>- re-afforestation measures to support sustainable wood fuel supply, such as by planting multi-purpose trees for fuelwood, fruit production and animal fodder<br>- introduction of sustainable forest management systems as source of income<br>- encouraging the shift to alternative renewable cooking fuels (green fuels), such as plant oils, ethanol, and solar<br> |
| | | | |
| | == Good governance - Democracy, Civil Society, Public Services <br> == | | == Good governance - Democracy, Civil Society, Public Services <br> == |
| | | | |
| | *Decentralised provision of basic energy services empowers community government structures, which in turn promote sustainable cooking energy supplies and efficient energy use. | | *Decentralised provision of basic energy services empowers community government structures, which in turn promote sustainable cooking energy supplies and efficient energy use. |
| − | *Political participation of the poor can increase, if they spent less time collecting firewood. <br> | + | *Political participation of the poor can increase if less time is spent collecting firewood. <br> |
| − | *Improvement of women’s working conditions and their status and role as stove users and producers, both within the family and the community through:<br>- reducing their daily workload <br>- increasing their participation and decision-making power <br>- ownership of technologies, through improved equipment and know-how<br>- income generation through production of cooking energy technologies.<br> | + | *More women are becoming stove users and producers, thereby improving their working conditions and status in both the family and the community. This happens through:<br>- reducing their daily workload <br>- increasing their participation and decision-making power <br>- enabling ownership of technologies, through improved equipment and know-how<br>- enabling income generation through production of cooking energy technologies.<br> |
| | | | |
| | == Sustainable Economic Development <br> == | | == Sustainable Economic Development <br> == |
| | | | |
| − | *Establishment of new market opportunities for energy efficient technologies, thus creating additional business opportunities in stove production and sales for both men and women.<br> | + | *Establishment of new market opportunities for energy efficient technologies, thereby creating additional business opportunities in stove production and sales for both men and women.<br> |
| | *Improved infrastructure through better access to affordable basic energy services enhances small business development. <br> | | *Improved infrastructure through better access to affordable basic energy services enhances small business development. <br> |
| | *A decrease in the money spent on fuel leads to an increased share of the household budget available for productive use for income generation. <br> | | *A decrease in the money spent on fuel leads to an increased share of the household budget available for productive use for income generation. <br> |
| − | *Efficient stoves save time which is used in many cases in a productive way: for food production in gardens and on farm land, food processing, and for other income generating activities (such as poultry raising or establishing a tree nursery).<br> | + | *Efficient stoves save time which can then be used in a productive way such as: food production in gardens and on farm land, food processing, poultry raising, establishing a tree nursery, etc.<br> |
| − | *Small restaurants save a lot of money using energy-saving stoves. This money can be invested into the restaurant, improving food quality or simply lead to more income. <br> | + | *Small restaurants save a lot of money by using energy-saving stoves. This money can be invested into the restaurant, improving food quality or simply leading to more income. <br> |
| | *Food processing using energy efficient technologies (like solar dryers) increases agricultural value chains and income generation. <br> | | *Food processing using energy efficient technologies (like solar dryers) increases agricultural value chains and income generation. <br> |
| | *Re-afforestation measures and sustainable wood fuel production can be an additional source of income for farmers. | | *Re-afforestation measures and sustainable wood fuel production can be an additional source of income for farmers. |
| | | | |
| − | Access to energy contributes to reducing poverty in a sustainable manner and therefore helps to reach the MDGs. Especially efficient cooking stoves provide access to modern energy to the most vulnerable people worldwide.<br>Creating local markets for efficient cooking stoves leads to structural changes within the region, but it also affects global challenges. Increasing energy efficiency reduces green house gas emissions and saves fuels to prolong environmental resources worldwide. | + | Access to energy contributes to reducing poverty in a sustainable manner and therefore helps to reach the MDGs. Efficient cooking stoves in particular can provide some of the most vulnerable people worldwide with access to modern energy.<br>Creating local markets for efficient cooking stoves leads to structural changes within the region, but it also affects global challenges. Increasing energy efficiency reduces green house gas emissions and saves fuels to prolong environmental resources worldwide. |
| | | | |
| | <br> | | <br> |
| | | | |
| − | For more information on the priority areas and the promotion of renewable energy for development of the BMZ see: [http://www.bmz.de/en/what_we_do/issues/energie/index.html Issues on Energy], on [http://www.bmz.de/en/what_we_do/issues/energie/renewable_energies/biomass/index.html Biomass]. <br>[[Facts on cooking energy#Facts_on_Cooking_Energy|Top of the page]] | + | For more information on the priority areas and the promotion of renewable energy for development of the BMZ see: [http://www.bmz.de/en/what_we_do/issues/energie/index.html Issues on Energy], and on [http://www.bmz.de/en/what_we_do/issues/energie/renewable_energies/biomass/index.html Biomass]. <br>[[Facts on cooking energy#Facts_on_Cooking_Energy|Top of the page]] |
| | | | |
| | = Lessons learnt from improved cookstove projects = | | = Lessons learnt from improved cookstove projects = |
| | | | |
| − | The lessons formulated here contain the essence of long years of GIZ experience in assistance to development, production and dissemination of locally produced improved stoves. They were crucial in the development of GIZ’s current approaches.<br>The analysis includes impact assessment studies of projects practising “results based monitoring” in order to assure that the intended development results were achieved. This means, that these “lessons learnt“ are not only focussing on the planning, development, production and dissemination of improved cook stoves, but also provide an analysis of the effectiveness of the monitoring system in order to improve and speed up the dissemination process in the future. Many of these ‘lessons learnt’ may sound obvious, but they are essential to provide long-term sustainability. | + | The lessons formulated here contain the essence of long years of GIZ experience in assistance to development, production, and dissemination of locally produced improved stoves. They were crucial in the development of GIZ’s current approaches.<br>This analysis includes impact assessment studies of projects practising “results based monitoring” in order to ensure that the intended development results were actually achieved. This means that these “lessons learnt“ do not only focus on the planning, development, production, and dissemination of improved cook stoves, but also provide an analysis of the effectiveness of the monitoring system in order to improve and speed up the dissemination process in the future. Many of these ‘lessons learnt’ may sound obvious, but they are essential to provide long-term sustainability. |
| | | | |
| | <br>'''Planning and policy level''' | | <br>'''Planning and policy level''' |
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| | *An in-depth feasibility study that looks carefully into the various interrelated aspects (poverty-alleviation, gender, cost-benefit calculations, lifestyle improvement, technical efficiency, environmental impact, policy) that affect the implementation process will be instrumental in assuring adequate planning. | | *An in-depth feasibility study that looks carefully into the various interrelated aspects (poverty-alleviation, gender, cost-benefit calculations, lifestyle improvement, technical efficiency, environmental impact, policy) that affect the implementation process will be instrumental in assuring adequate planning. |
| | *Continuous monitoring and flexibility in planning is a necessary but not sufficient prerequisite for being able to react quickly to planning mistakes. Time for the project personnel to react to the consequences of planning mistakes also plays a major role. | | *Continuous monitoring and flexibility in planning is a necessary but not sufficient prerequisite for being able to react quickly to planning mistakes. Time for the project personnel to react to the consequences of planning mistakes also plays a major role. |
| − | *Integrated concepts, which are complementary to other developmental activities create synergy effects, are cost-effective and bring quicker results. | + | *Integrated concepts, which are complementary to other developmental activities, create synergy effects, are cost-effective and bring quicker results. |
| − | *At a development policy level, sound economic analyses that prove the positive cost-benefit relations of using improved cook stoves are a good mean to convince decision makers of the relevance of clean and efficient energy provision and its relationship with other aspects of development to reach the MDGs. | + | *At a development policy level, sound economic analyses that prove the positive cost-benefit relations of using improved cook stoves are a good way to convince decision makers of the relevance of clean and efficient energy provision and its relationship with other aspects of development to reach the MDGs. |
| − | *A participatory approach, which recognizes the importance of gender relations, provides the best chances for a new technology to be accepted. However, it is a subject that has to be carefully monitored. For example, in Kenya it was found that as stove building became more profitable, more men have taken over the job of liner production and stove building. They were more successful, as they could travel more easily while women had other household duties to perform. This follows a general trend through history that as soon as a task becomes really profitable, men replace women at the job. This is a point that should be carefully monitored and strategies developed to give women an equal chance to profit from the production and sale of stoves. | + | *A participatory approach, which recognizes the importance of gender relations, provides the best chances for a new technology to be accepted. However, it is a subject that has to be carefully monitored. For example, in Kenya it was found that as stove building became more profitable, more men have taken over the job of liner production and stove building. They were more successful, as they could travel more easily while women had other household duties to perform. This follows a general trend through history that as soon as a task becomes really profitable, men replace women at the job. This is a point that should be carefully monitored and strategies should be developed to give women an equal chance to profit from the production and sale of stoves. |
| | | | |
| | '''Product Development''' | | '''Product Development''' |
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| − | *For a product to be acceptable to the users it has to have high quality standards, i.e. be available, affordable, reliable, and bring measurable advantages in terms of money or time savings, reduction of indoor air pollution or ease of practical use. | + | *For a product to be acceptable to the users, it has to have high quality standards, i.e. be available, affordable, reliable, and bring measurable advantages in terms of money or time savings, reduction of indoor air pollution or ease of practical use. |
| − | *Products must be attractive, modern and desirable in the eyes of the users. | + | *Products must be attractive, modern, and desirable in the eyes of the users. |
| | *A serious, frequently-encountered problem is that most people whose stove is in a poor condition still consider them functional. People prefer them to the 3-stone fire, mainly because they could do other things while the food was cooking. Here, awareness raising is necessary to show the relationship between stove condition and efficiency. | | *A serious, frequently-encountered problem is that most people whose stove is in a poor condition still consider them functional. People prefer them to the 3-stone fire, mainly because they could do other things while the food was cooking. Here, awareness raising is necessary to show the relationship between stove condition and efficiency. |
| | *The lifetime of a stove depends on the quality of the basic materials and on how well it is maintained. This should be monitored carefully and continuously until a high quality product can be assured. | | *The lifetime of a stove depends on the quality of the basic materials and on how well it is maintained. This should be monitored carefully and continuously until a high quality product can be assured. |
| | *Where stoves are only produced seasonally (rainy or dry period, depending on the work to be done in the fields), the comparatively lower production endangers the quality of the stove, as skills are not always fully developed or kept up | | *Where stoves are only produced seasonally (rainy or dry period, depending on the work to be done in the fields), the comparatively lower production endangers the quality of the stove, as skills are not always fully developed or kept up |
| − | *On the organizational level producers and stove builders should form professional organizations where the importance of quality labelling, providing warranty and user awareness are discussed and organized. | + | *On the organizational level, producers and stove builders should form professional organizations where the importance of quality labelling, providing warranties, and user awareness are discussed and organized. |
| − | *A functional networking system optimizes the knowledge transfer and South-South exchange. Through project exchange visits the learning effect is often higher than in a training course situation. | + | *A functional networking system optimizes knowledge transfer and South-South exchange. Through project exchange visits, the learning effect is often higher than in a training course situation. |
| − | *International stove standards are in the process of being developed. They will need to be adapted to the specific situation in each country and regularly be brought up to date. | + | *International stove standards are in the process of being developed. They will need to be adapted to the specific situation in each country and regularly brought up to date. |
| | | | |
| | '''Dissemination Approach''' | | '''Dissemination Approach''' |
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| − | *A fully commercial approach is the most important step to achieve long-term sustainability. It should be practiced from the very beginning wherever possible, unless special circumstances (refugee situations, environmental catastrophes) prevent this option. | + | *A '''fully commercial approach is the most important step in achieving long-term sustainability'''. It should be practiced from the very beginning wherever possible, unless special circumstances (refugee situations, environmental catastrophes) prevent this option. |
| − | *The most crucial indicator for sustainability is the timely replacement of the stove by the user after its lifetime has expired. | + | *The '''most crucial indicator for sustainability is the timely replacement of the stove by the user '''after its lifetime has expired. |
| − | *A dissemination structure where organizations are paid on the basis of the number of stoves built bears the danger of failure, because where quantity goes before quality there may be insufficient time to properly train the producers and users and get them acquainted with good maintenance. | + | *A dissemination structure where organizations are paid on the basis of the number of stoves built, bears the danger of '''failure''', because where '''quantity goes before quality '''there may be insufficient time to properly train the producers and users and get them acquainted with good maintenance. |
| − | *A strong focus on advisory and technical support for the partners may be more important than giving only financial assistance. Sound training of local technical and marketing expertise is the best guarantee of having a successful project in the long run. | + | *A strong focus on advisory and technical support for the partners may be more important than giving only financial assistance. '''Sound training of local technical and marketing expertise is the best guarantee of having a successful project in the long run'''. |
| − | *For NGOs to be motivated and effective, they should have the chance to earn money through the sale of the product. | + | *For '''NGOs '''to be motivated and effective, they should have the '''chance to earn money '''through the sale of the product. |
| − | *Appropriate incentives and adequate monitoring are the key factors for success when disseminating a technology. In order to achieve a sustainable market development and long-lasting impacts, it is necessary to set up independent control mechanisms independent of the financing institutions. | + | *'''Appropriate incentives '''and '''adequate monitoring''' are key factors for success when disseminating a technology. In order to achieve a sustainable market development and long-lasting impacts, it is necessary to set up '''independent control mechanisms''' independent of the financing institutions. |
| − | *There is a limit to the number of cooperating partner organizations that can be effectively monitored. Involving too many partners at the same time may jeopardise effective dissemination, because effective monitoring may no longer be possible. | + | *There is a limit to the number of cooperating partner organizations that can be effectively monitored. Involving '''too many partners '''at the same time '''may jeopardise effective dissemination''', because effective monitoring may no longer be possible. |
| | *Changing dissemination strategies in the course of a project should only take place after intensive discussion with the artisans and the users to make sure that everyone understands the reasoning behind the change and they are ready not only to accept, but decide favourably by themselves. | | *Changing dissemination strategies in the course of a project should only take place after intensive discussion with the artisans and the users to make sure that everyone understands the reasoning behind the change and they are ready not only to accept, but decide favourably by themselves. |
| | | | |
| | '''Marketing and Financing''' | | '''Marketing and Financing''' |
| | | | |
| − | *There is need for government or donor support to the responsible partner organisations for at least five (better ten) years. It takes time to overcome old habits and assure the establishment of new local structures for such overriding necessities as technical and business training, research, promotion and monitoring activities. The average costs for the maintenance services on the other hand should be included in the price of the stove, or there should be set rates for maintenance services. | + | *There is a need for '''government or donors to support '''the responsible partner organisations '''for at least five (better ten) years'''. It takes time to overcome old habits and establish new local structures for necessities such as technical and business training, research, promotion, and monitoring activities. The average costs for maintenance services on the other hand should be included in the price of the stove, or there should be set rates for maintenance services. |
| − | *It is more advantageous to offer micro-credit opportunities and longer payment periods rather than building stoves for free, branding the user as poor and not being able to afford a quality product. Psychologically it is better to advertise the product as modern, healthy, attractive, something everyone ‘must have’ - and then make sure that it is affordable even for the less wealthy. | + | *It is '''more advantageous to offer micro-credit opportunities and longer payment periods than building stoves for free''', branding the user as poor and not being able to afford a quality product. Psychologically, it is better to advertise the product as modern, healthy, attractive, something everyone ‘must have’ - and then make sure that it is affordable even for the less wealthy. |
| − | *Independent stove producers, who are known to produce high quality products and have learned to promote it by labelling their products and advertising it, should be able to competitively market their stoves. | + | *'''Independent stove producers''', who are known to produce high quality products and have learned to promote it by labelling their products and advertising it, '''should be able to competitively market their stoves'''. |
| | *Saving fuel wood, money and time, and smoke reduction are the most important benefits reported by small businesses like restaurants or bakeries. | | *Saving fuel wood, money and time, and smoke reduction are the most important benefits reported by small businesses like restaurants or bakeries. |
| | *Many users still lack knowledge of the health benefits of smoke-reduced cooking with an efficient cookstove. Local health services should be involved in spreading this message and health monitoring should be planned and carried out jointly. | | *Many users still lack knowledge of the health benefits of smoke-reduced cooking with an efficient cookstove. Local health services should be involved in spreading this message and health monitoring should be planned and carried out jointly. |
The Millennium Development Goals seek to halve poverty by 2015. The UN Millennium Declaration was adopted by the General Assembly in September 2000 (http://www.un.org/millenniumgoals/).
Although none of the eight Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) specifically address cooking energy, its importance was acknowledged in later documents as follows:
‘Improved energy services – including modern cooking fuels – are necessary for meeting almost all the Goals… The UN Millennium Project proposes that countries adopt the following specific target … by 2015: Reduce the number of people without effective access to modern cooking fuels by 50 percent and make improved cookstoves widely available.’ [1] (http://www.unmillenniumproject.org/reports/fullreport.htm).
To achieve this goal, an additional 500 000 people have to get access to improved cooking energy services every day. The sustainable and clean use of biomass energy for cooking contributes directly to achieving all Millennium Development Goals (see table below). It is thus of high political and social relevance to the development process.
During the UN High Level Plenary Meeting in September 2010, a follow-up resolution to the outcome of the Millennium Summit was adopted. In this additional document, several issues relating to energy access, security, clean and renewable energy, etc. are set forth, emphazising the importance of energy for sustainable development. (See §46, 373, §77f, §77k, §68u for energy related aspects of the MDGs.)
Since 2010, cooking energy has become more visible on the international agenda. Decentralized basic energy services have gained importance, and not just because of oil prices increases. It will be difficult to reach rural and poor populations in many countries with only national electricity grids. Wood and other biomass energy are more realistics and therefore, their relevance is becoming more ackowledged.
The UN Advisory Group on Energy and Climate Change calls for two additional goals to be reached by the international community by 2030: universal access to modern energy services and improved energy efficiency.
To emphasize the importance of access to sustainable energy, the UN declared the year 2012 "International Year of Sustainable Energy for All".
"The Global Alliance for Clean Cookstoves“ was presented in 2010 in the margins of the UN summit on the Millennium Development Goals in New York. The Alliance’s goal ‘100 by 20’ calls for 100 million homes to adopt clean and efficient stoves and fuels by 2020.
The Alliance is going to work with private, public, and non-profit partners. Founding partners are i.e. the governments of the US, Germany, Norway and Peru, Shell, Morgan Stanley, WHO, UNEP, and several other organizations.
Its aim is to “save lives, improve livelihoods, empower women and combat climate change” by creating a thriving global market. The Alliance promotes major public awareness campaigns and the establishment of industry standards worldwide. Furthermore, they want to support the development of local and international markets for clean cookstoves and fuels, and fund further research.
For further information visit: Global Alliance for Clean Cookstoves http://cleancookstoves.org/
The Program of action 2015 was passed by the German Federal Government in 2001. It describes the contributions made by Germany to reach the Millennium Goals.
Paragraph 3.6 (Ensuring Access to Vital Resources) stresses the importance of sustainable energy policies. Special emphasis is put on those dealing with energy efficiency and renewable energies for reducing poverty. The German government commits itself to supporting its partner countries with regard to energy generation and energy supplies for poor rural areas. These locations are remote from the national grid and thus require renewable energy sources (e.g., biomass, solar energy, wind) and an enabling environment to facilitate poor people's access to efficient, grid-based electricity.
Agenda 21 was adopted at the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (Earth Summit), held in Rio de Janeiro in 1992. It is a comprehensive plan of action to be adopted globally, nationally, and locally by organizations within the UN, and by governments and major groups in every area which experience human impact on the environment.
Sustainable access to energy and its efficient use plays a role in several chapters of Section II of the Agenda. These chapters relate to the conservation and management of resources for development (especially chapters 9, 11, 14).
Download of the Agenda 21 (UN)
Poverty Reduction Strategy Papers (PRSP) describe a country's macroeconomic, structural, and social policies and programmes over a time horizon of at least three years. They are aimed at promoting a wide spectrum of growth initiatives and poverty reduction, and identify needs for external financing and major sources of financing. The papers are oriented towards achieving the MDGs. They are prepared by countries through a participatory process involving both domestic stakeholders and external development partners, including the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund. PRSPs are updated every three years by annual progress reports. They are a necessary prerequisite for debt relief.
The PRSP Sourcebook (World Bank) assists countries in preparation of poverty reduction strategies. Annex Q ‘Energy: Technical Note’ provides a suggested structure for presenting energy/poverty linkages and sector goals in preparing a Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper. Especially under the sections ‘Social Sector Development’, and ‘Natural Resources and the Environment’, the role of firewood for cooking is highlighted. Gender aspects, management of forest resources, and access to energy are the core issues highlighted in respect of cooking energy, and indicators such as availability and costs of improved cookstoves, and time collecting firewood are given. Potential energy strategies, including promotion of improved stoves through micro credit schemes and policies for sustainable forest use and management by communities, are discussed. Poverty Reduction Strategy Papers (PRSP) by country
More and more regional and national organisations are developing policies relevant to cooking energy.
The white paper aims at prioritising access to energy in the national PRSPs of the West African member states.
During the last two decades, the Southern African Development Community (SADC) has outlined its energy strategy and policy in several documents such as SADC Protocol on Energy (1996), the SADC Energy Cooperation Policy and Strategy (1996) and the SADC Energy Activity Plan (2000), among others. However, these documents are in the process of being updated. SADC has recently formulated the Regional Energy Access Strategy and Action Plan (RESAP) as a step towards realigning the Energy sector to emerging issues.
A Regional Strategy on Scaling-Up Access to Modern Energy Services has been prepared with assistance from the UNDP and GIZ. The Strategy aims at facilitating achievement of the Millennium Development Goals and poverty reduction by developing MDG-based energy access investments in the framework of High Impact Low Cost Scalable options for four target areas including access to modern cooking practices for 50% of traditional biomass users and access to reliable modern energy services for all urban and peri-urban poor.
A very encouraging example of what can be achieved through the combination of political will, funding for implementation, and technical assistance is the national campaign in Peru:
Access to modern cooking energy contributes to all of the priority sectors of the German Development Cooperation.
The Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) will focus its cooperation in the future on the following sectors: education, health, rural development, good governance, and sustainable economic development.
Clean and efficient cooking energy specifically contributes to these sectors in the following ways:
Every year, almost two billion people die due to diseases caused by Indoor Air Pollution (IAP) and a substantial number of children suffer serious burns. The use of clean burning stoves can lead to:
Access to energy contributes to reducing poverty in a sustainable manner and therefore helps to reach the MDGs. Efficient cooking stoves in particular can provide some of the most vulnerable people worldwide with access to modern energy.
Creating local markets for efficient cooking stoves leads to structural changes within the region, but it also affects global challenges. Increasing energy efficiency reduces green house gas emissions and saves fuels to prolong environmental resources worldwide.
For more information on the priority areas and the promotion of renewable energy for development of the BMZ see: Issues on Energy, and on Biomass.
Top of the page
The lessons formulated here contain the essence of long years of GIZ experience in assistance to development, production, and dissemination of locally produced improved stoves. They were crucial in the development of GIZ’s current approaches.
This analysis includes impact assessment studies of projects practising “results based monitoring” in order to ensure that the intended development results were actually achieved. This means that these “lessons learnt“ do not only focus on the planning, development, production, and dissemination of improved cook stoves, but also provide an analysis of the effectiveness of the monitoring system in order to improve and speed up the dissemination process in the future. Many of these ‘lessons learnt’ may sound obvious, but they are essential to provide long-term sustainability.
