Featured Project: Solar Nano Grids, Kenya & Bangladesh

Since the first solar home system was introduced in Bangladesh in 1996, two million more have been installed throughout the nation with the help of financing from international funding bodies. It’s a similar story in Kenya (albeit on a smaller scale), where in the past two decades about 300,000 of the systems have been connected to homes.

Many of the benefits of solar energy are abundantly clear. Households with these systems can make gains in areas like health and education by, for example, cutting down on air pollution from kerosene lamps and powering lights so children and other family members can study.
But there is no such certainty around the economic benefits – there’s scant evidence that these individual systems have the power to lift people out of poverty or have any financial advantages over other ways of generating electricity, for small-scale users beyond the reach of major power grids. The individual systems are also unaffordable for many of the world’s poorest households.

It’s possible then that clusters of about 20 families in rural communities could be better off linking up to a small-scale, communal solar power system that could also be connected to an agricultural or industrial application like an irrigation system. These “nano-grid systems” could supply enough electricity for each household’s need as well as generate an income for the community, reducing the cost of energy for each family.

INTASAVE, in partnership with Loughborough University in England and United International University in Bangladesh, aims to investigate just how viable that option is for families in Bangladesh and Kenya, particularly as climate change increasingly rules out the use of fossil fuels, like oil and gas.

With funding from Britain’s Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council, the inter-disciplinary team of social scientists and engineers is investigating the social, technical and economic merits of solar nano-grids in rural communities. The researchers will compare and contrast the grid approach with household systems in Kenya and Bangladesh and draft business models for broader use across those countries.

It’s a significant project that rests on a detailed understanding of the energy uses and needs of households and communities. Is the technology cost-efficient compared with other sources? Is there an obvious advantage for members of a community to pool their interests? Is the community organized enough to manage such a system? These are just some of the questions that the team is seeking to answer.

For further information contact: admin@intasave.org

Kenya Project Consultation Workshop

The Solar Nano-Grid Consultation Workshop, Kenya

May 2014, Nairobi, the first international workshop was held to bring together the three project partners, associates and guest speakers for the Solar-Nano-Grid (SONG) project, funded by the UK's Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council. It focused on identifying previous research and existing experience in the use of solar/PV in low-income countries of the global south, doing site visits to similar projects in Kenya to consider their development and practices, reviewing and identifying suitable project methodologies and constructing an implementation framework for the SONG project for the next 12 months.

The aims of the SONG project are to:

• Investigate the impacts of solar home system installations in low-income communities in Kenya and Bangladesh,
• Work with these communities to map energy use patterns as they impact their daily reality,
• Identify the different potential demands for energy through the needs and activities of people and households,
• Evaluate solar-nano-grids (insert link - what is a solar-nano-grid) to improve energy access for income-generating activities, where it seems that solar home systems (SHS) by themselves are less able to contribute,
• Put the research into practice by setting up solar-nano-grids in selected low-income communities in both countries,
• Widely disseminate and distribute the results, to aid learning and replication.

SONG is both an inter-disciplinary project, bringing together social scientists and engineers and as well, includes participation by NGOs and civil society in both countries. Further, at the heart of the project is the involvement of the people and communities themselves.

We're pleased to write that the workshop achieved a number of results:

• Two visits to existing community solar projects in Kenya and a discussion with those involved at both Olosho-Oibor and Kitonyoni communities. These visits were invaluable in feeding into the technical, social and economic implementation discussions of SONG.
• The paper and work package activities were reviewed in terms of overall progress.
• Project partners were engaged in discussions and exercises to further familiarise themselves with relevant methodologies, particularly participatory impact pathways analysis, community based vulnerability assessments and vision-exercising, all relevant to Kenya and Bangladesh.
• The social economy was outlined in which the project will take place, from the international level down to community and household level, as well as some complimentary energy sector mapping.
• A variety of energy sector actors from Kenya (policy, NGO and private sector) participated to enhance understanding of the solar environment and discuss their experiences across an array of projects.
• Participants reviewed the next steps of the project, including the plan for wider community mapping and a comprehensive overview of community consultation.

The mix of participants and the involvement of all partners as well as associates from the UK, brought together a wealth of expertise and experience unusual in such forums. This rich experience will serve us well, as we move the project forward to identifying the communities with whom we will partner to undertake the solar-nano-grid installations and research over the coming months.

Kenya Vision 2030: Integrating Climate Change Adaptation

Integrating climate change adaptation measures into Kenya's Vision 2030 national development projects

In cooperation with the Hanns Seidel Foundation (HSF) and the Vision 2030 Secretariat, The INTASAVE Partnership aims to mainstream and systematically integrate climate change adaptation measures in to national development projects, thereby promoting sustainable development in Kenya.

Specifically the project aims to:

• Foster a common acceptance and understanding of climate change and adaptation measures among key decision makers; building their capacity to identify specific interventions for climate change mitigation and adaptation in the implementation of Vision  2030 development projects;


• Provide a platform for knowledge sharing on local and practical climate change adaptation initiatives within the Vision 2030 framework; and


•  Provide mentoring support to stakeholders who are integrating climate change into national development projects.

Duration: 5 Years, from January 2014 to December 2018 

Project Context & Background

Vision 2030 is Kenya’s blueprint development document. Under Vision 2030, Kenya aims to become a middle-income, rapidly industrializing country by 2030, offering all its citizens a high quality of life.  According to a 2013 progress report, climate change was cited as a major challenge in implementing development projects under Vision 2030.

Education and awareness efforts on climate change in Kenya only started two decades ago and were primarily directed towards the preparation of initial National Communications required for the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), with the main donor being UNEP/GEF. The participants included top-level policy makers from line ministries. According to a UNEP report, this model of targeting key decision makers is seen as commendable and they encouraged similar measures for future projects, including the involvement of the media by inviting journalists to public awareness workshops and urging them to publish feature articles in national and regional newspapers.

In an effort to mainstream climate change mitigation and adaptation issues, the Vision 2030 secretariat engaged an environmental advisory team to operate both at multiple levels and to contribute to sectoral policies, plans and programmes.  Our project will build on existing structures that have been established by this advisory team and work through the various Climate Change Units (CCU) within government, research and development agencies, while ensuring a close link with the National Climate Change Action Plan implementing agencies.

For further information on this initiative, please contact Mr. James Mwangi, Senior Projects Officer, Kenya: james.mwangi@intasave-caribsave.org.

(Photo: Paradise in the World)

Greening Micro, Small and Medium Sized Enterprises (MSMEs) in Barbados

The overall goal of the Greening MSMEs project is for micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) across Barbados to implement low-carbon technologies and behavioural changes in their business practices which reduce their business’ overall carbon footprint and facilitate livelihood changes that are economically and environmentally sustainable.

 

[caption id="attachment_4729" align="alignleft" width="300"] A craft and souvenir shop in one of Barbados' popular tourist districts. (Photo: CARIBSAVE 2014)[/caption]

The Government of Barbados has made recent strides towards encouraging renewable energy and energy conservation nationally, and especially within the private sector. However, large corporations are often the only private sector players that are able to adopt pro-active, environmental strategies because they have the means to do so.

This project is helping MSMEs supplant their carbon-intensive operations with more sustainable, "green" technologies and practices. Many MSME operators feel they have little choice but to use the readily available yet expensive fossil-fuel-based energy sources, because even though the cost is high, the set-up cost for alternative energy solutions is prohibitive. For these MSME operators that do not have the capacity to access such opportunities or are not fully aware of the opportunities available, this project will provide the training and financing necessary to access the locally available renewable energy and energy conservation alternatives.

Country: Barbados

Duration: January 2014 – June 2015

Funder:  GEF Small Grants Programme (GEF/SGP),implemented by the United Nations Development Programme for Barbados and the OECS

For further information on this project, contact Ms. Nikki Hassell via e-mail on nikki.hassell@caribsave.org.

Integrating Adaptation into Low Carbon Development Plans

Building low carbon and climate resilient economies is a means by which nations can reduce poverty and achieve economic sustainability.

Feeding into WWF’s Global Climate and Energy Initiative (GCEI), this study on integrating adaptation and climate resilience into low carbon development policies will serve as a resource for governments on how to develop climate change resilient national development plans. The study will synthesize the lessons learned from government-led initiatives in countries such as the Philippines, Germany, Brazil, Mexico, China, India, Nepal and South Africa and will contribute analyses and options for integrating adaptation measures into low carbon frameworks.  It will also identify opportunities and best practices on how to build synergies between mitigation and adaptation initiatives within countries in order to ensure that low carbon frameworks are also climate resilient.

The final report will inform discussions at an international level:

• firstly, by serving as an input to negotiations on adaptation under the UNFCCC with the aim of informing discussions on how international frameworks could support the development of effective climate resilient low carbon national development plans; and


• secondly, by presenting opportunities for South-South and North-South partnerships to enable support for the development of these frameworks.

For further information on this initiative, contact Dr. Murray Simpson via e-mail on murray.simpson@caribsave.org.

 

Towards Community-based Tourism in Jamaican Fish Sanctuary Areas

Under the C-FISH Initiative’s Alternative Livelihood component, CARIBSAVE is looking to introduce, enhance and support community-based tourism in sanctuary areas. In order to achieve this, the Travel Foundation, a partner in the C-FISH Fund, undertook exploratory research regarding the market/demand and feasibility of creating bespoke, mainstream excursions that support responsible tourism initiatives at 3 fish sanctuaries in Jamaica. The information gathered from this study will help guide the direction and activities which CARIBSAVE will support in order to develop the community-based tourism. This component is very important for sanctuaries to provide sustainable financing mechanisms for sanctuary management (through C-FISH Fund), income generating activities through crafts and tours, and promote awareness of Jamaica, the sanctuaries and the need for conservation of fisheries.

”Trysion Walters from BREDS: Treasure Beach Foundation takes visitors on a tour of the Galleon, St. Elizabeth Fish Sanctuary, Jamaica. These tours are one way that tourism supports the community; fishers with appropriate training can become tour guides, thereby providing them with additional income, and reducing fishing pressure in the area. Photo by Simone Lee.”

”Visitors support sanctuaries not only through tours, but through purchasing of locally made crafts. Look out for C-FISH branded products in the near future! Photo by Simone Lee”

“Tourists can also support the local economy through purchasing fruits or agro-processed products such as jams and jellies from community members. In Bluefield’s Bay, the Westmoreland Organic Farmers Group offers a number of delicious products to sample! Photo by Brenda Barry”

”Welcome to Bluefields Bay! This is one of C-FISH grantee fish sanctuaries, and one that we are looking to support through community-based tourism. Bluefields is rich in culture and natural aesthetics. Would you be interested in a tour taking you to Accomopong Maroon Village, a cultural tour of Savanna-la-mar, and a visit to Bluefields Bay – an old pirate bay now turned fish sanctuary? Photo by Brenda Barry.”

“Feel like visiting a part of the Caribbean sea you probably won’t have in front of your hotel? Welcome to Galleon, St. Elizabeth fish sanctuary – one of the C-FISH grantee sites. Take a boat tour with local and knowledgeable fishermen who can show you the juvenile fish, starfish and rays in the sea grass; the wetland birds both resident and migratory living in the mangrove forests. Look out for turtles that nest on the nearby beach and dolphins that frequent the area. Would you be interested in a tour that went to here, the nearby Y.S. Falls, and an opportunity to have a Red Strip on the famous Pelican Bar on wooden stilts in the ocean? Photo by Simone Lee”

”Oracabessa Bay – one of the C-FISH grantee sites has a lot of potential for community-based tourism. Located on the north coast near other popular tourism sites, visitors can get the opportunity to experience the coral gardening, turtle watching and other conservation activities at this sanctuary. Would you be interested in a tour to Firefly – the historical home of playwright Noel Coward, with an impressive list of celebrity guests – to Oracabessa and James Bond Beach, Oracabessa Bay fish sanctuary and an arts and craft tour? Photo by Simone Lee.”

Visit the C-FISH website for more information on the Alternative Livelihood's programme and the broader C-FISH initiative being implement in five (5) countries across the Caribbean Region!

C-FISH: Training for Craft Artisans in the Bluefields Bay, Oracabessa Bay and Boscobel communities

The C-FISH Initiative and Jamaica Business Development Corporation (JBDC) have teamed up to help artisans overcome some of the challenges they face. Under the C-FISH Craft Programme, JBDC is implementing Product Development Training in the Bluefields Bay, Oracabessa Bay and Boscobel communities – some of our grantee sanctuary sites. The training is geared toward improving the quality of their product and design, as well as developing C-FISH branded products to be sold in partner retail outlets such as Sandals and Things Jamaica. Look out for these products soon – by purchasing C-FISH Branded products, part proceeds will go to the C-FISH Fund, a private-public partnership to assist management of sanctuaries in the Caribbean.