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ProBEC - Programme for Biomass Energy Conservation


Table of Contents

The Programme for Biomass Energy Conservation in Southern Africa is a SADC programme and currently active in six SADC countries: Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, Zimbabwe, and soon to be expanded to Tanzania and Zambia.

ProBEC is implemented by the German Agency for Technical Co-operation (GTZ) since 1998.

[top] [end]Mission

Biomass energy related institu-tions and private sector in the SADC region have the expertise, resources and commit-ment to ensure that affordable energy-efficient technologies and techniques for cooking and heating are commercially available and widely used in the region.

[top] [end]Beneficiaries/Target group

Rural and urban households as well as small business and institutions using biomass energy (woodfuel, agric. residues) for thermal processes.

[top] [end]Programme lead

SADC Secretariat, Infrastructure and Services Directorate

[top] [end]Countries currently involved

Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, Zimbabwe (Tanzania and Zambia forthcoming).

[top] [end]Reasoning

Given that in the foreseeable future biomass will remain the primary source of basic energy for up to 80% of total energy consumption for families and small businesses in most southern African countries, it is of paramount importance that the available energy is being used in an environmentally sound and socially responsible way.

BEC programme results up to date have shown that with a comprehensive package of solutions (use of energy efficient devices, profitable production and marketing of these devices, efficient woodfuel use and kitchen management, and substitution with alternative renewable energy sources) it is feasible to reach multiple, long-lasting environmental, economic, and social benefits at local (families and small businesses), national (savings of foreign exchange for energy imports) and global (use of biofuels instead of fossil fuels, reducing net emissions, improving storage of greenhouse gases, optimising timber and non-timber forest products, etc.) level.

These programmes demand for an integrated approach both on horizontal as well as on vertical level. Excellent results have been achieved with this approach in a number of BEC programmes, especially in East and Western Africa. These results are well documented and substantiated by a number of studies carried out by national and international development organisations and scientific institutions.

[top] [end]ProBEC's contribution to MDGs

ProBEC contributes to the UN Millenium Development Goals in the following ways:

  • Additional jobs will be created in the informal sector through production and marketing of improved technologies. This will reduce the number of people whose income is less than 1 $ a day and thus contribute to Eradication extreme poverty and hunger (MDG 1). Also job possibilities for youth are given (Target 18).
  • Women are primarily targeted in trainings and extension services. This promotes gender equality and empowers women (MDG 3), both on intellectual as on income level.
  • Smoke reduction through BEC measures has been proven to reduce respiratory diseases by 50% both for women and children. This contributes also to the reduction of child mortality (MDG 5).
  • Reduced work burden in poorer households and better energy supply for better food will help combat HIV/AIDS (MDG 6), especially for the PLWHA+. HIV/AIDS awareness being integrated part at all programm interventions will enhance the fight against the pandemic.
  • Reducing woodfuel consumption saves forest areas; the use of more energy efficient and alternative technologies will reduce CO2 emissions. This will directly contribute to environmental sustainability (MDG 7) and thus, to the international Convention to Combat Desertification.

[top] [end]Implementing Agency

Deutsche Gesellschaft fuer Technische Zusammenarbeit (German Technical Cooperation)

[top] [end]Past phases and achievements

Orientation phase (1997-1998): Inception missions to 6 SADC countries, national workshops, development of proposal for implementation

1st Implementation Phase (1998-2001, co-financed by EU): Set-up and functioning of national steering committees; Realisation of regional workshops (planning, training, information exchange/networking); demonstration projects in full implementation in Malawi (2), Zimbabwe (2), Mozambique and Namibia; demo-projects in preparation in Lesotho and South Africa; Development of National Biomass Energy Strategy in Namibia.

[top] [end]Expected outputs of 2nd implementation phase (2002-2005)

  • Biomass Energy Conservation (BEC) strategies are further developed and promoted on national level (e.g. review of national energy policy / strategy, coordination and monitoring of national BEC interventions, exchange information and experience on BEC technologies / techniques and respective dissemination approaches, PR activities, lobbying for financial resources)
  • Biomass Energy Conservation (BEC) measures are promoted (e.g. selection/adaptation of improved BEC technologies, information of users about improved BEC options, advising and training of BEC technology producers and sales persons on technical and business skills, monitoring of promotion, production and use of technologies)
  • BEC expertise in the region increased (e.g. assessment of experiences on development and promotion of national BEC strategies and on BEC interventions for regional exchange, exchange experiences at national and regional (training) workshops, training on project management, BEC options, PR, fund raising, gender orientation, increase knowledge and awareness on HIV/AIDS, collaboration with relevant regional and international networks and projects/programmes)
  • Concepts for long term promotion of BEC in the SADC region developed and agreed upon (e.g. analysis of options for a sustainable model for regional networking, task sharing, organisational set-up and infrastructure, preparing and organising (if funds available) a regional symposium on ways and means to secure sustainability of BEC interventions in the SADC region).

[top] [end]Contact details

GTZ - ProBEC
P.O.Box 13732
Hatfield 0028
Pretoria
South Africa
Tel: +27 12 342-0181
Fax: +27 12 342-3898
e-mail: zaprobec@...
webpage: www.probec.org

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Page created: 26 July 2004; Last edited: 26 July 2004; Version: 0
Knowledge Bank text is available under the terms of the GNU Free Documentation License.

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