Strengthening Community Partnerships

Boiling Point
Issue 50 (2005) Scaling up and commercialisation of household energy initiatives
Article	Strengthening Community Partnerships
Author	Hellen N. Owala

[top] [end]Introduction

ITDG-East Africa recently completed a successful biomass energy project on commercial production and marketing of fuel efficient stoves. The lessons learnt have been shared with various partners sharing a common interest, including the GTZ-funded ProBEC (Programme for Biomass Energy Conservation in Southern Africa). This paper describes two key findings that came out of the study;

The need for ongoing support to local promoters (Figure 1)
The impact of sharing information through an exchange visit between ITDG-East Africa and the GTZ-funded

[top] [end]Ongoing support to local promoters

One key lesson is that local stove promoters should be identified and supported if they are to sustain the promotion and dissemination of stoves in their communities after the projects ended. If this is happens:

Communities are able to build their own linkages with the promoters for longer-term commercial promotion and dissemination of technologies and services that are having a positive impact on their own lives.
With well-communicated participatory training, communities are able to raise their own capacities and train other people on those technologies.

[top] [end]Impacts of information sharing

In July 2003, ProBEC facilitated the visit of 13 stove promoters from Malawi and Zimbabwe to West Kenya to join with the stove promoters in West Kenya to exchange ideas. The key objectives for this visit comprised:

Building linkages at grassroots level to initiate partnerships
Sharing knowledge and skills on stove production and marketing
Initiating promoter-to-promoter training

[top] [end]Achievements of the visit

There was promoter-to-promoter training on quality control of ceramic stove products, clay preparation, moulding, and firing.
The Malawi team learnt about many aspects of the kitchen improvement activities promoted by ITDG
The teams shared the idea of setting up a promoters’ network in Kenya
The visit to the Provincial Commissioner was aired on television and thus the stove promoters had the opportunity to promote their activities on the Kenyan media

[top] [end]Impact of the exchange visit

Based on this visit, together with previous input from ITDG-East Africa, the promoters from Malawi have constructed six ‘better bonfire kilns’ thus improving their firing technologies (1).
One stove promoter has improved her production and marketing skills and has since increased her income as a direct result. She is now providing training in other areas on production and marketing of the improved ceramic stoves
Fireless cookers (hayboxes) were promoted and have received significant attention from the communities from which the promoters came (2). These cookers conserve fuel and reduce the time spent with the fire alight, thus

The IFSP (Integrated Food Security Programme) in Mulanje has built linkages between their food security work, and their work on household energy and health, thus broadening the impact of stoves.

As a result of the impact of this meeting, further meetings have been arranged in Malawi for promoters from Mozambique, Zambia, Tanzania, Zimbabwe and Kenya. They are exchanging new ideas, and receiving follow-up training on production and marketing of improved stoves.

[top] [end]Conclusion

Sharing lessons learnt is very important for both sustaining development activities and for scaling up of activities.

[top] [end]References

1. Agumba, M. & Abbott, V. (1996) How to Build, Use and Maintain a Better Bonfire Kiln, IT Kenya
2. Still, D. (1999) The Haybox for energy conservation: Boiling Point 43, ITDG, UK

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Strengthening community partnerships by Hellen Owala (126 KB)

[top] [end]Contents: Boiling Point 50 - Scaling up and commercialisation of household energy initiatives

Scaling up - Scaling Up Biogas In Nepal – Ten Top Tips For Successful Scaling Up – Rocket Stoves For Sub-Saharan Africa – Designing Stoves For Mass Production – The Ecostove – Programmes Promoting Improved Household Energy In China – Is Gender A Key Variable In Household Energy And Indoor Air Pollution Interventions – GTZ News BP50 – Strengthening Community Partnerships - Dissemination Of Solar Home Systems In Vietnam – A model For Dissemination Of Improved Biomass Fuels And Cooking Devices – Institutional Partnership In Improved Cooking Stove Dissemination – Project Gaia Commercializing A New Stove And New Fuel In Africa - Public Private Partnerships For Accessing Electricity In Rural Areas - Energy News From Practical Action BP50 - WHO and UNDP highligh indoor smoke as the killer in the kitchen - Whats Happening In Household Energy BP50

Categories: Boiling Point 50| Partnerships| Africa| Lessons Learned| Improved Stoves

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