HORIZON INTERNATIONAL SOLUTIONS SITE

Problem Overview:

Sustainable rural energy systems

Background:

The Rural Energy Development Programme (REDP) made community mobilization its precondition for Sustainable Rural Energy Systems Development. The question of sustainability has been a major issue of the rural development efforts in the past decade. Based on experience, the development process without active participation of local people and use of local resources is unattainable. Numerous studies on development efforts have indicated that top-down implementation model based upon a centralized bureaucratic decision making system can neither bring the desired reduction in poverty level nor ensure sustainability. It has been widely recognized that community participation is a key factor in all phases of development efforts: planning, designing, implementing and benefit sharing for the medium- and long-term impact.

REDP considers community mobilization an essential vehicle for the active involvement of local people in planning, implementing, managing and operating rural energy systems and other community development initiatives for promoting sustainable rural development.

For its community mobilization activity, REDP has developed a package suitable for mobilizing villagers to establish rural energy systems and promote their end-users to improve their socio-economic condition. With its 6 principles:

• Organization development
• Skill enhancement
• Capital mobilization
• Technology promotion
• Women’s empowerment
• Environmental management

REDP involves community members (both male and female).

The programme is operational in 5 districts (Baglung, Baitadi, Dadeldhura, Kavre and Tanahu) and is planned to extend its activities in 5 more districts. In the present districts community mobilization was started through the support of district based NGOs.

Partners:

Government of Nepal and the targeted sub-districts, local communities, local NGOs, UNDP

Activities:

In targeted village district communities (VDCs), community organizations (COs) have been formed with representation from all of the households. As per REDP guidelines, a male and a female member of each household must be a member of a male CO and a female CO respectively.

The COs meet every week. In these meetings the CO members discuss different areas of their own village development focusing on REDP’s 6 principles. All decisions are made through consensus. CO members have already started a weekly savings project; from the savings credit is provided with some interest to the members for investment in productive enterprises. It is envisaged that the establishment of different income generating activities and other infrastructure will be promoted through capital generated from the savings. Similarly work is underway to create a community energy fund by community members to operate a micro hydro system and to link it with other employment and income generating schemes.

As per REDP guidelines, different functional groups are being formed separately from the participating COs. The functional groups are formed from different activities as micro hydro, forestry or other community work. The working committees of functional groups comprise of two members nominated through census from each CO. Group meetings represented by all members of all COs are held once a month to discuss the diverse programme activities.

Results and Replicability:

So far 175 COs have been formed in 17 villages of the five programme districts.

To prepare a pool of qualified personnel within the communities form smooth operation of micro hydro plants (MHP) and rural electrification networks to be installed under the demonstration scheme, REDP organized two one month-long operator’s training. All trainees were selected by their respective communities through consensus.

Training has been given to the COs chairpersons and managers regarding the process of conducting meetings and book keeping for savings and credit accounts.

REDP has prepared Environmental Management Guidelines – the guidelines will help in mobilizing communities toward the management of the environment alongside the establishment of the MH demonstration scheme.

REDP has conducted environment assessment in the sites assigned for the establishment of MH systems.

During the community mobilization process, REDP has also been successful in making community members aware of health and sanitation issues. In some of the programme sites community members have already started to make temporary toilets and waste disposal pits.

An education campaign was issued to educate community children on the importance of energy and environmental conservation for better livelihoods.

Submitted by:

Contact: Shireen Sayeed
shireen.sayeed@undp.org
M. Aminul Islam
m.aminul.islam@undp.org