GAIA ASSOCIATION. Annual Progress Report of Activities and Projects January - December 2009

Transcription

1 GAIA ASSOCIATION Annual Progress Report of Activities and Projects January - December 2009

2 Gaia Association Contact Information Milkyas Debebe Managing Director The Gaia Association P.O. Box 1460/1250, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia Tel: +251 (11) Fax:+251 (11) Mission Statement To promote clean, safe, sustainable, and renewable energy for cooking and other household needs, displacing the reliance on fossil fuels, firewood, and charcoal; reducing carbon emissions and deforestation by employing efficient alcohol-fueled stoves and other appliances.

3 ACRONYMS ARRA -Administration for Refugees and Returnee Affairs CC-Clean Cook CO- Carbon Monoxide ERM Environmental Resources Management FEPA-Federal Environmental Protection Authority FINCHAA- Ethiopian Sugar Factory IAP-Indoor Air Pollution PM-Particulate Matter UNHCR-United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees USEPA-United States Environmental Protection Agency USAID- United States Aid for International Development

4 CONTENTS BACKGROUND..1 Project Overview 1 Ethanol Interruption Issue...2 Ethanol Importation Progress...2 PROJECTS 2 Commercialization of the CC stove...2 REFUGEE CAMP ACTIVITIES...2 Staffing...2 Ethanol Program Implementation...3 EMERGENCY RESPONSE PROGRAM IMPLEMENTATION 3 Kerosene Stove Safe Handling Training.3 Kerosene Stove Distribution 3 Kerosene Transportation and Distribution...4 Kerosene Stove Stands, Jerry cans and Pitchers Distribution.4 OTHER ACTIVITIES...5 Constructions..5 Solar Cooker Pilot Testing.6 Energy Consumption Survey.6 World Environment Celebration...7 Participatory Assessment...8 MONITORING AND EVALUATION...8 AWARDS AND PUBLICATIONS...8 Energy Glob Award..8 COP 15.9 WORKSHOPS 9 PARTNERSHIPS..10 Building Contacts within the Government..10 Makobu Enterprises PLC...10 UNHCR...10 Lutheran World Federation.10 Dometic AB.10 Project Gaia, Inc and the Stokes Consulting Group...10 LIMITATIONS ACTION PLAN.11

5 BACKGROUND D eforestation is a global crisis now and for the foreseeable future. Africa is impacted disproportionately and this situation will only deteriorate without immediate and comprehensive solutions. Climate change, desertification, soil erosion and temperature rise are the main factor of deforestation. This alone will have catastrophic consequences for the people of Africa, impacting negatively on biodiversity, water availability, land degradation and health outcomes. In Ethiopia, primary causes of deforestation are commercial activities of logging, converting forest for agricultural purposes or grazing livestock, urbanization, local activities such as harvesting firewood and charcoal for household consumption use and for market. In Ethiopia, large proportion of the population depends on the traditional biomass (e.g., fuelwood and dung) to meet their energy needs which in adverse aggravate the rate of deforestation and environmental instability. According to Ethiopian Central Statistical Authority, 2004, in rural areas, nearly 85% of the population depends on fuelwood as their primary fuel for cooking, with the next largest primary dependency ratio being 12.65% for crop residue; only 0.21% of the rural population depends on kerosene for their primary cooking fuel. Contrast this to the capital city of Addis Ababa, where 42% of residents depend on kerosene as their primary fuel, compared to just 6.5%, each, for LPG and electricity; approximately one quarter of the population in Addis Ababa depends on fuelwood for their primary fuel, with 8% depending on crop residue and 4.5% depending on charcoal. In common with most population in rural Ethiopia, refugees also rely on firewood for household energy consumption. Refugees travel an average of 9km in search of firewood, which exposes them to violence and different risks. In addition to this, resource related hostility between host community and refugee is reported. In order to address this issue and to promote clean, safe, sustainable, and renewable energy for cooking, Gaia Association becomes active in both Addis Ababa and Somali refugee camps to introduce locally manufactured ethanol as household energy with appropriate appliance. Project Overview Since 2005, besides pilot testing of the ethanol stove in Addis Ababa and different part of the country, the Association has been serving 1789 and 800 households in Kebribeyah and Awbere refugee camps respectively by providing Clean Cook stoves and ethanol consistently for the refugee s household energy. In 2009 due to ethanol supply interruption Gaia forced to seize the commercialization project and designed an emergency response plan for humanitarian project, which is to provide kerosene and kerosene stoves for refugee household consumption. The following report summarizes the 2009 fiscal year activity by the Gaia Association on its various projects 1

6 Ethanol Interruption Issue Since 2008 Gaia s projects has been facing a serious challenge with ethanol supply, which drives Gaia to purchase ethanol for the refugee camps at exorbitant rates and stagnation of the commercialization project. In 2009 even though Gaia kept on purchasing ethanol by the temporary wholesale price at 5.40 ETB (US$0.54)/L, which after VAT totals 6.20ETB, Finchaa sugar factory faced ethanol production failure which in adverse affects Gaia projects for more than half year. Even if the other sugar factory, Methara, which is expected to begin the production of ethanol with in the half year of 2010; Gaia is taking its effort to cover the interruption through importation of ethanol from the potential producers. Gaia formally informed the government counterpart and refugee committee in the camps about the temporary interruption and discussed on the situation. Ethanol Importation Progress Gaia received a green light from the government of Ethiopia to obtain ethanol donation from Brazil. Gaia is also looking for other potential ethanol suppliers to import ethanol. Currently, the Association is following up on ethanol importation from Brazil and Cameron with its governmental and non-governmental partners. PROJECTS Commercialization of the CC Stove Since there was no sustainable ethanol supply, Gaia Association and Makobu Enterprises PLC could not make progress throughout this year. REFUGEE CAMP ACTIVITIES Staffing Gaia s international and Addis Ababa based staffs continued to be proactive in the implementation of the various aspects of the refugee program, visiting the site for training, distribution, monitoring, pilot testing and evaluation. Local staffs were hired in the capacity of: community workers, bottlers, driver, security guard and storekeeper/ stove maintainer. For the enhanced performance of the Awbere project Gaia received 4wheel drive from UNHCR. 2

7 Ethanol Program Implementation (January April) On the month of January 2009, Gaia, in partnership with ARRA and UNHCR, selected fifty-two vulnerable families and provided 52 one- burner CC stoves. This distribution has made the number of households that use the CC-stove and ethanol fuel 800 in Awbere. Using additional Lutheran World Federation Fund, Gaia will have additional 1,233 CC stoves in order to reach 1,233 families in Awbere camp that had not been supplied with a CC stove. Gaia continues its endeavor serving the refugee in both camps by providing denatured ethanol on continues and timely bases. During these months, Gaia distributed 262,055 lit of ethanol for their household consumption. On top of this, all beneficiaries were receiving safe handling of the fuel and stove training during every ethanol and stove distribution sessions. The hired community workers also train the beneficiaries by going door to door. Emergency Response Program Implementation (May- December) Kerosene Stove Safe Handling Training The first step in the emergency program was providing intense kerosene stove handling training by Gaia field staff and Addis Ababa staff with the support of international volunteers at both camps. During kerosene stove distribution, comprehensive stove use demonstrations and kerosene safety training were given for all stove recipients. Each training sessions includes 8-12 individuals. After the training, we distributed safety manuals, which are prepared in Somali language with guiding pictures. For further community based self-training, the trainers from Addis Ababa train the Refugee Central Committee and Women s Association in the camps. The community workers, under the supervision of the project coordinators, were also undertaking training during each kerosene distribution session and through house-to-house visits. To be transparent in its service delivery, Gaia prepared billboards that display the distribution norms and safety manuals. To reduce the safety and maintenance risks of using kerosene in ethanol stoves, Gaia replaced the Clean Cook stoves with kerosene fueled stoves until Gaia can secure ethanol sustainably. Kerosene Stove Distribution Before purchasing the kerosene stoves, Gaia conducted comparative kerosene stove tests to find the safest and most efficient (fuel and time) stoves. Even though the test result confirms the best stove, the ordinary green kerosene stove was the only available stove in the market with the 3

8 required quantities. Due to this, Gaia was forced to purchase 2000 ordinary kerosene stoves and transport them to the Kebribeyah camp. Currently, Gaia has 100% coverage of kerosene stoves in Kebribeyah camp. Kerosene stove distribution Unlike at Kebribeyah, Awbere camp refugees received kerosene stoves from ARRA upon their arrival to the camp 2 years ago. According to the Gaia community worker s assessment report, most of the refugees have damaged stoves, which are no longer in use. To address these households Gaia distributed 400 kerosene stoves, which were donated by UNHCR. Kerosene Transportation and Distribution Starting in August, 2009 Gaia received the responsibility to provide kerosene form LWF and has been distributing kerosene fuel to 2285 Awbere refugee households. In Kebribeyah camp, kerosene stoves were distributed to 1865 households and Gaia has started to distribute kerosene. Except for the first kerosene ration for Kebribeyah, UNHCR has been in charge of purchasing and transporting the fuel to the camps. Gaia has been using the UNHCR s monthly distribution norms which are the following: 3 liters of kerosene for a family of one, 15 liters for family size of 2 10, and 22 liters for a family size of 11 and above. For safety reasons, the kerosene provision is in two sessions, 10 liters for the first 12 days, and the remaining 12 liters after 12 days. From the total transported kerosene, 114,163lit was distributed in Kebribeyah to 1789 households and 173,305lit in Awbere to 2285 refugee families. Kerosene Stove Stands, Jerry cans and Pitchers Distribution To ensure safety while beneficiaries are using big pots with the ordinary kerosene stove, Gaia purchased and distributed 1785 metal potholders for Kebribeyah camp. During the distribution sessions, the community workers demonstrated and explained the advantages of the stove stand. The beneficiaries were thankful for the remedial action taken by Gaia. 4

9 Kerosene stove stand distribution Jerry cans and pitchers were provided in Awbere camps to those households identified as having worn out jerry cans and pitchers. In Awbere, 636 jerry cans were distributed to 636 families. Other Activities Constructions Gaia Association has constructed its regional office in the vicinity of Kebribeyah refugee camp for smooth implementation of the project. The office is constructed next to the distribution center and it has also a new hall that will be used for various types of trainings and meetings. In Awbere Gaia received 600m 2 land from the local administration and constructed a new distribution center by building permanent shade and foundation for the ethanol storages, fencing the distribution center and relocated the old ethanol tanker. To increase the storage capacity of the camp, Gaia purchased a 30,000 lit tanker and received a 10,000 lit tanker from LWF and placed it at the new distribution center. The additional storage tanks in the camp enabled the storage capacity to reach 60,000 liters, which is similar to the Kebribeyah camp. Beneficiaries waiting shade construction, building foundation and shades for all tankers, painting all tankers to reduce reflection, fencing the distribution centers and placing billboards to post safety manuals were the measures taken to improve the facility of the distribution centers. In 2010, Gaia plan to scale up its safe and clean household energy program at the third Somali refugee camp Sheder. For smooth service delivery, Gaia received land from Awbere and Sheder local administration to construct office and guest house around the refugee camp vicinity. The preliminary activities like bidding, agreement with contractors and other procedures for the construction of the office are completed. The construction is undergoing and expected to be complete on June. Solar Cooker Pilot Testing 5

10 Gaia Association is continuing its work with UNHCR to broaden the options for household energy in the refugee camps. As part of this initiative, Gaia introduced parabolic solar cookers, which are supplied by UNHCR to the Kebribeyah, Awbere and Sheder refugee camps. The objective of the pilot testing is to assess the appropriateness of the solar cookers as supplementary stoves for refugee households. The parabolic solar cooker is designed to cook with direct solar energy from the sun. The shiny solar receiver is designed in a bowl shape to concentrate the light rays to the cooking pot. All the reflected light focuses to the pot stand. The result is high energy for cooking. Gaia Association training on how to use Solar Cooker In July, Gaia together with ARRA targeted 75 vulnerable households in Awbere, Kebribeyah and Sheder refugee camps. Pilot testing was conducted for a five month period. Addis Ababa and international staff traveled to the camps to perform baseline surveys investigating household cooking energy use. The staff members also trained the study households on how to use the solar cookers. The project team assembled and installed the solar cookers in each household s compound. After 4 months of use by the target groups, follow-up interviews and surveys were undertaken. According to the study results, the solar cooker is not suitable for Somali refugees as a supplementary stove. The pilot study analysis report is compiled and submitted to UNHCR. Energy Consumption Survey As determined by Participatory Assessments conducted by UNHCR &Gaia Association and from complaints from refugee households, the current amount of cooking fuel is not sufficient. Gaia conducted energy consumption surveys in the households of Kebribeyah, Awbere, and Sheder to determine the actual monthly energy consumption. The survey results show that the total amount of fuel which has been distributed has, in fact, been enough to cover the cooking needs. However, there is a problem in terms of fuel distribution according to family size. Previous distribution rates grouped households with large differences in family size in the same 6

11 fuel supply group. Based on the survey results, Gaia has developed a new distribution norm that will be used for kerosene distribution in the camps. According to the new norm, households with a family size of 1-4 receive 10 lit kerosene per month, family size of 5-8 receive 15 lit kerosene per month, family size of 9-13 receive 25 lit kerosene per month, and family size of 14 and above receive 37 lit kerosene per month. The survey report and explanation of the identified gap which needs to be filled this year, were analyzed and submitted to UNHCR. World Environment Celebration Every year on June 5 th, the world celebrates Environment Day. This day was designed to create awareness about the dangers the environment is facing and the ways in which it can be protected. With Ato Milikias Debebe, director of Gaia Association, in attendance, Environment Day was celebrated in Kebribeyah and Awbere refugee camps. Panel discussions were organized and held in Kebribeyah camp. In Kebribeyah, most of refugees gathered with panelists representing the Woreda Agricultural Bureau, ZOA, Refugee Central Committee, Save the Environment and Gaia Association to discuss the causes of and measures that need to be taken to prevent and repair environmental degradation. The refugees actively participated and promised to do their part to prevent further environmental degradation. World Environment day panel discussion T-shirts with this year s Environmental Day slogan Your planet needs you were prepared and distributed to refugees and partners at the event. As part of the celebration, representatives from Gaia Association performed stove maintenance and gave a demonstration on how to properly handle ethanol and operate the Clean Cook stove. Save the Environment in Ethiopia, and UNHCR IP in Kebribeyah and Awbere camps, provided two thousand trees to be planted in each camp and facilitated the tree-planting program. On June 20 th, World Refugee day was celebrated in both camps. Gaia staff members have actively participated in the ceremonies organized by partners to celebrate the day. 7

12 Participatory Assessment As in previous years, Gaia played a role during the yearly participatory assessment at both camps. The purpose of the PA is to mobilize communities to take collective action to enhance their own protection. The PA data was collected through separate discussion with men, women and children from various age groups, about IPs performance. Unlike the 2008 PA results showing Gaia s enhanced performance, in 2009 households raised varying problems in relation with household energy due to the ethanol interruption. They explained that as a result of the ethanol interruption, they have been insulted, beaten, and attacked during fire wood collection. Also girls and little children have been is decreased attendance of school because they are engaged in firewood collection. They are also facing economic problems because they spend their money or exchange part of their rations to purchase fuel. Monitoring and Evaluation Apart from the annual evaluation, Gaia has been participating in quarterly monitoring review meetings, which are organized by UNHCR and attended by all IPs in the camp. Jijiga DPPB also sends four professional staff for 6 days to evaluate project performance in both camps where Gaia is currently active. They did not compile a visit report, but their feedback was positive. Awards and Publication Energy Glob Award The Federal Democratic Republic President of Ethiopia, H.E Girma W/Giorgis became the Honorary Chairman of the General Assembly of the Gaia Association. Energy Glob Award The Energy Globe Award is the most prominent environmental award in the world. The last two years, the award ceremony was at the EU parliament in Brussels. Its venue this year was in the Czech Republic. Among the guests were more than 30 environment ministers, EU president of Council of Environment and other Europe s environmental policy makers were present. The world s best environmental projects were presented at the venue. Representing Gaia Association, Mr. Milkyas Debebe attained the ceremony and received the prize from Mr. Don Baker. 8

13 Ato Milikyas Debebe receiving the award from Mr. Don Baker COP 15 Gaia Association has attended United Nations Climate change conference held in Copenhagen. Gaia has held its own side event displaying a movie showing how Health, Climate Change, Environment and Cook Stoves are deeply linked. It has also featured expert speakers who has discussed how the switch to clean cooking with liquid biofuels, particularly the simple alcohols, can promote maternal and child health, reduce GHG and Black Carbon emissions, blunt deforestation and desertification and help developing economies reach for their Millennium Development Goals. Workshops Gaia participated on 2009 PCIA conference held in Uganda, Kampala. Gaia provided a presentation to all participants on the current status of the ethanol stove projects; lessons learned thus far, current bottlenecks for the commercialization development and future plans. Additionally, Gaia led a discussion about using ethanol with the Clean Cook stove during an open forum breakout session. This provided more personal interaction with the stove model as well and provided the opportunity to address participant questions. We concluded the meeting with a discussion on the necessary ingredients and benefits for creating an ethanol household energy market. The forum networking opportunities provided Gaia access to potential partnerships as well as increased communication and support across various projects. On many occasions, Gaia staff followed up with forum participants for one-to-one meetings to discuss the process of creating an ethanol market coupled with an efficient and clean stove. Gaia Association in collaboration with Stockholm Environment Institute hosted a seminar in Ghion hotel, Addis Ababa. The seminar focused on scaling up the commercialization of ethanol fuelled cooking stoves in Ethiopia; challenges and opportunities. During the seminar, the challenges and opportunities of scaling up the ethanol stove were discussed by the project partners and the potential widespread benefits for the people of Ethiopia was presented. Gaia has also hosted a workshop in Ghion hotel, Addis Ababa, to introduce ethanol micro distillery in Ethiopia. The Association has received a grant from the World Bank to establish the first ethanol micro distillery in Ethiopia. Gaia held a workshop to introduce the new idea inviting all governmental and non-governmental stake holders. The workshop achieved its target 9

14 introducing the new idea and promoting the Association s effort and dedication towards its mission. PARTNERSHIPS Building Contacts within the Government The Association has been working with all related Ethiopian government offices especially, ARRA, FEPA, Addis Ababa EPA, Ethiopian Rural Energy Development and Promotion Center, Finchaa sugar Factory, Addis Ababa city Government, and the Ministry of Trade and industry, Ministry of Mines and Energy and Ministry of Health. Makobu Enterprise PLC Gaia Association is now working closely with Makobu Enterprises PLC, who will be the eventual stove importer and local manufacturer. The partnership is currently collaborating on the Addis Ababa Condominium project, commercialization of the CC Stove under the USEPA project, carbon finance, and the micro distillery project. UNHCR UNHCR has been a tremendous supporter and advocate of the CC Stove. Working in the Kebribeyah and Awbere Refugee Camps has enabled large-scale introduction of the stove. Lutheran World Federation Partnership with Lutheran World Federation has given Gaia Association access to have 1233 one-burner CC stoves and 10,000 lit capacity storage tanker for Awbere camp. Dometic AB The Association is in a technical working group with Dometic AB, Dometic, a Swedish company. Dometic AB is the original stove manufacturer and originator of this project concept. Both the Gaia Association and Dometic have been collaborating to import the CC Stove for the up-coming scale up in the Kebribeyah Refugee Camp and for country commercialization. Project Gaia, Inc and the Stokes Consulting Group Gaia Association continued its strong partnership with Project Gaia Inc and Stokes Consulting Group to further the aims of the Association. Gaia Association continued its partnership with Project Gaia beyond Ethiopia collaborating in World Bank project in Madagascar and USAID project in Kenya. 10

15 LIMITATIONS Gaia has been challenged by the ethanol supply interruption, which has caused the refugee women to return back to fuelwood gathering, exchanging rations to purchase fuel and indoor air pollution. Gaia has also forced to seize its stove commercialization project in Addis Ababa due to ethanol interruption faced. Gaia has endeavored to resolve the problem temporarily through using kerosene in the refugee camps and beginning the process to import ethanol until local ethanol production resumes. P 2010 ACTION PLAN In 2010 Gaia besides implementing the emergency response program in the refugee camps, will continue its effort to import ethanol and start commercialization project. The Association will also continue to work with its partners for the projects in Ethiopia and abroad. Objectives Activities Location Timeline Ethanol importation Importing ethanol from potential Ethiopia June international suppliers Stove commercialization Commercializing 2000 stoves Addis Ababa July imported by Makobu for condominium houses of Addis Ababa Securing locally producing ethanol Negotiating with the government of Ethiopia Ethiopia to secure ethanol from local June Completing Madagascar World Bank Project Sheder refugee camp project scale-up Strengthen M&E UNHCR Program Maintenance Program Improvement r o Site production Field survey and compiling reports of the study Procurement and delivery of kerosene stoves Training of new recipients Project Monitoring and Annual Evaluation Madagascar Ethiopia Sheder & Kebribeyah, Awbere & Sheder camps September January- March January- March June, December Quarterly monitoring review meeting >> March, June, Sep. December Annual Participatory Assessment >> July Kerosene transportation and Awbere, January - distribution Kebribeyah December Stove stand distribution Awbere & Sheder Feb- Mar Replacement of pitchers and jerry cans >> Feb- Mar Distribution of stove spare (winks) >> June Office and guest house Construction Awbere & Sheder January Ethanol tank placement Awbere & Sheder Feb- March Fuel dispenser installation 3 camps February Rocket stoves 3 camps Upon donation 11

16 Baseline survey Address school feeding and inpatient feeding programs Baseline survey Introduction, training and distribution of the stove Follow-up M&E Provide institutional stove and kerosene regularly 3 camps Jan-Dec 12