Designfluence:Group490

 

Nepal– Out of a total 4.1 million households in Nepal, 2.4 million (58%) use kerosene for lighting. Households using kerosene for lighting and below the poverty line are 1.26 million (30.9% of total households). In Nepal, the average household consists of 5.45 persons.Environmental Camps for Conservation Awareness (ECCA) has been promoting its Light-for-All campaign, which is aimed at providing affordable, environmentally friendly solar energy products for the population below the poverty line (those earning less than US$1 per day) through an integrated approach of social mobilization, technology transfer, financing, and after sales service. The campaign is targeted towards those who are still using kerosene lamps for lighting because of the fact that they live in rural areas far from electric grid.

 

In Nepal, those who do not have access to electricity generally rely on kerosene-based wick lamps (2.4 million households). This form of lighting is neither cost-effective nor is it environmentally friendly. On the macro level, since kerosene has to be imported, government has to spend its limited foreign currency reserve (and the international rate of oil is increasing day-by-day). On the micro level, fumes from the Tuki affect the eyes and lungs, contribute to global warming due to release of greenhouse gas (CO2), the quality of light is inferior and there is a high risk of accidental fire hazards.

 

In Nepal, those who do not have access to electricity generally rely on kerosene-based wick lamps (2.4 million households). This form of lighting is neither cost-effective nor is it environment friendly.  ECCA has been implementing field-based activities since 1987. Hence, ECCA has a good network with local level organizations, schools, other national NGOs, and local government. 

 

Motivators training (for the staff of other organizations) and community orientations are held. When local people learn about this renewable energy and the technology suited to their requirements, they become interested. After the community orientation, based upon demand, the Solar Tuki product is made available to the local group - who then distributes/sell it. Monthly installment is also collected by this local group and then forwarded to the ECCA revolving fund. ECCA also provides repair and maintenance training to the representative of this local group - after sales support.

Services offered by the project:

• Community orientation on clean and renewable technologies
• Distribution / sale of Solar Tuki on installment basis: though the cost per set of Solar Tukis is just US$50 (1 set = 1 solar panel & 2 lamp units), poor families cannot afford to pay the upfront cost. Hence, it is provided in installment. They pay back in installments with the money they would otherwise use to purchase kerosene
• Facilitation with regard to financial institutions providing loans to users. Facilitation with the regard to the manufacturing company (of Solar Tuki) and the users. After sale service and repair / maintenance and training for users

 

Based upon field visits, the baseline information collected before the distribution of Solar Tuki, the post Tuki survey report and feedback received from the village level partner organizations (through whom Solar Tukis are being promoted), an Impact Study Report has been prepared.

 

- Light: rooms have clean, white and smokeless light. The best part is that it can be moved around; and the light remains functioning even during rain or wind storms.

 

- Radio: able to listen for a longer time and to a variety of programs without having to worry about an increase in cost. Poverty eradication and a new economy: a resource (the sun) is given an economic value, creating employment.

 

- Education: allows children to study longer, children listen to the radio (where they are informed about current events) and stay competitive with other children. Children can now stay inside the mosquito net and study. In one village where the community charging station is in the school and all the children have to come to class in order to charge the Solar Tuki, there is an indirect but clear impact on attendance.

 

- Policy Direction / Donor Education: zero subsidy model: rather than providing subsidy - focus is to be made on supporting through start-up capital, quality control, central warehouse, access to credit market.

 

- Long-term Infrastructure: the infrastructure created can also be used to roll out new products and services. New campaign Solar Tuki Plus includes mobile phone and CDMA phone (which has spread to rural areas where there is no electricity) charger, 12volt black & white TV, and fan for improved cook-stove.

 

- Environment: no fumes/emissions, no indoor pollution.

 

- Better Health: less spent on medicine, soap.

 

- Foreign Currency Savings.

 

- Energy Security.

 

- Reduced Fire Hazards.

 

- The poor households (below the poverty line) who were still using kerosene lamps for lighting because they live in rural areas far from the electric grid. Approximately, 2,000 households.

 

Copycat products and resistance of the community in using the renewable energy source.

 

Original objectives at project outset:
- The aim is to provide better quality of light (for those who do not have access to electricity) by a solar-based household lighting system (known as Solar Tuki) through the integrated approach of community mobilization and technological intervention.

Target population:
- People below the poverty line (i.e. those earning less than US$1 per day). The campaign is targeted towards those who are still using kerosene lamps for lighting purposes because these are the people who live in rural areas far from the electric grid. In the next 6 years, we plan to reach 66,000 households. Number: 360,000 people

 

 

• Proper social mobilization
• Financing available for the poor
• Maintaining the quality of the product - otherwise the end-users will not pay back all the installments

 

Needs:

This project is aimed at providing affordable, environmentally friendly solar energy products for the population below the poverty line (those earning less than US$1 per day) through an integrated approach of social mobilization, technology transfer, financing, and after-sales service.

We have already received a loan at 6% interest to purchase quality components from abroad. This helps in the supply side. However, since the product is targeted towards the poor, we need to intervene in the demand side as well. We need to micro-finance the end users so that they will be able to purchase the product on an installment basis (with a pay back period of 12-15 months). Hence, to reach a target of 66,000 households in the coming 6 years, we need US$350,000 in the revolving fund.

 

 

Project-related links

• Artigo sobre Energias Renovveis no Mundo
• Mini Video sobre Solar Tuki
• Link para o site da Organizao
• Link para Global Giving
• Prmio Tech Museum 2007

Project documents (brochures, audio, presentations, etc.)

• Documento de Projeto

ECCA is an independent non-political non-government organization registered in Nepal. ECCA is affiliated with the following network: UNEP South Asian Youth Environment Network (SAYEN) Country focal point; Global Learning and Observation to Benefit the Environment (GLOBE) Country coordinator and Member secretary of the National Steering Committee; IUCN The World Conservation Union, Switzerland NGO member since 1991; Nepal National Committee of IUCN General Secretary; NGO Federation Founding member; Nepal Permaculture Group (NPG) Founding Member; Improved Cook Stove (ICS) Network Member; Consortium of organizations working for the child club Member; Coalition for Clean Nepal (CCE) - Member; World Toilet Organization Member; Climate Change Network Member; "Wise-use House" Network - 8 organizations working under one single roof; Socially Responsible Business Development Network (SRBDN) Member; South Asia Forum on Responsible Business (SAFoRB) - Member; Federation of Nepalese Chamber, Commerce & Industries (FNCCI) CSR Forum - Member