This lecture is part of the 2016 ProSPER.Net Young Researchers’ School on sustainable energy for transforming lives: availability, accessibility, affordability

1. 2016 ProSPER. Net Young Researchers’ School
‘Sustainable Energy for Transforming Lives:
Availability, Accessibility, Affordability’
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT

2. Energy is more than “bringing in the power grid”
• People don’t want energy but the range of services it enable:
– Contributing to increased production and reducing “sweat
energy”
– Contribution to health and human capital (pumping water or
provision of lighting to health facilities and schools)
– “Security” (via street lighting, back-up energy supplies, or
pumped water reducing risks from drought)
– “Inclusion” in the modern economy (via communications
media) “

3. Who are the energy poor:
the people of Asia Pacific region
• Home to 23% of world population, contributing to less than3% to the
total world GDP, second fastest growing regions in the world
• Huge strides in poverty reduction: % of population living on US$1.25 a
day declined from 60.2 to 13.1 in China; and from 49.4 to 32.7 in India
• Still, two-thirds of the world's poor live in this region. 743 million people in
the region still remain trapped in extreme poverty.
• Wide economic disparities
• Urbanization at a pace faster than any other region. Asia home to 12 of
the world’s 23 megacities—urban areas with populations exceeding 10
million— and accounts for half of global urban population and is
urbanizing at a pace faster than any other region

4. The challenge of access: a story of inequitable
development
• By 2012, sixteen countries reached 100% electrification
• Despite this progress, many countries, particularly in the Pacific region,
have less than 50% of their population with electricity connection
• More than 90% of this access deficit come from rural areas, highlighting
the disparity between urban and rural electrification.
• Solid fuels remain the primary fuel for some 2 billion people in Asia-
Pacific, contributing to 70% of the world’s population without access to
modern fuels
• 89% of the Bangladesh’s population and 64% of India’s population
• Majority of the people without access are those who are poor

5. Many countries, particularly in
the Pacific region, have less
than 50% of their population
with electricity connection

6. Evolution of access to non-solid fuels
The absolute population living without access to non-solid
fuels rose from 2.8 billion to 2.9 billion

7. What do these trends mean for the communities
• Time and effort spent in fuel collection. Risk of injury and violence in less
secure places or humanitarian settings
• In 2012, 4.3 million people died prematurely from illnesses attributable
to indoor air pollution caused by biomass use.
 These are mostly women and children
 80% of these are in the Asia Pacific region
• 50% of pneumonia deaths among children under five are linked to
particulate matter inhaled from indoor air pollution
• Women engaged in micro and small enterprises, which operate with poor
quality and unsafe energy services
Costs of solid fuel use are disproportionately borne by
women and children

9. Energy access for people:
the Myths that we refuse to accept
Acknowledgment. SELCO Foundation
• Poor are a monolithic group
• Simple Scaling of existing successes can help
achieve energy access goals
• Standardization of technology (business models
is the key)
• Poor are stakeholders only from an end-user
perspective.
• Cheap (affordable) technology can solve most
of the issues.
• Robust Technology exists and thus after sales
service need not be given importance
• Technology and Finance dissemination can be
done by the same set of people
• End-Value technology is mature

10. Empower
•Relate to women
changing their
position in society
•Gender equality
Meet basic needs
•Ease essential
household activities
(not income)
•Convenience and
comfort
Enhance incomes
•Allow to produce more
and better products
•Sell and earn more
Solar energy project:
What does engaging the community mean
Increase working hours
(e.g. shops during evening
hours)
Refrigeration for food
production and sale
Power for enterprises
Pumping water
Lighting improves
working conditions
at home
Electrical
appliances
Make streets safer
Allows participation in
other activities
(evening classes)
Radio, TV and internet
Energy plus other inputs:
training, business development, investment support

11. Acknowledgement: Kopernik Solutions
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fB9-Cd9rRmc

13. WOMEN RECEIVE TECHNOLOGIES ON CONSIGNMENT
AND EARN A MARGIN ON EVERY SALE

15. Results: A journey of empowerment
Participants grow
empowered,
enjoy improved
lives, and have
become a
positive
influencer for
others
Run a
technology
sales
business
that brings
benefits to
households
and
community
Trainings on
technology,
financial literacy,
marketing, and
leadership to
start their
journey using
technology sales
as a tool
Recruitment
to Wonder
Women
program
With continuous
support and
mentoring,
skilled and
confident
participants
expand their
business. High
performers
achieve Gold
Star* status
Post-training test Routine communication &
monthly monitoring
Baseline
surveys
Follow-up
surveys
15

16. ADB supported JFPR 9158 Project, Bhutan

17. Zhemgang District
• 300 kms from Thimphu
• One of the poorest /remotest districts
• Economy: Subsistence agriculture, small
scale ginger, bamboo works
Issues: Scattered settlement, in-
accessibility, limited arable land, high
infant and maternal mortality, high levels
of illiteracy
ADB supported
JFPR 9158 Bhutan

18. Intervention Strategy
Community
Community mobilization
Skill up-gradation and value
addition in business
Demonstration and limited
infrastructure support
Mentorship and B2B support
Align with local government
institutions
 Value up-gradation in bamboo crafts
 Sustainable harvesting
 Vegetables
 Business skills

19. Bhutan: Value addition in bamboo business
•Bamboo and cane product development traditional
craft in Bjoka Block
•Recognize need for skill up-gradation (product
quality and new techniques): Local request
•2 batches of training on Technical skills on Bamboo
and Cane Products
•Combine with business skills, sustainable harvesting
and new techniques
•New electricity-enabled technologies
•Support for electrification of Bamboo centre

20. Electrical safety and first aid Using demonstration kit
Engaging at a religious institution Our team in Zhemgang

21. Think from the people’s perspective
21
Replication instead of Scale.
Think of Poor as asset creators, employers
and innovators – not just as consumers,
employees and implementers.
Think of end value (4 hours of lighting, 2
hours of sewing machines – instead of solar
panels, pico hydro).
Think Holistically – expensive product (not
compromising on value and quality) can be
made affordable by site specific financing.
Think Ecosystem not technology or Finance
Think Energy Services as Service and Assets –
not as consumptive items.
Acknowledgment. SELCO Foundation

22. DO NO HARM: Safeguard interests of both women and men
 Loss of ownership or use of agricultural land/ home gardens/ common lands
 Cultural impacts on family/society (including increase in violence, alcoholism,
prostitution, rise in HIV/AIDS)
 Compromised safety and security due to influx of migrants
 Environmental costs
Equal work opportunities, wage and work conditions
Community engagement in energy access:
Entry points
EMPOWER: Economically and socially
 Energy for enterprises and livelihoods (milling/ home based work)
 Creation of energy sector jobs
 Build capacity to participate, contribute to and make project decisions
MEET BASIC NEEDS: Support sustainable, safe energy solutions to ease women’s
and men’s work burden and improve access to health services and education
 Water pumping
 Labour saving appliances
 Electricity for community health

23. Thank you