Community-driven Energy Access and Use in Benin - Revision history

Stefan Eibisch at 08:45, 22 May 2024

2024-05-22T08:45:34Z

Helen Mengs at 14:44, 26 April 2024

2024-04-26T14:44:57Z

Helen Mengs at 10:24, 19 March 2024

2024-03-19T10:24:31Z

Helen Mengs at 08:45, 19 March 2024

2024-03-19T08:45:38Z

Helen Mengs at 08:45, 19 March 2024

2024-03-19T08:45:00Z

Helen Mengs at 08:44, 19 March 2024

2024-03-19T08:44:35Z

Helen Mengs at 16:25, 18 March 2024

2024-03-18T16:25:04Z

Helen Mengs at 09:45, 15 March 2024

2024-03-15T09:45:30Z

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Helen Mengs at 08:45, 14 March 2024

2024-03-14T08:45:24Z

Helen Mengs at 08:45, 14 March 2024

2024-03-14T08:45:07Z

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 |GBE financed=Country Component
 |GBE category community=Community-based Approaches
 |GBE category enaccess=Energy Access
 |GBE country=Benin
 }}
 </div>

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 {{GBE ProjectDB
 |GBE financed=Country Component
 |GBE country=Benin
 }}
 </div>

← Older revision		Revision as of 10:24, 19 March 2024
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−	==== Challenges ====	+	==== Challenges in Project Implementation ====
	The disbursement of funds took longer than initially planned, mainly due to delays in the procurement of the solar equipment. These were caused, in part, by the quality requirements of GIZ, which were pursued through the definition of technical specifications and the corresponding evaluation of bids. Whilst these mechanisms were essential for ensuring the use of equipment of high quality, the project partners were not aware of these procedures and did not consider them in the planning of the project.		The disbursement of funds took longer than initially planned, mainly due to delays in the procurement of the solar equipment. These were caused, in part, by the quality requirements of GIZ, which were pursued through the definition of technical specifications and the corresponding evaluation of bids. Whilst these mechanisms were essential for ensuring the use of equipment of high quality, the project partners were not aware of these procedures and did not consider them in the planning of the project.

← Older revision		Revision as of 08:45, 19 March 2024
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	Finally, the project has fostered trust and dialogue among the local population, which has resulted in the initiation of a new solidarity initiative for savings and credit among households, thereby increasing financial ownership in the village. The exchange of good practices and knowledge among the local population and local stakeholders has also increased (e.g. between local primary schools and between local communities and various local government agencies).		Finally, the project has fostered trust and dialogue among the local population, which has resulted in the initiation of a new solidarity initiative for savings and credit among households, thereby increasing financial ownership in the village. The exchange of good practices and knowledge among the local population and local stakeholders has also increased (e.g. between local primary schools and between local communities and various local government agencies).
		+

	==== Challenges ====		==== Challenges ====

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 __TOC__
 == '''Project Approach''' ==
-[[File:Community-driven Energy Access and Use GBE Case Study GIZ 2023.pdf|alt=|403x403px|right|frameless]]Amouloko village is not connected to Benin’s main electricity grid. Diesel generators would not only come at a high cost - both financially as well as in terms of the associated environmental damage – but they are also difficult to run and maintain. Against this background, the project aims at improving living conditions in the village of Amouloko by using solar PV systems for the electrification of the local market and primary school, as well as for productive purposes managed by the local community, and by establishing an access point for safe water. The project is therefore of high relevance for the improvement of economic development opportunities in Amouloko village.[[File:Figure_1_Solar_lantern.png|alt=|left|thumb|Solar lantern]]
+[[File:Community-driven Energy Access and Use GBE Case Study GIZ 2023.pdf|alt=|403x403px|right|frameless]]Amouloko village is not connected to Benin’s main electricity grid. Diesel generators would not only come at a high cost - both financially as well as in terms of the associated environmental damage – but they are also difficult to run and maintain. Against this background, the project aims at improving living conditions in the village of Amouloko by using solar PV systems for the electrification of the local market and primary school, as well as for productive purposes managed by the local community, and by establishing an access point for safe water. The project is therefore of high relevance for the improvement of economic development opportunities in Amouloko village.[[File:Figure_1_Solar_lantern.png|alt=|left|thumb|Solar lantern|416x416px]]
 The intervention is financed through the GBE Small Projects Fund. A participatory community energy approach is adopted for the design and implementation of the project, involving a stakeholder needs assessment and joint planning of the PV system by the implementing partner (NGO LU.I.S.E) and the people of Amouloko village. LU.I.S.E is a Beninese NGO, the letters stand for Light, Information, Health, Education.

@@ Line 6: / Line 6: @@
 __TOC__
 == '''Project Approach''' ==
-[[File:Community-driven Energy Access and Use GBE Case Study GIZ 2023.pdf|alt=|403x403px|right|frameless]]Amouloko village is not connected to Benin’s main electricity grid. Diesel generators would not only come at a high cost - both financially as well as in terms of the associated environmental damage – but they are also difficult to run and maintain. Against this background, the project aims at improving living conditions in the village of Amouloko by using solar PV systems for the electrification of the local market and primary school, as well as for productive purposes managed by the local community, and by establishing an access point for safe water. The project is therefore of high relevance for the improvement of economic development opportunities in Amouloko village..
+[[File:Community-driven Energy Access and Use GBE Case Study GIZ 2023.pdf|alt=|403x403px|right|frameless]]Amouloko village is not connected to Benin’s main electricity grid. Diesel generators would not only come at a high cost - both financially as well as in terms of the associated environmental damage – but they are also difficult to run and maintain. Against this background, the project aims at improving living conditions in the village of Amouloko by using solar PV systems for the electrification of the local market and primary school, as well as for productive purposes managed by the local community, and by establishing an access point for safe water. The project is therefore of high relevance for the improvement of economic development opportunities in Amouloko village.[[File:Figure_1_Solar_lantern.png|alt=|left|thumb|Solar lantern]]
 The intervention is financed through the GBE Small Projects Fund. A participatory community energy approach is adopted for the design and implementation of the project, involving a stakeholder needs assessment and joint planning of the PV system by the implementing partner (NGO LU.I.S.E) and the people of Amouloko village. LU.I.S.E is a Beninese NGO, the letters stand for Light, Information, Health, Education.
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 ==== Project Achievements ====
-Thanks to the project, the community of Amouloko now has access to clean and reliable electricity from solar power. This allows the local population to benefit from a solar refrigerator and to have access to ice and fresh drinks. The solar water pump has enabled the local population to access water with less effort and time than with the previously used mechanical pump. The mobile phone charging station has improved the villagers’ ability to communicate via phone and use the internet. The solar systems in the local primary school have improved the conditions for teaching and learning by bringing light to classrooms where it was previously difficult to properly read and see the chalkboard on dark, cloudy days. Furthermore, teachers can now use the internet for research and better preparation of their courses.
+[[File:Figure_2_Solar_mill.png|alt=|thumb|295x295px|Solar mill]]Thanks to the project, the community of Amouloko now has access to clean and reliable electricity from solar power. This allows the local population to benefit from a solar refrigerator and to have access to ice and fresh drinks. The solar water pump has enabled the local population to access water with less effort and time than with the previously used mechanical pump. The mobile phone charging station has improved the villagers’ ability to communicate via phone and use the internet. The solar systems in the local primary school have improved the conditions for teaching and learning by bringing light to classrooms where it was previously difficult to properly read and see the chalkboard on dark, cloudy days. Furthermore, teachers can now use the internet for research and better preparation of their courses.
 At the same time, pupils have become curious about solar energy and have benefited from the information and awareness raising about energy technologies. Several students report that they have talked to their parents about the feasibility of solar systems and the potential of using them in their homes, and that some of these households have now installed solar systems for lighting, radios, and televisions. One of the benefits of this is that the children can do their homework in the evening under better conditions.
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 ==== Intermediate Impact ====
-The central solar system and the community service centre have helped to improve living conditions by providing services which were previously unavailable and by increasing the efficiency of productive applications. The mobile phone charging station, for example, has improved communication between villagers and their relatives in other cities and regions. Mobile phones are now also increasingly used for conducting business and accessing knowledge via the internet, e.g. information on efficient farming methods. In addition, the project has improved the daily lives and working conditions for women who are responsible for supplying water to their homes and previously spent a lot of time and effort to operate the mechanical pump in the village. The women have started to use the additional time and the water provided though the solar pump to irrigate and grow vegetables during the dry season, thus creating new sources of income that contribute to poverty alleviation in the village.
+[[File:Figure_3_Solar_fridge.png|alt=|left|thumb|297x297px|Solar fridge]]The central solar system and the community service centre have helped to improve living conditions by providing services which were previously unavailable and by increasing the efficiency of productive applications. The mobile phone charging station, for example, has improved communication between villagers and their relatives in other cities and regions. Mobile phones are now also increasingly used for conducting business and accessing knowledge via the internet, e.g. information on efficient farming methods. In addition, the project has improved the daily lives and working conditions for women who are responsible for supplying water to their homes and previously spent a lot of time and effort to operate the mechanical pump in the village. The women have started to use the additional time and the water provided though the solar pump to irrigate and grow vegetables during the dry season, thus creating new sources of income that contribute to poverty alleviation in the village.
 The project has improved the teaching and learning conditions for teachers and students of the local primary school. This contributes to a better overall education of the students, which should not only drive them to higher school education but also improve their chances of finding a job and earning an income in the long run. Furthermore, the project has improved conditions for market traders and buyers who visit the local market at night, allowing more time for other productive activities during the day.

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 {{back button|Green_People's_Energy_for_Africa_-_Knowledge_Hub|Back to GBE Start Page}}
 {{back button|Green_People's_Energy_for_Africa_-_Measures_&_Projects|Measures & Projects}}
-__TOC__[[File:Community-driven Energy Access and Use GBE Case Study GIZ 2023.pdf|alt=|thumb|310x310px]]
+__TOC__
-== '''Project Approach''' ==
+[[File:Figure 1 Solar lantern.png|frameless]]T[[File:Figure 2 Solar mill.png|frameless]][[File:Figure 3 Solar fridge.png|frameless]]
 The intervention is financed through the GBE Small Projects Fund. A participatory community energy approach is adopted for the design and implementation of the project, involving a stakeholder needs assessment and joint planning of the PV system by the implementing partner (NGO LU.I.S.E) and the people of Amouloko village. LU.I.S.E is a Beninese NGO, the letters stand for Light, Information, Health, Education.