Project Detail

Empowering Communities Through Solar Energy Electrification

The project on Empowering Vulnerable Communities through Solar Energy Electrification to be carried out in the Munyenge Trouble village in the South West Province is an initiative identified by the community of Munyenge Trouble in collaboration with Rural Women Development Center (RUWDEC).
This project is intended to provide Munyenge Trouble village with electricity through putting in place solar energy units that will be use for household electrification, provision of a solar prototype cocoa drier for drying cocoa. The project shall sponsor two women for training as solar energy engineers who will intend train other women from the village. Two buildings shall be provided for a workshop, store and training hall by the beneficiary community of the project. Workshops shall be organized on tree domestication, sustainable forest management and environmental protection and climate change and tree planting shall be an integral part of the project.

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Project Snapshot

Grantee:

Rural Women Development Centre

Country:

Cameroon

Area Of Work:

Climate Change Mitigation
Climate Change Mitigation

Operational Phase:

OP4 - Y3 (Jul 09 - Jun 10)

Grant Amount:

US$ 50,000.00

Co-Financing Cash:

US$ 31,891.74

Co-Financing in-Kind:

US$ 60,659.30

Project Number:

CMR/SGP/OP4/Y3/CORE/10/01

Start Date:

2/2010

End Date:

6/2011

Status:

Satisfactorily Completed

Photo Gallery

Community women from Cameroon attending training at Barefoot solar workshop

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Project Characteristics and Results

Project sustainability

*The choice for the women to undertake the training on solar energy technology and electrification was to be done by Barefoot College in agreement with the community and RUWDEC. The women selected had to have permanent residence in Munyange Trouble to ensure that after training, they would not leave the community and to enhance continuity of the project through timely maintenance of the solar energy units and training. *The solar electricity management committee had to be put in place to take proper decisions on the running of the project and assist in the collection of monthly bills agreed-upon to cater for maintenance and payment of allowances / wages for the solar engineers. *The solar electricity management committee had to be put in place to take proper decisions on the running of the project and assist in the collection of monthly bills agreed-upon to cater for maintenance and payment of allowances / wages for the solar engineers. *The monthly contributions of 3,000 FRS, as agreed by the community members of Munyange, was to be contribute for repairs and maintenance after the 2 years and for the paying of a monthly stipend to the women working on the project as well. *The creation of the solar electricity fund was a way to ensure sustainability and future expansion of the project.

Capacity - Building Component

2 Illeterate women of the community will be trained in India as Solar Engineers. When back to the village, these women will train 2 other women who will act as assistant solar engineers. Community members will also be trained in agroforestry practices, tree domestication techniques, snails farming and cane rat domestication, management of women development funds for revolving loans;

Emphasis on Sustainable Livelihoods

An emphasis is put on community sustainable livelihoods options such as: - training in cane rat domestication and snail farming - production of improved cassava, maize and plantain seeds for sale

Notable Community Participation

Community being a major actor of this project, is involved in all project activities.

Inovative Financial Mechanisms

Introduction of "Women Sustainable Development Fund" forrevolving loans to women with a very low rate of interest for reimbursement

Gender Focus

Project centerd on women empowerment, with a component on youth activities.

Project Results

* 2 women (Mrs. Francisca Moki and Helen Ntenge) are train as solar Engineer to implement the electrification of their locality, the was also concern the solar pots, cookers and ovens.

* During thier training 110 electrification units purchased for 110 households in Munyenge and transported to Cameroon.

* Solar electricity installed in 98 households in Munyange trouble and community members pay monthly bills.

* Community nursery has been completed and eru demonstration site established. 3500 hybrid cocoa seed planted in polythene bags in the nursery.

* One (1) prototype solar cocoa dryer constructed and handed to the community of Munyange trouble.

* 22 farmers (13 women and 9 men) empowered with skills on snail and grass cutter rearing, 2500 snails was provided by 8 farmers and 4 grass cutters provided by a farmer.

*In this component on training workshop on Domestication of snails and grass cutters, the project was to have collaboration with IRAD Ekona to build the capacity of farmers in Munyange Trouble in the domestication of snails and grass cutters and after the training, parents stocks of these non-conventional livestock were to be provided to trainees to start up with the activities. Women and youths were encouraged to take part in these activities. In all, 15 farmers (10 women and 5 youths) were to be trained for this activity and divided into two groups. 10 farmers to be provided with 250 parent stock snails each and 5 farmers will be provided with parent stocks of 4 grass cutters being 3 females and 1 male.

*The project was to work in collaboration with the technical services of Agriculture and Rural Development and IRAD Ekona to organize a two-day training workshop to enhance the knowledge and build the capacity of farmers of Munyange Trouble on the seed multiplication of improved planting materials (maize, cassava and plantain) for income generation. After the training, parent stocks were to be provided to the farmers to start the process of multiplication. In all, 10 farmers (all women) were being selected for maize multiplication, 10 farmers (10 women) for cassava and 10 farmers (10 youths) for plantain multiplication making a total of 30 farmers for training.
In order for the farmers to start maize multiplication, each of the 10 farmers were to be selected and provided with 15kg of foundation maize (8704) seeds and 1324 cassava cuttings given to 10 other farmers and 100 suckers of parent stock plantains to be given to another 10 farmers.

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Indicators

Biophysical

Number of innovations or new technologies developed / applied 1

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