Project Detail

Upscalling biogas installations on a cost sharing basis in the firewoood scarse Northern Kenya area

The KANTUKA Dairy Farmers? Initiative is a community based organization (CBO) based on the Western side of Mt. Kenya, bringing together dairy farmers in the sub-locations of Katheri, Nturukuma and Kangaita. The group?s main focus is to enhance dairy farming through zero grazing practices and to advocate for pro-poor development, ecological conservation and sustainable livelihood for all community members in the region. With the effects of climate change reaching unprecedented levels, stunningly degraded natural resources, droughts and unremitting loss of livelihoods. The organization has developed this proposal in an effort to enhance community members? capacity to address climate change mitigation and adaptation, through synthesizing and building on local experiences to bridge the gap between local situation and international policy frameworks and programmes as well as supporting local programmes that are responsive to United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).

The principal objectives of the project are to; reduce carbon emissions emanating from fuel wood charcoal and crop residue; and to enhance carbon sequestration. These will be achieved through the following major activities; installation of 12m3 fixed dome biogas plants in at least 58 homesteads and awareness creation amongst the communities.

The farmers who will qualify for the project will have to plant at least 40 tree seedlings. This is projected to translate to over 2,000 more trees within the region.

Capacity building also forms a major component of the project, where with the technical and financial support from SNV at least seven local artisans will be trained in the construction and maintenance of the bio gas plants thus ensuring the sustainability of the project.

The rationale behind the project is to encourage adoption of innovations and technologies that are essential in mitigating global climate change at the community level who has directly contributed to climate change.

The project takes advantage of an already existing and well established dairy farming in the region, with many farmers practicing zero grazing with at least two cows which have the capacity of supplying 50 to 75% of total energy needs of a typical rural house hold of about 5 to 8 people.
The 12m3 fixed dome KENBIM digesters has been identified for this purpose as it can produce adequate gas to meet up to 85% of daily energy needs for a typical household.

The proposed project is relevant to GEF/SGP Country programme strategy, since it will contribute to mitigation of climate change at house hold level, and more specifically, contribute to realization of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), adopted by the global community at the start of the 21st Century, especially Goal 8 on Developing Partnership for Development and Goal No. 7 on Ensuring environmental sustainability, target 9, indicated by the proportion of land area under tree cover; renewable energy use; carbon dioxide emissions reduction per capita; and reduced proportion of population using solid fuel.
The proposed project is anticipated to run for 24 months, at a total cost of KShs 8,600,994.00 where the community contribution will comprise of unskilled labour and cash for the building materials. Cash contribution will make about 35% financing of biogas plant construction

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Project Snapshot

Grantee:

KANTUKA CBO

Country:

Kenya

Area Of Work:

Climate Change Mitigation

Operational Phase:

OP5- Y1 (Jul 11 - Jun 12)

Grant Amount:

US$ 49,054.00

Co-Financing Cash:

US$ 46,026.63

Co-Financing in-Kind:

US$ 21,199.97

Project Number:

KEN/SGP/OP5/FSP/CC/12/01

Start Date:

6/2012

End Date:

7/2014

Status:

Satisfactorily Completed

Project Characteristics and Results

Emphasis on Sustainable Livelihoods

? The project will contribute to the Government?s policy on energy conservation. Moreover it will contribute to achievement of strategic objectives of other organizations such as the Kenya Forest Service (farm forestry), Water Resources Management Authority and Water Services Board (sustainable management and equitable distribution of water resources), Laikipia Wildlife Forum (maintenance of the ecosystem?s integrity for improved community livelihoods), and DGIS/SNV, provision of sustainable energy to 10 million people in six African countries.

Capacity - Building Component

Capacity building forms a major component of the project, where with the technical and financial support from SNV at least seven local artisans will be trained in the construction and maintenance of the bio gas plants thus ensuring the sustainability of the project.

Notable Community Participation

KANTUKA Dairy Farmers Initiative was started in 2010 by dairy farmers within Katheri, Nturukuma, and Kangaita sub-locations as a way of promoting zero grazing dairy farming and as a way of combining their resources to address issues related to energy (e.g., rising costs and shortages of fuel, electricity and animal feed) and environmental issues impacting dairy farming practices. As such, this is a community initiative owned by the members who have committed their time and resources with the aim of achieving a common goal. However, to ensure community participation at all stages of the project implementation, the following strategies will be employed: ? Election of project implementation committee (PIC) consisting of KANTUKA group members, project collaborators (e.g., KENFAP, Likii WRUA) and other stakeholders including environmental officers and representatives of line Ministries. ? The PIC will co-ordinate all the activities that include, procurement of goods and service, field monitoring and holding of regular planning meetings to discuss the way forward and where deemed necessary allocation of duties and roles to the members; ? Members will be required to contribute 50% of the total cost for the bio gas units in cash and will be encouraged to provide unskilled labour and locally available materials during the actual construction of the bio gas digesters; ? The group?s members will be encouraged to assist one another during the establishment of on-farm woodlots; ? Regular general meetings shall be convened to deliberate on the project activities and on how the performance of the project can be improved; In addition, the initiative intends to put in place the following measures to ensure that community participation is sustained throughout the project period: ? The project implementation committee who will coordinate the proposed project will be democratically elected by the general members in a special general meeting that will precede the project activities. If need be, the GEF/SGP local representative will be invited in the forums to witness the election process; ? The project?s by-laws will be enforced to ensure successful implementation of the proposed project activities; ? Every member will be required to deposit their 50% community contribution into the groups account beforehand and will be required to provide unskilled labour and locally available materials during the actual construction; ? Government Officers, i.e. provincial administration, line Ministries (MoA) and Likii RWUA will be co-opted into the project implementation Committee to ensure that community interests are protected and respected. ? Zonal working committees will be elected to oversee the project implementation within the respective zones.

Gender Focus

The primary beneficiaries of the project are anticipated to be women and youth. In rural areas throughout Kenya including the project area, women and youth are responsible for collecting firewood for cooking and kerosene for lighting. With the introduction of bio gas, the amount of firewood and kerosene used will decrease significantly. Thus, the time spent on collection of firewood and kerosene will be reallocated to more productive uses, including income generating activities. In addition, bio gas cookers do not release smoke like traditional firewood stoves. This will greatly reduce women?s exposure to harmful smoke that can cause respiratory ailments. Fifty per cent (50%) of the PIC and working groups shall comprise of women and the youth who shall be given special roles in the project. About ten10 members of the youth will be trained on the construction, operation and maintenance of the bio gas digesters and shall be encouraged to start construction of bio gas digester.

Promoting Public Awareness of Global Environment

The specific objectives of the project include increasing the level of awareness and understanding among the community members on global issues of climate change while encouraging and providing opportunities for the local communities to actively participate in initiatives geared towards climate change mitigation;

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