Implementing Agency  | Programme Lead  |
| About ProBEC
Lower income population groups satisfy their energy requirements in
a socially and environmentally sustainable manner.
Mission
Biomass energy related institu-tions and private sector in the SADC
region have the expertise, resources and commit-ment to ensure that
affordable energy-efficient technologies and techniques for cooking
and heating are commercially available and widely used in the
region.
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Rural and urban households as well as small business and
institutions using biomass energy (woodfuel, agric. residues) for
thermal processes.
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SADC
Secretariat, Infrastructure and Services Directorate
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Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, Zimbabwe,
Tanzania and Zambia.
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Given that in the foreseeable future biomass will remain the
primary source of basic energy for up to 80% of total energy
consumption for families and small businesses in most southern
African countries, it is of paramount importance that the available
energy is being used in an environmentally sound and socially
responsible way.
BEC programme results up to date have shown that with a
comprehensive package of solutions (use of energy efficient
devices, profitable production and marketing of these devices,
efficient woodfuel use and kitchen management, and substitution
with alternative renewable energy sources) it is feasible to reach
multiple, long-lasting environmental, economic, and social benefits
at local (families and small businesses), national (savings of
foreign exchange for energy imports) and global (use of biofuels
instead of fossil fuels, reducing net emissions, improving storage
of greenhouse gases, optimising timber and non-timber forest
products, etc.) level.
These programmes demand for an integrated approach both on
horizontal as well as on vertical level. Excellent results have
been achieved with this approach in a number of BEC programmes,
especially in East and Western Africa. These results are well
documented and substantiated by a number of studies carried out by
national and international development organisations and scientific
institutions.
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Additional jobs will be created in the informal sector through
production and marketing of improved technologies. This will reduce
the number of people whose income is less than 1 $ a day and thus
contribute to Eradication extreme poverty and hunger (MDG 1). Also
job possibilities for youth are given (Target 18).
Women are primarily targeted in trainings and extension services.
This promotes gender equality and empowers women (MDG 3), both on
intellectual as on income level.
Smoke reduction through BEC measures has been proven to reduce
respiratory diseases by 50% both for women and children. This
contributes also to the reduction of child mortality (MDG 5).
Reduced work burden in poorer households and better energy supply
for better food will help combat HIV/AIDS (MDG 6), especially for
the PLWHA+. HIV/AIDS awareness being integrated part at all
programm interventions will enhance the fight against the
pandemic.
Reducing woodfuel consumption saves forest areas; the use of more
energy efficient and alternative technologies will reduce CO2
emissions. This will directly contribute to environmental
sustainability (MDG 7) and thus, to the international Convention to
Combat Desertification.
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Deutsche Gesellschaft fuer Technische Zusammenarbeit (German
Technical Cooperation)
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Orientation phase (1997-1998): Inception missions to 6
SADC countries,
national workshops, development of proposal for
implementation
1st Implementation Phase (1998-2001, co-financed by EU):
Set-up and functioning of national steering committees; Realisation
of regional workshops (planning, training, information
exchange/networking); demonstration projects in full implementation
in Malawi (2), Zimbabwe (2), Mozambique and Namibia; demo-projects
in preparation in Lesotho and South Africa; Development of National
Biomass Energy Strategy in Namibia.
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- Biomass Energy Conservation (BEC) strategies are further
developed and promoted on national level (e.g. review of
national energy policy / strategy, coordination and monitoring of
national BEC interventions, exchange information and experience on
BEC technologies / techniques and respective dissemination
approaches, PR activities, lobbying for financial resources)
- Biomass Energy Conservation (BEC) measures are promoted
(e.g. selection/adaptation of improved BEC technologies,
information of users about improved BEC options, advising and
training of BEC technology producers and sales persons on technical
and business skills, monitoring of promotion, production and use of
technologies)
- BEC expertise in the region increased (e.g. assessment
of experiences on development and promotion of national BEC
strategies and on BEC interventions for regional exchange, exchange
experiences at national and regional (training) workshops, training
on project management, BEC options, PR, fund raising, gender
orientation, increase knowledge and awareness on HIV/AIDS,
collaboration with relevant regional and international networks and
projects/programmes)
- Concepts for long term promotion of BEC in the
SADC region
developed and agreed upon (e.g. analysis of options for a
sustainable model for regional networking, task sharing,
organisational set-up and infrastructure, preparing and organising
(if funds available) a regional symposium on ways and means to
secure sustainability of BEC interventions in the SADC
region)
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Download this document: 
ProBEC in Brief (176 KB)
Expansion of ProBEC to Tanzania and Zambia (2004-2006)
- ProBEC has been expanded to Tanzania and Zambia. A separate
programme component, called ProBEC SADC North covering these two
countries plus Malawi has been established. The Netherlands
Ministry for Foreign Affairs is co-funding this expansion and has
commissioned GTZ with the implementation role. Project duration is
July 2004 until December 2006. A regional office for ProBEC SADC
North is opened in Lusaka from the beginning of 2005.
Download this document: ProBEC SADC North in
brief (80 KB)
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