Environmental research

The proposed project is designed to contribute to increasing energy efficiency and decreasing fuel consumption for internal and external household use, training at the community, local and regional level as means to small scale enterprise development and exchange of experience between NGOs and community groups through printed information and reciprocal visits to the demonstration sites in 15 selected villages of Union Council and Taluka Karo Chhan District Thatta, Sindh. The project objectives are to: Replicate by installing the field tested (AKPBS) sustainable fuel-efficient models aiming to contribute towards the reduction of fuel costs and deforestation in the area; Organize training and awareness for the local artisans, community activists, NGOs, local government departments and relevant professionals in technical, social and economical aspects of the product intervention regarding sustainable healthy environment; Promote women development and gender equity; and Monitor, evaluate, document and disseminate the field experiences. Activities to be carried out under project: Generally, activities will be carried out to demonstrate technologies and practices for addressing relevant environmental problems (particularly inefficient energy use) by installing energy efficient products and environmentally friendly technologies, capacity building at community level of individuals, CBOs and relevant NGOs, and by sharing of experience through exchange visits, networking and other promotional activities Specifically, following is a listing of major activities proposed to be carried out to achieve the project objectives: 1. Identify target villages, and relevant stakeholders including communities; 2. Conduct extensive baseline survey of the villages; 3. Discuss and agree terms of partners with the communities for installation of sustainable fuel-efficient models; 4. Impart trainings to entrepreneurs, staff and artisans; 5. Convene regular meetings with relevant stakeholders for effective coordination for the implementation of project objectives; 6. Organize awareness raising program and demand generation; 7. Facilitate for integration of women in the project implementation process; 8. Monitor project activities on regular basis 9. Third party evaluation of achievements and impact of the project 10. Document the progress of the activities 11. Disseminate the written material for mass awareness Anticipated Output of Project Relevant key results to be achieved through the project interventions would be: Well tested models of low cost like and low maintenance energy efficient products particularly helpful to women, directly addressing socio-economic and environmental problems. Improved energy efficiency directly reducing consumption of fire woods and timber requirement for cooking and heating, reduced health problems and incidences associated with poor living conditions, increased disposable household income, increased gender equity; reduced work load of women; increased spare time for women for leisure, and improved social status of the poor communities by adding value to their living conditions Decreased depletion of surrounding biomass, decreased green house gases emissions and improved in-door air quality Learning from the demonstration and its value of project interventions would be beneficial in improving and replicating the products and technologies for further implementation in other rural communities of Sindh province.

Pakistan