http://www.search4dev.nlOnline library for Dutch development cooperationenwww.kit.nldpcmedewerkers-uba@uva.nldpcmedewerkers-uba@uva.nlThu, 23 May 2013 23:11:54 CEST/d/dprn/graphics/bbhead.gifhttp://www.search4dev.nlhttp://www.search4dev.nl/record/439577http://www.search4dev.nl/record/439577Energy is considered an essential ingredient in economic growth and social development in East Africa. The growth of energy demand is often driven by several factors: population growth, economic growth, urbanisation, rural electrification/energisation programmes, increasing penetration of energy-intensive appliances, and industrialisation. Energy is consumed by all sectors of the economy and therefore growth in the economies of East African countries leads to a concomitant rise in the consumption of energy. While the region is experiencing significant growth in energy demand, energy supply appears to have stagnated or dwindled. The security of energy supply – especially electricity generation – in East Africa seems to be threatened by climate change-induced phenomena, chief among which is drought. East African economies have recorded improved growth over the past few years. Leading economists of East Africa predict improved economic performance in the coming years, but the recent global financial crisis is expected to lower economic growth rates. In addition, all the countries in the region are experiencing rapid population growth, accompanied by even more rapid urbanisation. For example, it is estimated that in Kenya 40% of the population is urban, and that nearly half of the entire population will be urban by the year 2020. Rapid growth of the country’s urban population has led to growing demand for energy services, especially electricity and refined petroleum products.S. Karekezihttp://www.search4dev.nl/record/437343http://www.search4dev.nl/record/437343Late June 2010 Winrock was commissioned by Dutch organization HIVOS to implement a first thorough and in-depth assessment on two islands and screen them against set of criteria in order to determine their respective ‘attractiveness’ as candidates for a ‘fossil fuel independent pilot Island’ Iconic Island’. This report endeavors to answer the basic research question whether or not the islands under scrutiny can become fossil fuel impendent in light of the available and verifiable Renewable Energy sources as found on these islands. Secondly, it aims to reduce the level of complexity by assessing islands against criteria that either inhibit or enable project implementation these include criteria of general logistics and perceived support of local authorities and stakeholders.Winrock internationalhttp://www.search4dev.nl/record/437339http://www.search4dev.nl/record/437339HIVOS, together with partners, has started a project to develop a show case for a 100% renewable energy island in Indonesia, an “iconic island”. The aim of the project is to completely end the dependence on fossil fuels of this island, and to demonstrate and communicate the possibility thereof in the Netherlands, in Indonesia, and further. The project should on one hand provide energy to the island’s population, and on the other hand also attract interest, cooperation and funding from institutions, companies and the public inside and outside Indonesia for replication. HIVOS asked KEMA to do an investigation into the grid connected electricity supply.W. van der Veenhttp://www.search4dev.nl/record/437336http://www.search4dev.nl/record/437336This report presents the findings and recommendations of a study to assess the feasibility of biogas in the island of Sumba, NTT province, Indonesia. The report is prepared based on the meetings with government officials, meetings with households and field observations which were carried out in the second week of February 2011. A small market for biogas seems feasible in Sumba; however, there are many challenges and limiting factors as well. There are sufficient cattle in Sumba but the availability of dung in the yards is rather limited. This is due to the cattle rearing practices prevailing in Sumba. The local Government seems interested in promoting biogas as a sustainable technology.S. Bajgainhttp://www.search4dev.nl/record/437332http://www.search4dev.nl/record/437332In November 2010, Hivos initiated a campaign for turning the island of Sumba in the eastern part of Indonesia into ‘an Iconic Island for Renewable Energy’. The choice of Sumba was based on the results of a ‘preliminary resource assessment’ concluding that the island possessed strong potential for various types of renewable energy. Whether biomass from plant material could be a good source of renewable energy in Sumba is the subject of this report. This study was conducted in September–October 2011, and included a short desk study, four weeks’ field study in Sumba, a stakeholder meeting in Sumba to discuss results, and a final analysis by the research team. The team consisted of two social scientists, Jacqueline Vel and Respati Nugrohowardhani, both of whom have ample experience with research and rural development work in Sumba. The overall objectives were (a) to describe recent experiences and current cultivation practices of crops that could be used for production of biofuels and electricity generation in Sumba, including the waste streams; and (b) to indicate the potential for increasing energy feedstock production in a sustainable way. Hivos asked the team to develop a method to assess which crops, biomass streams, and value chains are suitable for developing into biomass-for-energy production, and to identify crucial factors for success or failure. This method takes into account resources availability in Sumba, general social sustainability, and ethical considerations. Additionally, the team used four pragmatic criteria for reducing the many potential crops to a shortlist for further consideration in this report.J. VelR. Nugrohowardhanihttp://www.search4dev.nl/record/437329http://www.search4dev.nl/record/437329Hivos has developed an Iconic Island project at Sumba, Indonesia, to showcase the possibilities of renewable energy. Hivos has commissioned feasibility reports on different parts of the project. One study, focussing on grid extension and power production, is already in progress. This report is based on a field mission to Sumba from 22nd to 25th February 2011 and is focussing on non grid access to energy. The actual situation and potential for renewable energy has been documented by Winrock2. At Sumba the electrification rate is very low (24.55%). People living at remote rural areas are poor and have no access to energy. Settlements in rural areas seem to be small and people living very dispersed. Connection to the grid does not seem affordable for many people within a decade. Non grid access to energy should be stimulated to reach the goals of the Iconic Island. This non grid feasibility report delivers more detailed information on RE potential for off grid use. Proposed technologies should be well proven in conditions comparable with Sumba. The study should also include proposals and a feasibility judgement of financing models, e.g. micro finance, fee for service, government support programmes etc. Preferably the study includes a judgement of the possible improvement of the socio economic position of women. Finally, improvements for existing solar home systems need to be part of this study.R. Ritterhttp://www.search4dev.nl/record/436830http://www.search4dev.nl/record/436830The Bolivarian Alliance for Our Americas People’s Trade Agreement (ALBA-PTA), was established between Venezuela and Cuba in 2004 and now incorporates several other Latin American countries. This paper examines some of the social, economic, political and cultural aspects of ALBA-PTA in relation to small farmers’ agency. Building on insights provided by a case study of Venezuela and the ALBA experience in Bolivia and Nicaragua, it assesses whether small-scale farmers in ALBA countries are benefiting from policies or public and private institutional arrangements that empower them to enter and stay in markets; what opportunities exist for them to improve or exercise their individual and collective agency and to make better-informed choices about the markets in which they operate, and whether and how they influence policies.L. Micheluttihttp://www.search4dev.nl/record/436827http://www.search4dev.nl/record/436827Dutch essayist Bas Heijne has written a new Think Piece for the Future Calling programme, in which he argues that the domains of development aid, arts, culture and the environment, together with the great twentieth century emancipation movements, make up the pillars of what he calls 'postwar humanism'. This type of humanism, characterized by its keywords 'sympathy' and 'empathy', is subject to poignant attacks from the tax payer: "Why should we pay for others, while we themselves are increasingly abused and neglected?" It is emotions like this, that lead Heijne to argue that in fact we witness a social strife, in which the administrative elite finds itself under fire.B. Heijnehttp://www.search4dev.nl/record/436824http://www.search4dev.nl/record/436824International expecations for the world's half-billion small farms are growing, against a very dynamic backdrop. Small-scale farming is expected to contribute solutions in areas ranging from poverty reduction and food security to climate change adaptation. Most of the 'inclusive business' models and value chain interventions already set up to do that are reaching only a narrow minority of farmers. To get the future right for the majority, there is a need to ask the right questions. Instead of thinking about how to 'make markets work for the poor', we must look at how small-scale farmers make markets work for them. Farmers themselves are facing and effecting rapid changes in markets, in land and other resources, and in the demographics of rural communities. This book presents the results of a three-year Knowledge Programme led by IIED, Hivos and a global Learning Network. It integrates knowledge of researchers and practitioners working or trading directly with small producers across three continents. It focuses on agency, by looking at how small-scale farmers navigate formal and informal, global and local markets; their strategies, interests, expectations and limitations; and how they make choices in the dynamic context of a restructuring agrifood sector. From this persepective, globalisation and modernisation appear not to be sweeping the world economy clean, but spreading in parallel with vibrant informal and local economies. This book challenges our institutions and the development community, both in terms of our assumptions on the roles of smallholders and agribusiness, as well as on how we go about the process of generating knowledge and developing effective policies and interventions.B. VorleyE. Del Pozo-VergnesA. Barnetthttp://www.search4dev.nl/record/436823http://www.search4dev.nl/record/436823The current revolution in Syria took most of the country’s civil society actors and organizations by surprise. Few were prepared to lead or give direction to the mass grievances against authoritarian rule, and even fewer appear to have been instrumental to the onset of the uprising in March 2011. However, whatever the outcome of the current Syrian crisis will be –a reform process, a fundamental change of the country’s political system, or an ongoing militarized conflict-- chances are that civil society organizations will be variously called upon to aid reforms, support a transition, or help address Syrian citizens’ burgeoning needs, or all of these together. As experiences in other contexts of (post-) authoritarianism or (post-)conflict consistently show, efforts to help ordinary citizens through their plight and build a better future will ultimately depend on those courageous and resilient individuals and groups who against all odds helped to build an indigenous civil society. It is against this background that this paper by Wael Sawah, himself a long-standing Syrian civil society activist, should be read. Wael Sawah wrote this paper in 2010 and modified in 2011 after the outbreak of the Syrian revolution. Yet despite its delayed publication, its insights remain relevant for those who are keen to know more about the development of Syrian civil society. Mapping and analyzing the achievements and dilemmas facing Syrian civil society activists just prior to the outbreak of the current uprising, Sawah identifies the key players and sketches the backgrounds of their emergence and their changing strategies in response to the regime’s hostility and their own divisions.W. Sawah