Participants assessing their natural resource use and energy consumption for the previous year 2010 (Shane Stevenson (Camp Kuhiston, Dushanbe))
Aims / objectives: To collate quantitative data on the amount of energy used within the community in terms of financial expenditure and natural resource use. Through the use of a participatory workshop the attendees determine which natural resources are being utilised, in the form of wood, bush and organic materials. The objective is to use this quantitative data to encourage through cost benefit demonstrations, the implementation of Sustainable Land Management technologies to reduce the amount of natural resources exploited, and the expenditure on energy consumption.
Methods: An energy specialist organises a community based workshop with up to 15 participants. In the 2-3hr workshop the participants complete, under guidance, a pre prepared flip chart on energy use (electric, tapak, wood, coal, brush). The information is collected in financial expenditure and weight. Once the energy assessment is completed a subsequent discussion is encouraged on how to more effectively meet this need at a community level. The moderator also takes this oppoprtunity to demonstrate several technologies including solar lights, improved stove design, thermal insulation, and the development of energy forests. The information is collated and used as a baseline assessment for evaluation of implemented technologies.
Stages of implementation: The stages of implementation are relatively straight forward. First you must select the community that you wish to work in, and inform a community mobiliser, in this case the head of the village that you wish to conduct a 2-3 hr workshop for up to 15 participants, and that the participants must be the person in the households who is responsible (or has knowledge of) the energy use within the household. The moderator prepares a flip chart with a table of fuel types used in the village and uses this as the basis of the workshop to extract information on energy use within the community. Once the information is collated, a discussion is encouraged to review the information and devise means by which this amount can be reduced. The moderator then takes this opportunity to demonstrate several low cost energy efficiency measures that may appeal to the community.
Role of stakeholders: The community are expected to attend the workshop, engage in active discussions on their energy use and ways in which it can be reduced. The workshop needs to be supported by the local government, this provides gravitas, and a platform to launch the approach in other communities. The final stakeholder is the implementer, in this case a local NGO who organises the workshop, demonstrates the technologies and provides ongoing support during the implementation of the technologies.
Other important information: It is important to understand the spending habits of the participants, if they are used to spending on a day to day basis and not used to financial planning, it is important to recognise this fact in the implementation of the technology.
Location: Nurobod, Shaftuti Bolo, RRS, Tajikistan
Initiation date: 2011
Year of termination: 2012
Type of Approach
| What stakeholders / implementing bodies were involved in the Approach? | Specify stakeholders | Describe roles of stakeholders |
| local land users/ local communities | A representative from each household in the community was involved. Women hold a traditional role in the society and did not participate in the workshops. The men pay all the bills and see their role as that of the provider for the family. The entire village suffers from mass labour migration, with nearly all households reliant upon remittances from Russia. | |
| SLM specialists/ agricultural advisers | International support and finance was provided for this approach, however, the questionnaire was developed in collaboration between national and international staff to ensure relevance and applicability to the context. | |
| NGO | CAMP Kuhiston |
The project employs an energy specialist to conduct a participatory workshop. The process is supported by the local government.
Decisions were taken by
Decisions were made based on
The training included raising awareness on stove adaptation, indoor two room stove construction, solar power, and low cost thermal insulation for rooms.
CAMP Kuhiston collated data on energy usage and by association natural resource use. In addition to the participatory workshop CAMP conducted a household questionnaire to assess the suitability of different energy efficiency technologies, and the social vulnerability of the inhabitants, to identify the most effective households to implement energy saving activities.
Research was carried out on-farm
Labour by land users was
The Jephcott Foundation financed local NGO CAMP Kuhiston to implement the approach.
The extent to which it will reduce the amount and type of natural resource use will be re assessed at the end of the project. It is estimated that there will be a 20% reduction.
The approach was implemented in a socially disadvantaged area.
