1. Introduction:
The Netherlands Development Organization (SNV) is working in Ethiopia focusing on three sectors: Water and Sanitation, Agriculture and Energy. The choice for energy is mainly for improving the socio-economic status of rural people through creating access to clean, safe and affordable energy solutions. Bio-digesters are one of the clean energy technologies provided to rural households and it is energy produced from animal manure. SNV has established Domestic National Biogas Programs since 1989 across three continents: Asia, Africa and Latin America.
The National Biogas Programme of Ethiopia (NBPE) as part of the ‘Africa Biogas Partnership Programme’ started its operations in 2008 in the regional states of Amhara, Oromia, SNNPR and Tigray. The programme is hosted at the federal level by the Ministry of Water, Irrigation & Electricity (MoWIE) and coordinated by National Biogas Programme Coordination Unit (NBPCU) under MoWIE. The programme runs with Technical Assistance from SNV. It is implemented through 4 Regional Biogas Programme Coordination Units operating under the regional Mines & Energy Agencies (Bureau of Water, Minerals and Energy. The implementation at the local level, is through Woredas and biogas masons or emerging Biogas Construction Enterprises (BCEs).
2. Background of Biogas Dissemination Scale-Up Programme (NBPE+):
Biogas Dissemination Scale-Up Programme (NBPE+) is a program which is designed to build on the good work under the 2 phases of the National Biogas program of Ethiopia (NBPEI&II) and scaling up. NBPE+ is funded by EU and Government of Ethiopia and the overall objective of the program is to improve the living standards of farmers and their families, in the Ethiopian regions of Afar, Amhara, Benishangul-Gumuz, Gambela, Oromia, SNPPR, Somali and Tigray while reducing the over-exploitation of biomass cover in the 8 regions and reducing GHG emissions.
The program target is to reach and provide 180,000 rural people (36,000 installations) with biogas as clean energy, mainly for cooking and bio-slurry as high value fertilizer from bio-digesters by 2022.
In order to achieve the objective, capacity building interventions mainly focusing on the key program functions including on awareness creation and promotion, quality and functionality, private sector development and overall institutional support is required.
3. Objectives of the assignment:
For achieving the objectives of the programme, building trust and confidence in the technology among rural community and scaling up the uptake of bio-digesters through targeted and intensive promotion (a cluster approach) is necessary. In light of this, it is important to work together with reliable local/farmer based partners such as cooperatives in order to penetrate the market for bio digesters through using their capacities and outreach.
The specific objectives of the assignment are:
4. Scope of the Assignment
For the purpose of this assignment two cooperatives from each region (Oromia and SNNPR) will be engaged and the following are the scope of the assignment to be conducted by the selected cooperatives:
a) Create awareness about bio-digester benefits by sensitizing their members and the local community using different effective approaches (group discussions, general meetings, etc.);
b) Select and engage influential local promoters depending on the context
c) Conduct a door-to door promotion through the local promoters
d) Use promotion material that are necessary for the awareness raising
e) Use the existing farmer to farmer group discussions/dialogues
f) Organize experience sharing visits within the kebelle for the interested users for enhancing their decision to have bio-digesters
g) Link the interested users with BCEs/masons and facilitate the sales agreement-user with mason/BCE
h) Follow up them on the provision of local materials as per the standard and on time
i) Support the bulk purchase of local and industrial materials for their members when necessary and other innovative means (for instance revolving credit) to facilitate the process of materials purchase by users
j) Ensure proper use of the technology (bio-slurry for enhancing productivity, biogas for cooking and lighting purposes)
k) Create linkages with partners for effective use of bio-slurry; production and marketing of organic products.
l) Allocate the necessary resources for conducting the activities above including performance based Incentive for the local promoters
m) Provide implementation and progress regular report to SNV and Regional Biogas Program Unit.
Supporting documents to be submitted include:
§ Has a legal entity (registered)
§ Audited annually
§ Well performing track record in their activities
Cooperatives with high commitment and excellent track record and experience and willingness to engage in promotion and demand creation.Primary cooperatives (particularly those supported under C4C and EDGET projects) will be given priority.