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the flow

CAMBODIA DIALOGUE: TOWARD A JUST ENERGY TRANSITION IN ASEAN

2/9/2023

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From October 3-4, 2022 in Siem Reap, Cambodia, a regional multi-stakeholder dialogue “Toward Just Energy Transition in ASEAN”, was organized by Oxfam Cambodia, Australian Aid, Heinrich Böll Stiftung Southeast Asia and Energy Lab Cambodia.  The event aimed to facilitate dialogue on ensuring justice and equity for vulnerable communities within the transition from fossil fuels to clean energy in the region.  The dialogue furthermore sought to solicit input for and finalize a policy brief to promote equity and justice within ASEAN energy policy development, ahead of the 2022 ASEAN Summit.  

Mr. Tarek Ketelsen, Director General of the Australia Mekong Partnership for Environmental Resources and Energy Systems (AMPERES) and a member of HPNET, supported the design of the event.  The HPNET Secretariat was invited to take part and facilitated the participation of HPNET members Ms. Nalori Chakma, Advocacy Officer at the Right Energy Partnership (REP) and Ms. Jade Angngalao, Area Coordinator at the Department of Social Welfare and Development through PAyapa at MAsaganang PamayaNAn (PAMANA), who has supported micro hydro efforts in her community and other Kalinga communities in the Philippines.

During the two-day dialogue, speakers shared various perspectives and insights regarding the regional context of the energy transition, its challenges, and potential opportunities, with an emphasis on social justice and inclusion.   
Policy Objectives

Civil society and academic stakeholders from across the ASEAN region provided inputs during the workshop which contributed to the development of a policy brief intended to inform policy development relating to ASEAN’s commitment to net zero emissions. Chiefly, the policy brief presents a path forward to ensure the achievement of a socially equitable energy transition in the ASEAN region. The policy brief was subsequently presented by an Oxfam member during the ASEAN Summit which took place in Phnom Penh in November, and will be disseminated at other ASEAN gatherings and events where different government leaders and stakeholders are present.

A Spotlight on Social Equity for a Just Transition

In an insightful op-ed published by Oxfam Cambodia following the regional dialogue, the author emphasizes that, “with its principle of cooperation and mutual benefit, ASEAN could become a global leader by promoting a just energy transition that does not compound existing inequalities and leaves no one behind”.
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This risk of compounding existing inequalities was addressed by several participants at the regional dialogue, including Ms. Chakma of REP, who flagged a threat around land grabbing that has been linked to mining for lithium-ion batteries for solar PV electricity in parts of India and the United States.  As governments ramp up production of lithium to meet clean energy goals, REP emphasizes the need to uphold the rights of Indigenous Peoples, as well as elevate alternative clean energy technologies like small-scale hydropower, which has been increasingly sidelined as solar PV has taken centre stage.   

In addition, a key element of the dialogue was the potential – and ethical imperative – to dovetail the rollout of clean energy infrastructure with rural electrification through an approach that empowers marginalized communities.  Ms. Angangalo highlighted that Indigenous and local communities have long been leaders in this field, leveraging renewable energy within community-based efforts to facilitate energy access.  It is critical that ‘last mile’ communities are centered in the ASEAN clean energy transition, and SDG 7 is prioritized within pathways to ‘net zero’.

The dialogue thus underscored the opportunity to elevate decentralized renewable energy (DRE) as a key component of a just transition.  Participants brought forth a number of policy solutions to advance this aim.  For instance, Ms. Chakma of REP suggested subsidies and soft loans to communities, and support directed to productive-end-use to help sustain DRE systems.  She and others, including Mr. Ketelsen of AMPERES, also noted that as countries develop policies to support grid interconnection of DRE, a key part of a just transition is ensuring that communities in ASEAN have the opportunity to generate income from selling electricity to the grid. (To learn more on this topic, see HPNET’s Grid Interconnection Work Stream).  
Community Hydropower as a Uniquely Appropriate Technology
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Community-scale hydropower became a focal point of several discussions, largely thanks to presentations and inputs by the HPNET members.  During the Roundtable discussions, participants discussed several ways in which community hydro is uniquely well positioned for advancing a just, clean energy transition in the region.  

  • Ms. Angngalao delivered a presentation on community-based renewable energy systems andIndigenous Peoples in the Philippines and introduced HPNET’s knowledge exchange and advocacy initiatives.  The presentation highlighted how community hydro is collectively built and operated, and generates a wide range of socio-economic and ecological benefits.  For instance, micro hydro can support motorized loads for agro-processing and incentivizes  sustainable watershed stewardship aligned with Indigenous governance traditions. 
  • Given said connections with environmental conservation, Ms. Chakma or REP also noted the opportunity for micro hydro communities to leverage conservation finance and carbon credits for forest management.
  • Ms. Chakma also highlighted that community-scale hydropower sidesteps the human rights and land grabbing issues arising in connection with lithium-ion batteries used for solar PV systems. (Notably, a clear distinction was drawn between small-scale (< 1MW) versus large scale hydropower dams, the latter of which have long been associated with land grabbing and ecological harm, though sometimes promoted as “clean energy”.) 
  • Mr. Ketelsen of AMPERES imparted some of the best practices and opportunities observed in Myanmar, a country with a long-established, locally-rooted DRE sector where over 6,000 small-scale hydropower systems have been installed by local developers, largely without donor support or foreign technology.  Mr. Ketelsen observed that that micro hydro is a particularly well-suited technology for enabling more inclusive, community-owned and -distributed systems, due to unique governance and scale aspects.

The great value-add of community hydro was well-noted by other participants who expressed interest in intra-regional exposure visits to share knowledge and build awareness of micro hydro amongst ASEAN energy access practitioners and proponents – in line with HPNET’s approach to peer-to-peer exchange and knowledge exchange.

This article was developed by Ms. Lara Powell (HPNET Secretariat) with inputs from Ms. Jade Angangalo (PAMANA), Ms. Nalori Chakma (REP), Mr. Tarek Ketelsen (AMPERES), Ms. Kaneka Keo (Oxfam), and Dipti Vaghela (HPNET Secretariat).
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INDIGENOUS-LED WATERSHED MANAGEMENT AT 2ND ASIA PARKS CONGRESS

5/30/2022

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Indigenous peoples have a wealth of knowledge and long-proven environmental governance systems that support healthy watershed ecosystems. In turn, Indigenous-led watershed conservation can contribute toward biodiversity conservation, climate change mitigation and climate resilient hydro mini-grids. 

HPNET Board Member, Hon. Adrian Banie Lasimbang, recently brought this important message to the 2nd Asia Parks Congress, which was held at the Sabah International Convention Centre from May 24-29, 2022.  Hon. Lasimbang is an Advisor for TONIBUNG and JOAS and a Board Member for the Right Energy Partnership (REP).  At the congress, Adrian presented a paper on the ways in which Indigenous-led watershed conservation contributes to biodiversity conservation and climate change mitigation, highlighting the role of the Tagal system in watershed management, through a case study in Ulu Papar, Sabah.  Tagal refers to the watershed stewardship system/protocols of the Orang Asal Indigenous communities of Sabah. 
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Hon. Adrian Banie Lasimbang presenting at the 2nd Asia Parks Confress. Source: B. Lasimbang.
Read More:
  • Kickoff Session: Climate Resilient Solutions to Hydro Mini-Grids – Featuring Hon. Adrian Banie Lasimbang sharing perspectives on climate resilience, the water-energy-food-forests-livelihoods nexus, and Indigenous rights, traditional knowledge and stewardship protocols.
  • Earth Voices Blog: Featuring Kampung Buayan, Ulu Papar
  • TONIBUNG (friends for village development) - HPNET Member Organization
  • Jaringan Orang Asal SeMalaysia (JOAS) - The Indigenous Peoples Network of Malaysia
  • Right Energy Partnership
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FIELD-BASED WORKSHOP IN KALINGA, PHILIPPINES

4/25/2022

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We recently launched the SEEED Accelerator to unlock the full potential of hydro mini-grid practitioners and communities.  The knowledge exchange aspect of the Accelerator incorporates E-Learning and impact-driven, customized capacity building to facilitate hydro mini-grid sustainability and optimal socio-economic benefits.  To this end, we launched the SEEED E-Learning series with support from Skat Foundation, DGRV, GIZ, and WISIONS.  So far we’ve hosted three virtual courses (with more to come) focused on community hydro fundamentals, climate resilient solutions, and agroecological benefits.  In conjunction with the virtual E-Learning courses, iwe recently supported local experts to conduct a field-based workshop in Sitio Gawaan Proper, Kalinga Province, Philippines.  ​
The workshop was designed to build the capacity of micro hydro communities to strengthen the long-term viability of their systems, while building resilience to the impacts of climate change and leveraging benefits at the nexus of water, energy, food, forests and livelihoods.  

Across the Philippines, communities are increasingly affected by stronger and more frequent typhoons and volatile weather due to climate change.  Micro hydro communities in Kalinga Province and elsewhere have seen their mini-grid infrastructure damaged by destructive storms and the reliability of their electricity source threatened by fluctuating stream flow.  The people of Kalinga Province are very keen to build climate resilient energy access through nature-based solutions, building upon long-proven Indigenous knowledge and governance systems.  As one participant noted, “our watersheds are truly connected to the life of the community hydro system, as we have seen and experienced before”.  

The workshops addressed the need for ecosystem restoration and strategies for building for climate resilience, while also building capacity to ensure long-term financial viability and agroecological benefits.  The approach of the workshop and connected E-Learning courses emphasized the need to develop integrative solutions addressing the water-energy-food-forests-livelihoods nexus.
Next Steps

Next steps include working with community leaders and appropriate local and regional experts to facilitate steps towards resolving challenges expressed by workshop participants, including:
  • Continue to unite against the development of mega dams repeatedly proposed to be built on indigneous territory but benefitting external populations
  • Demonstrate the viability of Indigenous-governed micro hydro against the sporadic and expensive central grid
  • Alleviate common pitfalls of community-scale hydropower by integrating methods for greater climate resilience and agroecological benefits.

​More broadly, the successful workshop in Kalinga has led us to reflect on possibilities for future HPNET workshops.  While E-Learning has enabled us to reach practitioners in over 40 countries this year, overcoming pandemic-related challenges, we were thrilled to also resume support for field-based capacity building with the workshop in Kalinga Province.  We see much potential for further hybrid formats going forward. 


Learn More

To learn more about community hydro in Kalinga, check out StreamSide Chats Edition 4, in which we take a virtual tour of the Balbalasang micro hydro project and discuss the Indigenous governance systems that support its success. 

You can also check out the SEEED E-Learning platform to explore course offerings and read more about the SEEED Approach.
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KICK-OFF SESSION: CLIMATE RESILIENT SOLUTIONS TO HYDRO MINI-GRIDS

4/1/2022

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How can watershed stewardship enable climate resilient hydro mini-grids?  How can traditional ecological knowledge be leveraged for sustainable energy access?  

Building onto our Earth Voices series, which featured case studies of Indigenous communities who have developed resilient hydro mini-grids through watershed stewardship, we now go further to understand how rural energy systems can benefit from Indigenous values and methods for climate resilience.  We aim to do this by facilitating dialogue with Indigenous leaders and organizations seeking to integrate traditional knowledge and values into energy access solutions.

As a start, in the kick-off of our recent SEEED E-Learning course, “Climate Resilient Solutions to Hydro Mini-Grids”, we were privileged to be joined by Hon. Adrian Banie Lasimbang, Advisor for TONIBUNG and JOAS and Board Member for the Right Energy Partnership (REP) and HPNET.  Watch the recording for a deep dive discussion on climate resilience, the water-energy-food-forests-livelihoods nexus, and Indigenous rights, traditional knowledge and stewardship protocols.

The course was the second in our E-Learning series, offered as part of the SEEED Accelerator, with support from Skat Foundation, DGRV, GIZ, and WISIONS.
Learn More
  • To learn more about the ways in which Indigenous knowledge and environmental governance supports healthy watersheds and sustainable hydro mini-grids, check out our Earth Voices blog series. 
  • To stay in-the-know regarding future E-Learning opportunities, sign up for our newsletter.
  • To learn more about Right Energy Partnership, visit their website.
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E-LEARNING: CLIMATE RESILIENT SOLUTIONS + AGROECOLOGICAL BENEFITS OF HYDRO MINI-GRIDS

3/6/2022

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Beyond electricity access, community-scale hydro can have far-reaching socio-economic and ecological benefits. When managed with sustainability in mind, hydro mini-grids can support climate resilient watersheds, sustainable food production and thriving rural economies.  To support practitioners and communities to unlock these possibilities, we are offering two new E-learning courses:
  1. Climate Resilient Solutions to Hydro Mini-Grids (March 21-25, 2022)
  2. Agroecological Benefits of Hydro Mini-Grids (March 28-31, 2022)

Offered at no cost, each course consists of a live kick-off session followed by independent learning on our SEEED E-learning platform with a live Q&A session and peer-to-peer dialogue. Build your knowledge through interactive content, real-world examples and expert insight. The courses are aimed at community hydro practitioners who wish to leverage climate resilient solutions and agroecological benefits; however the content is also beneficial for those not well acquainted with hydro mini-grids, who wish to learn more about nature-based solutions for development. A technical background is not required. 

Register your interest for one or both courses no later than March 18, 2022 at the link below.
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REGISTER HERE
Curugmuncar Micro Hydro Village, Pekalongan Regency, Central Java, Indonesia.  Credit:  Asosiasi Hidro Bandung

A household rice mill powered by a hydro mini-grid in Shan State, Myanmar.  Credit:  D. Vaghela
Climate Resilient Solutions to Hydro ​Mini-Grids
​From March 21-25, 2022, we are pleased to offer a 5-day course on climate resilient solutions to hydro mini-grids. Sign up to learn how watershed management can build resilience to climate change and sustainable energy access in rural communities.

Key topics include:
  • Watersheds, climate adaptation and the water-energy-food nexus
  • Governance and environmental stewardship in Indigenous and local communities
  • Watershed management from baseline assessment to maintenance and monitoring
  • How to integrate watershed management with hydro mini-grid planning and implementation
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Estimated time commitment:
  • March 21 Kickoff Session: 1.5 hour (Optional)
  • March 25 Live Q&A and peer-to-peer dialogue: 1.5 hour (Optional)  
  • Self-work: 5-7 hours (Required)
Agroecological Benefits of Hydro Mini-Grids
​

The next course will take place from March 29-31, 2022 and will focus on agroecological benefits of hydro mini-grids.  Learn how community hydro electricity and watersheds can support sustainable food production and exchange ideas in an interactive 4-day course.

Key topics include the following, as they relate to hydro mini-grids:
  • Elements of agroecology
  • Water-energy-food nexus
  • Food forests as a regenerative solution
  • Agri-processing end uses of electricity
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Estimated time commitment:
  • March 28 Kickoff Session: 1.5 hour (Optional)
  • March 31 Live Q&A and peer-to-peer dialogue: 1.5 hours (Optional)  
  • Self-work: 5-7 hours (Required)
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SEEED E-Learning Series

The current course offerings are part of an E-learning series that we launched earlier this year, with support from Skat Foundation, DGRV, GIZ, and WISIONS.  Hosted on our all-new SEEED E-learning platform, the first course took place over 6 weeks, focusing on the fundamentals of community-scale (<1 MW) hydro mini-grids. 

The SEEED E-learning series is part of our Social Enterprise for Energy, Ecological and Economic Development (SEEED) Accelerator, an initiative to unlock the full potential of hydro mini-grid practitioners and communities in the Asia Pacific, Latin America and Sub-Saharan Africa.  The SEEED Accelerator utilizes a 4-step strategy to generate impact from knowledge exchange and advocacy activities, as shown below. 
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The SEEED approach focuses on hydro mini-grid sustainability to enable climate resilience and community empowerment beyond kilowatts.  Alongside reliable technology, sustainable watersheds are a foundational element of SEEED – because without healthy forested watersheds, reliable electricity generation is not possible, nor is sustainable community empowerment. 

Sign up for our upcoming E-learning courses to learn more about the full social-environmental potential of hydro mini-grids and best practices for getting there! 
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“HIDDEN NO MORE”: REFLECTIONS ON COMMUNITY ORGANIZING WITH VICTORIA LOPEZ

12/14/2021

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Our Hidden No More interview series spotlights women small-scale hydro practitioners who have transformed gender barriers to generate energy access for marginalized communities.

In this edition, we feature Victoria (Vicky) Lopez, former Executive Director of SIBAT (Sibol Ng Agham At Teknolohiya) and founder of RESILIENCE, in the Philippines.  Vicky has been a micro hydro practitioner and advocate for 27 years, and community mobilizer for even longer.  Reflecting on her journey, Vicky shares important insights on the power of community-led change-making, the role of women in micro hydro planning and implementation, the importance of climate resilience, and more. 


PictureMs. Vicky at HPNET's 4th Annual Gathering of Practitioners, hosted by SIBAT. Credit: HPNET, 2019.
To start, can you share a bit more about yourself, Ms. Vicky?

I've been a development worker for most of my life, for about 27 years to be exact.  Before that I was a faculty member at the National Institute of Physics at the University of the Philippines.  I joined SIBAT in 1991 as its Executive Director.  SIBAT is built as a network of many local NGOs doing appropriate technology for communities.  Development work meant being directly involved in developing appropriate technology innovations on the ground with communities.  There were two areas that I worked in: sustainable agriculture and renewable energy.  I led in developing these programs at SIBAT.  I took the lead in developing innovations in establishing and expanding sustainable agriculture in many rural parts of the country among farming communities and then we started focusing on energy in the year 2000.  We decided to focus on micro hydro because, at the time, solar was quite an expensive technology and not very appropriate for the needs of farmers; conversely micro hydro could really provide not just home lighting for the community, but also support livelihood needs. 

You’ve worked in a diverse context over your 27 years in the rural development sector.  For example you were a professor and also a community mobilizer.  How were you able to bridge the different worlds?

I got my Master's in Physics and went on directly to teach Physics at the university.  Before that I was in engineering, which focuses mostly on applications, but I loved basic theory.  With physics you can really delve into scientific concepts and theories.  Most importantly, it helped me to understand the theory of change, which has an implication or impact, not only in technology, but in society as a whole. 

When I was at the university, it was a time of social upheaval in my country.  I took part in the youth movement and activist movements – the university took part in that.  So, that was my baptism into the world of change.  Through school I learned that change is constant, and in society everything changes, and we were taught that we should participate in change-making. That was the most important lesson: that you should be confident in your ability to contribute to change for the better.  The importance of people in this change process also became very strong in my understanding of things.  So I got involved in community organizing and that helped me appreciate even more their role in change-making. 

Was there a particular person or situation that inspired you to focus on renewable energy and community hydro?

I became part of a movement, doing advocacy work in objection to big dams.  The World Bank was funding huge dams in the Northern part of the Philippines.  Well, the objection was led by communities.  They fought over several years and the people won, and the World Bank withdrew from the area.  It wasn’t only the dams, but issues related to logging as well.  When Ferdinand Marcos was president, under martial law, he allowed his cronies to exploit the resources up in the mountains, the watersheds.  And again, the Indigenous people in that area resisted and they won – the big corporation withdrew from the area.  So, I witnessed this and that, of course, was immense and very important to me.  I realized that only the people can make change.  Actually, it was a tribal community (the Butbut tribe) who articulated and requested  that a small-scale hydro be built in their community, as the alternative to the big dam. They realized the importance of hydropower, but at a scale that would not hurt them, that would not displace communities.  So they provided us the insight on what to do and that was the birth of the community-based micro hydro.  Reflecting now, I think that was, in fact, a key element of our framework for renewable energy development. 

So, basically, it was in that region where the micro hydro work started.  We provided the technical support and the community contributed as well, and that became our framework going forward.  And we leveraged this to reach out to funding agencies such as the UN Development Programme Small Grants Program and the Department of Energy, who then supported a number of our projects.  Then that experience in that area inspired other tribal, Indigenous communities in the North to build similar systems, which in turn set an example for other Indigenous provinces to do the same.

I built a team of effective people.  Not all were engineers; we especially paid attention to involving people from the ground.  In time they all learned the theories behind the civil works.  And, most importantly, we built all of the micro hydro components locally.  We were in collaboration with a university in the North, who had good people who understood community-based work.  There was one very good engineer, who has since passed away, who  really provided strong, technological knowledge to our team, who we are very thankful for.  

That was a period in the Philippines when policies were being drawn up to embark on renewable energy.  We advocated for a community-based approach, but the government was influenced by the big energy companies coming in.  So we continued our work even without policy to support us and, in the Cordillera Region, we built 27 micro hydro systems in collaboration with the communities and with local government units who recognized the role of the communities.  The people, women, men and even children, came to do the physical construction work.  The micro hydro organizations were built coming from the collective work in construction,  and each organization formulated and enforced the policies to maintain and sustain the plant over these many years.  The community organization provided the guidance to manage and sustain the micro hydro.  Certainly, women have important roles to play in managing the micro hydro organizations, such as enforcing policies, and collectively sustaining the waterways and hillsides along these. 

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Following a period of rehabilitation after some 10 years or more, all the projects there are further improved and made to function up to the present, delivering the required energy per household and per community, providing 24-hour lighting, use of household appliances and powering livelihoods.  
“With that understanding of the need to protect the water source…the communities have been able to sustain their systems for about 20 years now.”
​So we started with resisting the big dam and won.  And then the anti-logging struggle also played an important role in making the people understand the importance of defending their forests.  In that province, where most of the micro hydro projects were implemented, the communities experienced a learning process around watershed protection.  This strengthened the lappat system, the traditional system of forest protection in the indigenous communities.  With that understanding of the need to protect the water source to enable electricity generation, the communities have been able to sustain their systems for more than 20 years now. 
What kind of changes have you seen in the sector since you started out?

There are more and more people in the science and technology sector, including students and professionals, who are interested to volunteer and come with us to the field and take part. ​
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SIBAT's 2015 CBRES strategy event held with GreenPeace and the Climate Action Network. Credit: SIBAT, 2015.
​In addition, the government’s energy programs are very strong and they look down at what we’re doing; but in recent years we’ve been able to show the economic impact of our approach.  In 2018, we convened a conference addressing the impact of about 20 years of work.  Looking back, earlier on a number of us were working on advocacy in our organization but not very systematically. Of course, we wrote papers and convened big, national conferences, especially at the start when we were trying to promote our work nationally; but now there is evidence we can leverage, standing side by side, something we can show the big systems of the government. 
A few years back you established a new organization called RESILIENCE. Can you tell us about RESILIENCE and what led you to initiate it?

So, this was after my work in SIBAT.  I thought of broadening the focus to embrace climate change because that is a very big threat to societies and it will have a very adverse impact on resources, and even on the micro hydro systems that we were advocating for.  SIBAT already focused on sustainable agriculture, so we had that framework for addressing how different issues are connected, but climate is something that had to be addressed.  So I organized RESILIENCE with a few people, but it will take us some more years to develop.  With the pandemic it really had slowed down due to movement restrictions; but once the situation improves we will get back to it.  And it will involve connecting with organizations that focus on climate change and us contributing our strength in sustainable agriculture, in watershed management, as well as renewable energy.  It has yet to take off strongly, but the concept is there.
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Why is climate resilience important in micro hydro communities?

Well, it's for the protection of the systems themselves against landslides, the lowering of the water level – all those aspects that affect the resources in the communities.  Now communities are seeing an increase in specific impacts of climate change, such as typhoons and landslides.  When these things happen we have to rehabilitate the systems, strengthen the civil works, and strengthen the role of the communities in conserving the forests and maintaining the water channels.  In micro hydro communities, climate resilience encompasses a lot – the lives of the people and the protection of their innovations, successes and achievements.
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We’ve heard from other colleagues in the Philippines how Indigenous communities have long traditions of environmental stewardship.  How does that come into play?

We have seen many communities that lead in this – they have formulated community policies that govern watershed management, including the cutting of trees and protection of resources in the watershed area.  But there are communities that still have to formulate theirs. So the traditional system that’s at the forefront of sustainable watershed protection is called lapat, which is a very important policy that people hold sacred and that they abide by. That is a great tradition being sustained up until now, but not all communities have done that.  And only Indigenous communities have that; others should learn from them.

What challenges have you faced as a woman practitioner? How did you overcome these obstacles? 
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​Of course, men dominate this field, but I am intrinsically strong and I have to keep showing that strength in order for other women to be strong.  So, I have built small women’s groups in the city and while in the rural areas.  And I have tried to show by example that you can speak, that you can act, that you can contribute to the discussion and take the lead where you are needed to take lead. I think mobilizing women is my strength.  When I go to a rural community, the first people I engage are the older women.  
“Of course, men dominate this field, but I am intrinsically strong and I have to keep showing that strength in order for other women to be strong.”
You have to keep yourself strong and not be intimidated, by organizing more women to add to their number in the field.  And I've seen my former students really take strides in leadership in community work.  So reflecting back, I think it’s about leading by example.  I am also a member of the national women's organization here; I was part of building it during my younger days.  So the importance of the role of women is very strong in me.  
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Ms. Vicky (centre) at HPNET's 2nd Annual Gathering of Practitioners in Bandung, Indonesia. Credit: HPNET, 2015.
What do women leaders have to offer in energy access efforts? 

Access to energy has an impact within households on women and children.  Women are really impacted by everything that energy is used for inside the home, because of the care work that they do.  So, I have seen rural women speaking very strongly for the sustaining of the micro hydro, and even taking a strong role in the physical maintenance of the hillsides, keeping the water channels clean.  They're quite strong in that because it has an impact on their life.  Electricity reduces their work in the household, it allows the children to study longer hours, and they can go to the fields with less risk because there is light outside the homes.  

Traditionally, women are often not present at community meetings and instead stay home to care for the kinds.  But when it comes to rural electrification, we’ve seen that women are quite strong in community meetings.  The mothers come even together with the children and that provides insight into the importance of energy access to women, and the important role of women within these innovations.
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PictureMs. Vicky (left) at HPNET's 2nd Annual Gathering of Practitioners. Credit: HPNET, 2015.
What solutions could we employ to address gender challenges in the sector?

Well, the livelihood opportunities that energy access enables should be more accessible to women.  And during my time in SIBAT we worked on innovating on some machines so that women can handle them easier, with less physical strength required.  And when it comes to maintenance of the powerhouse, women can do that.  So first help develop a fair opportunity for them to be part of what is supposedly a men’s domain, especially in livelihood matters.  You can develop a specific approach to address that; maybe a women’s committee can be formed among other committees in the community, in order to address women’s particular needs.  It’s important to look at technical matters, as well as the broader impacts.  Always consider how women are affected and strengthen these aspects. 

Within SIBAT, I have advocated for technical training for women and, although we have more men, we do have women engineers.  But renewable energy development is not just technology and from the start of designing a program you have to look at the projected impact.  So, you should not leave out the participation of women, especially in designing their livelihood paths.  For example, sugar cane pressing, which is traditional in the mountain areas – with electricity they can develop the sugar industry, beyond just pressing.

Food is important to rural women, it is important to households.  So agriculture can also be strengthened by micro hydro, for instance by enabling electric machines and equipment.  Such activities have always concerned women in particular because of their role in sustaining the household.   

​What brings you hope for the future?

Again, that there will always be change.  And I know if people can really work together then they can encourage the authorities to involve them.  Right now during the pandemic, when the roles of local people are being addressed, there should be room made for community-based initiatives to build the change. I know that in my more than 30 years in this, when I began as a student activist in a small corridor of the university doing science, there had been great changes already.  But not very structurally.  But you could see the people’s minds do change. 

And our efforts in micro hydropower development should – at least up to the municipality level – make them realize that community-based efforts should be a big, big part of the Philippines national program for development.  In the mountains of Abra in Kalinga, there are 30 micro hydropower systems, not resulting from the initiative of the government, but from the initiative of the people. And there are those coming to a realization that this is something that they should study and perhaps multiply.  My hopes for that are high.​

Is there anything we have missed about your journey that you would like to share with our readers?

I look forward to seeing what big collective efforts will come about through the work of RESILIENCE, looking at all aspects, from water, to energy, economics, agriculture.  That’s something that I hope to be a part of.  
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NICARAGUA: A WELL-SPRING OF BEST PRACTICES FOR WATERSHED RESTORATION

8/18/2021

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Based on regional hindsight and best practices from local practitioners, we have identified several core elements that enable hydro mini-grid sustainability; these interlinking elements provide the basis for our initiative Social Enterprise for Energy, Ecological and Economic Development (SEEED).  Sustainable watersheds are the foundational element of SEEED because hydro mini-grids rely on, and can contribute to, the health of forest landscapes.

Healthy forested watersheds support consistent flow year-round, mitigate erosion and landslides, and contribute to climate resilience.  Small-scale hydropower can incentivize communities to tap into and revive traditional ecological knowledge, in order to protect and restore watersheds and enable reliable energy access.  (See our Earth Voices feature series for examples of indigenous communities that are harnessing the interconnected benefits of watershed restoration and small-scale hydro.)

To better understand best practices for integrating watershed restoration and community hydropower, we look to insights from Nicaragua.  In the video presentation provided below, we had the privilege to present the exemplary work of the Rural Development Workers Association Benjamin Linder (or ATDER-BL) and the Association for the Development of Electrical Service in Bocay (or APRODELBO).  ATDER-BL and APRODELBO have been advancing rural energy access in Nicaragua since 1987, while restoring many acres of watersheds in partnership with local communities.
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Bocay and El Cuá mini hydropower sites on map of Nicaragua. Source: UNIDO, 2019.
   
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A cacao plantation supports the health of a micro-watershed and increases farmers’ incomes. Credit: ATDER-BL
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Clearing sediment from the reservoir as part of a watershed restoration effort in El Bote. Credit: ATDER-BL
​We hope that the presentation will inform and inspire watershed restoration efforts among practitioners, elsewhere.

Presentation developed by ATDER-BL, APRODELBO and HPNET 
Presented by HPNET Secretariat member Jorge Nieto Jiménez
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EARTH VOICES:  FROM KALASH, PAKISTAN

12/23/2020

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Our Earth Voices feature series explores how small-scale hydropower promotes ecological integrity and community well-being. Each edition highlights an indigenous community that practices environmental sustainability and conservation through community-scale hydropower. 

In this edition of Earth Voices, environmental economist Mr. Hashim Zaman takes you to the Kalasha Valleys, in the heart of the Hindukush mountain range of Pakistan, where community-based mini hydropower (< 1MW) enables community-led initiatives and social enterprise development.  For the indigenous Kalasha, this has helped build climate resilience as well as preserve their traditions and culture in one of the most isolated and inaccessible mountainous regions of Pakistan. ​​

Note to readers:  While our earlier Earth Voices case studies were developed using interviews, due to lack of direct access to the remote Kalash hydro communities at this time, we leveraged the next best option -- secondary research.  We hope that you still find the article an insightful read on how community-scale hydropower has impacted the Kalasha.

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A jeep enroute to Kalash valley. Credit: Zindagi-zoq-e-Safar

Descendants of Alexander the Great
​
Tucked away in the mighty Hindukush range resides an ancient tribe known as the Kalasha. The indigenous communities of Kalash reside amidst the three mountain valleys of Bamburet, Rumboor and Birir, located in the Chitral District of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa province of northern Pakistan. [1] 
PictureKalasha girls celebrate during a festival. Credit: Kamal Zain
The Kalasha form the smallest minority community residing in Pakistan. They are a unique tribe with a distinct language, folklore, tribal customs, and a polytheistic religion. [2] The Kalasha believe that they are descendants of Alexander the Great, with some evidence suggesting that they originated in Syria. There are also traces of a possible history with the Indo-Aryans and the equestrian tribesmen, who roamed the Black and Caspian seas and migrated as far as South Asia.​ [1] 

The way of life for the last of the Kalasha​
​

PictureKalasha family in Rumbur Valley. Credit: Sanam Saeed
Many historians have expressed their concern over the declining Kalasha culture. Once large in number, the Kalasha population has dwindled down to nearly 5,000 inhabitants. [2] Preservation of local traditions and rituals has diminished, partly owing to locals exhibiting astounding interfaith harmony with surrounding regions. [1] Both forced and voluntary conversions to Islam, coupled with youth migrating to cities in search of better opportunities, has further exacerbated the issue. The majority still rely on traditional sources of livelihood including livestock, small-scale cultivation, and wage labour. [3] However, owing to growing tourism, the Kalasha have transitioned toward a cash-based economy and established local shops, restaurants and hotels. [2] 

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A local store in Bumburet Valley. Credit: Waleed Ahmad
Most infrastructure is still basic. Lack of energy access has promoted traditional wood burning, kerosene oil, lanterns, and candles across the Kalasha Valleys. [2] For decades, the locals have used firewood and kerosene stoves to cook food, leading to respiratory diseases such as chronic bronchitis and pneumonia. [4]     
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A Kalasha home in Bumburet Valley. Credit: Waleed Ahmad
​Environmental degradation and glacial flooding
​

Forest products provide a major source of income for inhabitants of the valley. Wood, pine nuts, chilgoza, fruits, and medicinal plants are traded for much-needed income. [3] Moreover, the Kalasha see the forest as vital to their cultural survival and have fought to protect their rights to the land. For instance, from the 1980’s into the early 1990’s the Kalasha of the Rumbur Valley were involved in a 10-year court case to protect the forest for future generations. [5] A local who spearheaded the case stated that, “if we can turn the valleys into a reserve for future people, then the Kalash will survive for another 1,000 years”. [6] 
Nature continues to be central to the Kalasha’s spiritual beliefs and plays an important role in their daily lives. [6] Deforestation for timber and fuelwood not only disrupts the health of the watershed but triggers climate induced disasters such as glacial lake outburst floods (GLOF). Floods and erratic monsoon patterns lead to major destruction of crops and infrastructure, disruption in energy supply and loss of livelihoods. [7] 
​
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Kalasha harvest festival hats. Credit: Martin Jung
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Bumburet River and autumn colors shine across the valley. Credit: Hassan Ali
Of the 3,044 glacial lakes in northern Pakistan, 33 are considered to be at high risk of bursting. [8] There have been GLOF events happening every year now, but the havoc wreaked by the floods of 2011 and 2015 remains unparalleled. Houses, bridges, orchards, hotels, water channels, shops, farms and roads were either completely or partially destroyed. [7] Recalling the loss and damage borne by the community, Shaheen Gul, a young Kalasha woman states “Our fields with corn and beans that were ready for harvest and fruit trees like walnuts and apricots are gone as they were near the nullah[stream]”. [7] A local farmer, Hussain claims, “Our culture was already under threat, and now these floods have destroyed our crops and orchards. We will have to buy food from the bazaar and store it if we are to survive this winter”. [7] 
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A broken bridge destroyed in glacial floodwater. Credit: Rina Saeed Khan
The civil works of the micro hydro system, water pipelines and the various irrigation channels of Rumbur, Gambak, and Brone villages were partially destroyed. [7] Moreover, the floods also destroyed the only primary school in the valley and the children were forced to study under an ad-hoc open roof environment for a long time. [7] The Pakistan Tourism Development Corporation (PTDC) motel was in ruins too, as the gushing streams turned into a surging river, destroying the wooden chalets and the garden of the motel. [7]

Glacial floods have changed entire landscapes, posing serious risks around soil erosion, species migration and food insecurity. A local resident attributes the origin of these floods to melting glaciers in the region, explaining, “There are around four glaciers high up above in these mountains overlooking the valley. Glacial floods came down along with rainwater, carrying large boulders and we even saw large chunks of black ice”. [7] However, a disaster risk reduction expert from Chitral felt that torrential rainfall was the main cause of the flooding. [7] Similarly, a climate change expert attributed the cause of floods to El Nino (periodic warming of the ocean), which leads to erratic monsoon rainfalls, accelerates snow melt and subsequently triggers glacial lakes. [7] A local blamed deforestation and attributed the intensity of these floods to climate change. He explained, “It was still warm by the end of September this year, while the summers would usually end in August.” [7] 
​
​

Hydro mini-grids:  A solution for climate resilience and energy access
​

Building climate resilience and ensuring sustainable development requires retaining biodiversity and investment in nature-based solutions. Hydro mini-grids are a nature-based solution because their functionality depends on healthy forests.  Thriving forests result in resilient catchment areas that provide maximum flow and erosion protection to the hydro mini-grid.

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An aerial shot of Rumbur Valley. Credit: M. Ansari
Sarujalik, a village amidst the Bumburet valley in Ayun local council, had always remained deprived of basic facilities. Having no access to main-grid electricity, the communities were using diesel generators, along with a rudimentary MHP which didn't meet the electricity demand. Moreover, being the hub of seasonal festivals, the village faced energy shortages throughout the year. [10]
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Local households during a power breakdown. Credit: Shah Tahsin Anwar
The situation led to local communities approaching a reputed NGO called the Sarhad Rural Support Programme (SRSP) for support in developing a community-owned mini-hydro system. In 2011, SRSP designed and constructed a separate 200kW mini hydro system to be operated by the Sarujalik community in partnership with SRSP. With the financial support of EU, the system was later upgraded in 2013-14, with improved and more efficient mechanical equipment, civil works and extension of transmission lines. The system uses two locally manufactured cross flow T-15 turbines and the total system cost was PKR 12.84 million. 
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Sarujalik Mini Hydro. Credit: SRSP
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The 200 kW Sarujalik Mini Hydro system. Credit: SRSP

​A healthy and connected community ​
The Sarujalik mini hydropower system has 592 domestic and 111 commercial connections, providing electricity to almost 6,000 individuals across the valley. [10] Previously, the lack of reliable electricity services deprived the Kalasha of basic facilities, with negative impacts on their health and education. [1] The communities that were earlier using candles are now using telephones, refrigerators, and Internet facilities. [2] The local general stores are stocking their supplies in refrigerators, while uninterrupted electricity supply has enabled local businesses, such as welding and tailoring shops, to operate more optimally. [3]
​
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Kalasha festival dance. Credit: Kamal Zain
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Local vendors operate through the evening using MHP electricity. Credit: SRSP
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Kalasha women greet each other. Credit: Tahsin Shah
Apart from monetary benefits, Kalasha are now enjoying a relatively healthier life. As some vaccines are temperature-sensitive and require cold storage, refrigerators have made it possible to vaccinate the population, and ensure a healthier and happier community. [1] Communication has also improved, as people are able to charge their phones at home and stay connected with their families, as well as access information and news from across the world. 
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A Kalasha woman able to communicate via phone thanks to electricity access. Credit: SRSP
Education in a remote valley

In these times of a global pandemic, community-scale hydropower has not only enabled online-distance learning, but has paved the way for a more informed community in one of the most isolated regions on Earth. Previously, teachers had difficulty conducting classes due to insufficient electricity in the school. Now, with improved energy access, there is evidence of more effective knowledge transmission and learning amongst students. [9] According to a schoolteacher, “students access new knowledge on the Internet and not only they become more informed, but they also share that information with us, and we learn from them too”. [9]
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Kalasha children. Credit: Tahsin Shah

​The community-led hydropower has enabled schools to initiate an online enrollment system, allowing students to register for various national examinations. 
[9] Students are now able to access international research publications and supplement their existing knowledge with scientific and evidence-based research. [9] 

​Access to clean energy has also lowered the rate of rural migration to cities. A local woman feels “people used to leave the village as their studies suffered without electricity. When all their needs are met at home, why would they leave?”. [11] ​

Mini hydropower and Kalasha women 

Community-scale hydro has been a blessing for the women across the valley. Traditional wood-burning stoves have been replaced by more efficient electric cookstoves, and other electric appliances have reduced drudgery from laborious housework. [1] 
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Kalasha women amidst the Hindukush mountains. Credit: Tahsin Shah
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MHP-powered washing machine. Credit: SRSP
Earlier, women were mostly occupied with  housekeeping, e.g. washing and cooking, but now invest their skills and energy in various productive end uses, such as operating their own shops and designing traditional items for sale to tourists. [1] According to the CEO of SRSP, Mr. Shahzada ul Mulk, “When we brought light to one village, one old lady said to me, ‘Son, you have just added 15 years to my life’”. [11] 
​

Community-driven sustainability 

SRSP’s bottom-up and community-driven rural development approach has helped the community build community-owned social enterprises, resulting in reliable income generation for the Kalasha. SRSP has ensured active community decision-making at all stages of MHP projects, from identifying potential sites and developing community structures, to keeping the system operational and participating in the cost-benefit sharing of the system. For long-term access to clean and green energy, committees have been set up to evaluate and provide connections to households, collect fees and ensure periodic maintenance of units. [10] ​
SRSP has implemented 353 community-scale hydropower systems with a total installed capacity of over 29 MW, providing electricity to an estimated 900,000 individuals mostly in off-grid mountainous regions. [10] The founder of SRSP Mr. Masood ul Mulk says, “We do not see ourselves as energy generators but as an organization that gives hope to people who have been devastated by conflict and floods. Electricity is a way to harmonize and bring communities together. Providing light is just the beginning of the process of building up communities.” [11]  Learn more about SRSP’s award-winning work in this video.
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Ayun MHP construction. Credit: SRSP

​As the global pandemic persists and we enter the UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration, climate-resilient and nature-based solutions become imperative. The role of community-scale hydropower in enabling clean energy access, uplifting livelihoods, and ultimately building resilience is vital in the context of the global climate crisis. We can learn from and be inspired by the resilience of indigenous local communities such as the Kalasha, and strive towards a more equitable and a sustainable future. 
​
Picture
Kalasha girls looking out of their traditional home. Credit: Tahsin Shah
References:
[1] http://documents1.worldbank.org/curated/zh/960841551256802132/pdf/Indigenous-Peoples-Planning-Framework.pdf 
​[2] 
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4570283/pdf/main.pdf
[3] http://kp.gov.pk/uploads/2019/04/IPPF_Pub_Disclosure3.pdf
[4] https://cmjournal.biomedcentral.com/track/pdf/10.1186/s13020-018-0204-y.pdf 
[5] http://www.icwa.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/CVR-27.pdf 
[6] 
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/shared/spl/hi/picture_gallery/05/south_asia_kalash_spring_festival/html/3.stm
[7] https://climate.earthjournalism.net/2015/12/03/kalash-valleys-struggle-to-survive-post-floods.html 
[8] https://www.pk.undp.org/content/pakistan/en/home/projects/Glof-II.html 
[9] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wDFCdius3KQ&feature=emb_logo 
[10] http://www1.srsp.org.pk/site/alternate-energy-new/ 
​
[11] https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2015/jun/12/pakistan-electricity-village-micro-hydro-ashden-award 

Developed by Hashim Zaman, Environmental Economist
Content support from Atif Zeeshan Rauf, Sarad Rural Support Programme
Editing support from the HPNET Secretariat
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MADAGASCAR:  MICRO AND MINI HYDRO INITIATIVES OF THE ASSOCIATION DES INGÉNIEURS POUR LE DÉVELOPPEMENT DES ENERGIES RENOUVELABLES (AIDER)

12/21/2020

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The electrification rate in Madagascar remains very low, averaging 15 percent nationally, 8.1 percent in rural areas and 60.7 percent in urban areas. While biomass, diesel, and fossil fuels dominate the energy mix across the country, there exists a great potential for small-scale hydro systems. Only 1.9 percent of Madagascar’s hydropower potential has been utilized, and yet hydropower generates approximately 68 percent of the electricity in the country.  Its economy depends on tourism and the cultivation of paddy, coffee, vanilla, and cloves, which could be further enhanced through increased energy access.

Small-scale hydropower also presents great potential for ecosystem restoration in Madagascar. Healthy watersheds are critical to sustainable community-based hydropower, as mature forest cover ensures consistent stream-flow, mitigates erosion, and builds resilience against the impacts of climate change.  As such, hydro mini-grids are a nature-based solution that promotes watershed strengthening. Investment in nature-based solutions like small-scale hydro can play a critical role in building climate resilience and safeguarding biodiversity in Madagascar, where more than 90% of original forests have been lost.

One of the leading small-scale hydro implementation organizations in Madagascar is the Association des Ingénieurs pour le Développement des Energies Renouvelables (AIDER).  Read on to learn about AIDER’s efforts to advance small-scale hydro in Madagascar.

Established in 2008, AIDER is an association of about 20 multidisciplinary engineers working in the field of renewable energy in Madagascar. AIDER works on studies, design and implementation of hydroelectric and solar power plants. AIDER works in partnership with the Agency for the Development of Rural Electrification (ADER), Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ), the Tany Meva Foundation, the Institute for Energy Management (IME) at the University of Antananarivo, the Higher Institute of Technology of Antananarivo (IST), the Group for Research and Technological Exchange (GRET) and the Albert Schweitzer Ecological Centre (CEAS).
Two 7.5 kW micro hydro systems in Andriantsemboka. Credit: AIDER
Switchboard for one of two 50 kW MHPs in Sarobaratra. Credit: AIDER
Mini hydro in Amboasary – Anjozorobe. Credit: AIDER
Locally-developed micro hydropower

AIDER has built eight MHPs, ranging from 7.5 kW to 100 kW, electrifying a total of about 450 households in rural municipalities of the Analamanga and Atsimo Andrefana regions.  Five of the projects are owned and operated by AIDER.  All of the systems use turbines that have been locally manufactured by AIDER, thereby having generated local employment.  In addition to providing reliable electricity to households, the MHPs power town halls, police stations, clinics, churches, schools, and street lighting. ​
Partnership for feasibility and design studies

Since 2009 AIDER has carried out approximately 30 studies for micro hydropower projects (MHPs), including hydrological studies.   In 2018 AIDER began collaboration with the Swiss Resource Centre and Consultancies for Development (Skat).  On behalf of GIZ’s Renewable Energy Electrification Project (PERER) in Madagascar, Skat partnered with AIDER to conduct the following.  

  • Feasibility of study of the Amabatotoa site, where the options of a 100 kW off-grid project, 2.3 MW grid-connected project, and 6 MW grid-connected reservoir project in the Upper Matsiatra Region 
 
  • Feasibility study of the Ivato off-grid site of 100 kW in the Amoron'i Mania Region 
 
  • Detailed study of the off-grid Sahandaso Mini Hydro Project of 240 kW  in the Atsinanana Region, including developing the MV line plans, single line diagrams, design calculations and cost estimates
​
AIDER carried out hydrological analyses, topographical surveys, installation and operation of the gauging stations, installation of pressure probes, and recording tables with iridium antenna for auto data transmission.  It also conducted flow measurements and analysis using the propeller method, conductivity meters, and an acoustic doppler current profiler (ADCP).


Topographical survey of cross section. Credit: AIDER
Gauging station at Sahandaso with automatic data transmission. Credit: AIDER
Hydrological station at the Ambatotoa site. Credit: AIDER
Hydrological station at the Ivato site. Credit: AIDER
Flow measurement using the propeller method. Credit: AIDER
Flow measurement with conductivity meter at the Sahandaso site. Credit: AIDER
Mini hydropower for local industry and agri processing

AIDER and SKAT are currently collaborating with CEAS and UNDO to develop a detailed design study for the development of the Andriambe mini hydro project, having a potential of 225 kW and located on the Nanangainana River in Mandialaza. 

The project aim is to provide clean and affordable electricity to three villages, in terms of household needs, critical social infrastructure, and productive end uses, such as carpentry workshops, feed mills, metal workshops and food processing. 

Ginger processing presents a particularly promising opportunity to generate income in the villages. Ginger is currently sold as a raw product to passing traders at a very low price.  Affordable electricity will enable the production of a higher-value product.  
Harvested ginger sold raw. Credit: AIDER
Carpentry workshop. Credit: AIDER
The site’s catchment area is almost completely located within the Andasibe-Mantadia National Park. Although part of it is partly deforested for agriculture use, forest conservation will lead to a healthy watershed that is vital  for the sustainability of the MHP. Further, the project will incorporate corresponding awareness-raising activities on appropriate management methods for local communities residing in the catchment area.
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The densely forested catchment area. Credit: AIDER
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EARTH VOICES: FROM LUKU WINGIR, INDONESIA

10/6/2020

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Our blog series Earth Voices presents the linkages between community-scale hydropower, indigenous-led conservation and sustainable development. The series presents case studies of how community-scale hydropower reinforces environmental traditions by incentivizing watershed strengthening, which in turn enable reliable and clean electricity.

In this edition of Earth Voices, we feature the micro hydro village of Luku Wingir, located on the island of Sumba, in East Nusa Tenggara province. Luku Wingir was selected as a pilot village for the Village Model Initiative for Gender Integration in Renewable Energy Sector program, which accelerates gender mainstreaming in the renewable energy sector in Sumba. Initiated by Hivos and the Ministry of Women Empowerment and Child Protection, the multi-stakeholder program allows inter-sectoral collaboration, including government agencies (from village to national level), local communities, local NGO, and academics.

We sat  with Mrs. Rita Kefi from Hivos Southeast Asia, and local civil society representatives, namely Mrs. Trouce Landukara and Mr. Aryanto Umbu Kudu to learn more about the life of the Luku Wingir community and the socio-economic impact of its community-based micro hydro project.

The Indonesian translation of the article can be found here.

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'Rumah Panggung' traditional home in Luku Wingir village. Credit: Hivos Southeast Asia
Energy access in Indonesia

​Indonesia is the largest archipelago country in Southeast Asia with a population of 250 million. Indonesia has high energy needs with challenging natural conditions. Even though the Indonesian government notes that the electrification ratio in Indonesia has reached 99%, in fact several regions in Indonesia still have difficulty in accessing energy. One of the contributing factors is the imbalance between urban and rural infrastructure development. There are still around 433 villages in Indonesia that have not yet been electrified (President Joko Widodo's speech 3 April 2020), including 325 Papuan villages, 102 West Papua villages, 5 villages in East Nusa Tenggara, and 1 village in Maluku. However, the definition of a village being ‘electrified’ varies.
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Luku Wingir village landscape. Credit: Rita Kefi

​Getting to know the Luku Wingir community

Luku Wingir village, an area of 51.8 square km, has a hilly natural landscape with considerably dry land. To get to Luku Wingir it takes about 1.5 hours from Waingapu, the capital of East Sumba district.  Although since 2018 road conditions have improved for car and motorbike accessibility, the route is not traversed by public transportation and therefore access is still limited.

There are about 400 people living in Luku Wingir village, with almost the same ratio of men and women. Most households cultivate corn, cassava, vanilla and cashew nuts for selling to Waingapu. Apart from farming, some people raise pigs, cows, buffaloes, horses and goats. The agricultural and livestock systems there still use traditional methods, so the quantity and quality of farming and raising products are not optimal. Modern agricultural equipment has not yet entered the village, it is only limited to chemical fertilizers. “As for livestock, the villagers are not familiar with the livestock fattening method. If only they are trained and equipped with the knowledge about this, it will help to increase the meat production and increase their income” said Mr. Aryanto who has closely worked with the farmers in the village.


Most households rely on traditional biomass stoves for cooking, while a few have been provided biogas stoves by the government. For lighting, several houses are equipped with solar panels, some of which have been funded by the village government.
​

Before Christianity arrived in Sumba, the Anawaru tribe in Luku Wingir followed the local religion, namely Marapu. Marapu adherents worship the spirits of their ancestors, and they practiced religious rituals that are closely related to nature. For example, there are prayer ceremonies in the forest, near the springs and near old trees to respect their ancestors and nature. Even though this ritual has now disappeared, people still have a close spiritual relationship with nature, and embrace values ​​that are in harmony with nature.

Micro hydro and economic opportunities

Due to inadequate infrastructure problems, Luku Wingir is one of the villages of Sumba that has difficulty accessing energy. The community had been relying on kerosene/ oil lamps until 2015.

Life in Luku Wingir has changed when it started receiving electricity  from a 26 kW micro hydro system installed in the neighboring village of Waimbidi village. The project was funded by the  regional government budget. In the construction and development process, both Waimbidi and Luku Wingir communities were directly involved. They were both also provided with training for maintenance. Thus, there is a sense of shared responsibility among the two villages to maintain the micro hydro. For instance, during a flood the two communities worked together to rehabilitate the micro hydro plant.

Women were not involved in the construction phase nor the regular maintenance of the micro hydro. Women are more actively involved in the utilization and operation of micro hydro. For example, in Luku Wingir’s village-owned enterprise (BUMDes), there is a women-led business unit called the energy and natural resources unit which is responsible for collecting electricity fees and directing the funds to the village cooperative. This fund will be used to cover the operational costs for technicians and micro hydro’s maintenance.

In the last four years, electricity access has been relatively stable for 24 hours. In the village itself, there are 25 households that are not yet connected to the micro hydro due to their location being far from the center of the village.  Even though not all households can enjoy access to electricity evenly, the micro hydro has benefited the village economy. Households can carry out productive activities at night. In addition, the quality of education has also improved because children's learning time outside of school hours has also increased.

​​The impacts of climate change and how society adapts

Climate change has had a real impact on the lives of the Luku Wingir community. Corn planting that normally could be done in December, now has shifted to February or March. Moreover, because the supply of native Sumba seedlings has decreased, the farmers were forced to use seeds from outside Sumba (e.g. hybrid plants) that are not adaptive to the Sumba’s natural environment. This affects the quality of crop production, and consequently impacts farmers' income.

Climate change, however, has encouraged the community to adapt. Due to the threat of unstable food supply, households use their backyards to grow food crops for their own consumption and for sale within and outside the village. Being self-sufficient in food supplies also helps the community to thrive during the COVID-19 pandemic. Given its location, the Luku Wingir communities have limited contact with big cities and tourists. So far it is relatively safe and trade activity remains as usual. 
​

In addition, the traditional Sumba weaving group has been reactivated, as a new business to support income generation. Sumba weaving is still handmade in the traditional way. The dyes used are also natural dyes from leaves, roots, and fruits.

PictureCollective community contribution. Credit: Rita Kefi
Recommendation to address challenges to the economic development 

Luku Wingir is a fairly developed village compared to five other villages in the surrounding area. There are several factors driving this development. Luku Wingir benefits from its location in a sub-district village. Moreover, since it was selected as a gender-energy model village, it received attention from the government. Furthermore, it also benefits from  the formation of OPD (Regional Apparatus Organization) in East Sumba and the supporting program that aims at accelerating the village's economic development.

However, there are still challenges that hamper Luku Wingir’s economic growth. In our conversation, Mrs. Trouce and Mr. Aryanto proposed a couple of recommendations to address these challenges. 

  • Equitable and inclusive energy access
    Equitable access to energy for all houses in the village is fundamental for inclusive economic growth. Not only will this ensure  all families have access to electricity and clean cooking, but it will also enhance farming, agri processing and market activities.. Providing electricity to the 25 un-electrified households requires extending the distribution line of the existing micro hydro system. This would mean creating a road, which will also enhance transportation and logistics routes, opening additional market access routes. 

  • Skills-building for agri-processing
    Developing the villagers’ skills will help to increase the value of their agricultural products Luku Wingir has great economic potential that can be developed, such as processing cashew nuts, bamboo, or creative economy (such as ikat weaving for example). However, the limited skills of the community prevent the village from developing added value to the products it produces.
​
As a pilot village, Luku Wingir has successfully set an example of how energy access using community-based micro hydro has helped to enhance the local economy, and encouraged two villages communities to work hand-in-hand, while preserving nature and respecting the local values of gotong royong (collective actions). 

While every village has its own challenges and requires a tailored solution, the best practices from the case of Luku Wingir may be adopted elsewhere, especially for neighboring villages that can mutually benefit from a micro hydro project.  


Content provided by Lina Noviandari and Rita Kefi at HIVOS Southeast Asia
Composed by Cherika Hardjakusumah, with editing support the HPNET Secretariat
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EARTH VOICES: FT. KAMPUNG BUAYAN, AN INDIGENOUS MICRO HYDRO COMMUNITY IN MALAYSIAN BORNEO

12/27/2019

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Last quarter we launched our new feature series, Earth Voices, to put a spotlight on indigenous micro hydro communities who are sustainably managing communal resources and successfully empowering themselves through energy access. 

This quarter, we chose to feature the community of Kampung Buayan, a remote village located in the Ulu Papar region of Sabah, in Malaysian Borneo.

[See Malay translation below; Lihat terjemahan Bahasa Melayu di bawah.]
Buayan is the ancestral home of the Dusun, an Orang Asal tribe who have inhabited the area for at least 6 generations. (“Orang Asal” is Malay for “Original People” and is used to refer to Indigenous peoples.) 

Tucked away in the rainforest within Crocker Range Biosphere Reserve, Buayan is a long and bumpy drive from the nearest town. The journey into Ulu Papar is most challenging at this time of year, during monsoon season, when muddy potholes impede even the most powerful 4-wheel-drive. However, the potentially stress-inducing ride on a washed out road leads to a tranquil haven. Visitors are consistently awed by the natural beauty surrounding Buayan, and by the hospitable and vibrant community who call this place their home.

Buayan is made all the more special by its strong and charismatic leader, Irene, who became the first female Village Head in Ulu Papar in 2018.
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Sunset over Papar River. Source: M. Rock
The Role of the River

Buayan sits on the Papar River, which plays a critical role in the rainforest ecosystem, as well as in the lives of Orang Asal communities in the area. The river, and the mangrove palms that line its shores, support rich biodiversity within a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve that is home to various endangered species. The river provides freshwater fish and water for irrigation for the farming communities of Ulu Papar. The river also provides communities with electricity, through locally-developed micro hydropower energy systems. 

Since 2004, numerous hydropower microgrids and minigrids have been implemented in Ulu Papar through partnerships between local organizations and community leaders. The indigenous-lead organization TONIBUNG (or “Friends of Village Development”) has been a key player in implementing community-based systems in 7 villages in Ulu Papar, working closely with the local communities in planning, construction and maintenance. 
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In 2009, a 10kW MHP was commissioned in Buayan, which provided the village with power for 10 years. Earlier this year, TONIBUNG commissioned a new, upgraded MHP which now provides power to both Buayan and the neighbouring village of Kampung Tiku. 


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Children of Kg Buayan and Kg Tiku. Source: Save Ulu Papar (https://www.facebook.com/SaveUluPapar/)
Powering Enterprise

The implementation of the MHP has had far-reaching impacts on life in Buayan. Energy access has impacted day-to-day activities within the household, education system and local livelihoods. It has powered income-generating activities; for instance, the MHP spurred the development of homestays, which have brought in revenue from volunteer/tour groups and hikers trekking along the Salt Trail that runs through Ulu Papar. Currently, a group of Buayan youth are in the process of establishing an ecotourism “glamping” business, after participating in a year-long program on community-based, sustainability-focused entrepreneurship, run by Energy Action Partners.
Tagal Sungai

Beyond improving livelihoods and generating jobs, the MHP has had a positive environmental impact, as it has incentivized the community to protect their watershed. With support from Green Empowerment, the community established Tagal Sungai -- a set of community protocols around the community’s interaction with the river and catchment area. These protocols include rules of use and entry; for instance, regulations (and associated repercussions) around who is allowed to harvest forest products in the area, which species are/aren’t allowed to be harvested, etc. 

Tagal Sungai was formally recorded and established in Buayan in connection with the MHP. However, these protocols build upon traditional knowledge and conservation practices that have been observed for generations in Ulu Papar.
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Visitors hiking through Kampung Buayan. Source: M. Rock
“Damn the Dam”

The community safeguards the local environment in various ways; in addition to observing conservation protocols among themselves, the people of Ulu Papar have fought to protect their land from the threat of resource development and large-scale infrastructure projects.

In 2009, the Sabah State Government announced plans to build the Kaiduan Dam (since renamed the Papar Dam). This mega-dam project would flood the Ulu Papar valley and forcibly relocate the communities living there. 9 villages would be affected, accounting for more than 1000 people. For 10 years, the people of Ulu Papar have fought tirelessly to stop the mega-dam and save their home from destruction. A key player has been the Taskforce against Kaiduan/Papar Dam (TAKaD), a grassroots action group formed by communities opposed to the dam.

Earlier this year, the government reaffirmed plans to proceed, backtracking after having previously cancelled the project. Yet, the people of Ulu Papar are determined to never surrender in what has become a long and arduous fight to protect their home. 
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Local activists protesting Papar Dam. Source: Save Ulu Papar (https://www.facebook.com/SaveUluPapar/)
Moving Toward Environmental Justice

Buayan is a unique place in many ways. However the community’s fight against the threat of a mega-dam and displacement is, sadly, all too common. In the context of a global climate emergency, it is now more critical than ever to advocate for environmental justice, and for the rights of those who safeguard their local ecosystems.
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Community gathering to advocate against Papar Dam. Source: Save Ulu Papar (https://www.facebook.com/SaveUluPapar/)

Further Reading + Sign the Petition!
  • Taskforce's memo proposes alternative to Papar Dam
  • Petition: Stop Papar Dam

-- Versi Bahasa Melayu --
Kampung Buayan adalah sebuah kampung terpencil yang terletak di kawasan Ulu Papar di negeri Sabah, Pulau Borneo, Malaysia. Kampung ini merupakan warisan pusaka orang Dusun, iaitu sebuah suku Orang Asal yang telah mendiami kawasan tersebut selama sekurang-kurangnya 6 generasi. ("Orang Asal" adalah perkataan Bahasa Melayu untuk "Original People" dan merujuk kepada Orang “indigenous”.)

Terletak di dalam Rizab Biosfera Banjaran Crocker, perjalanan ke Kampung Buayan dari bandar terdekat mengambil masa yang lama dan penuh dengan lekak-lekuk. Perjalanan ke Ulu Papar adalah paling mencabar menjelang tibanya musim tengkujuh, apabila jalan yang penuh dengan lubang berlumpur menjadi halangan yang hebat, bahkan untuk kereta pacuan 4 roda yang paling berkuasa. Namun begitu, perjalanan meredah jalan-jalan yang rosak dan yang mampu mencabar jiwa itu berakhir dengan sapaan sebuah persekitaran yang tenang. Para pengunjung selalu terpegun dengan keindahan semulajadi di sekitar Kampung Buayan, serta sebuah komuniti yang penuh ramah dan tamah yang telah menyulami kehidupan mereka dengan alam sekitar.

Buayan dibuat lebih istimewa oleh pemimpinnya yang kuat dan berkarisma, Irene, yang menjadi Kepala Desa perempuan pertama di Ulu Papar di 2018.


Perenan Sungai
Kampung Buayan terletak di Sungai Papar, sebatang sungai yang memainkan peranan penting dalam ekosistem hutan hujan serta kehidupan masyarakat Orang Asal di kawasan itu. Sungai ini, dan pokok-pokok bakau yang tumbuh di tepi sungai, menyokong biodiversiti yang kaya di dalam Rizab Biosfera UNESCO yang juga merupakan sebuah habitat untuk pelbagai spesis terancam. Sungai ini membekalkan ikan air tawar dan air untuk tujuan pengairan bagi komuniti pertanian di Ulu Papar. Sungai ini juga membekalkan komuniti tersebut dengan tenaga elektrik melalui sebuah sistem tenaga hidro mikro yang telah dibangunkan oleh penduduk tempatan.

Sejak tahun 2004, banyak sistem mikro hidro telah dilaksanakan di Ulu Papar melalui perkongsian yang terjalin antara organisasi-organisasi tempatan dan ketua-ketua masyarakat. Sebuah organisasi yang diketuai oleh Orang Asal, iaitu TONIBUNG (atau "Kawan Pembangunan Desa"), telah memainkan peranan utama dalam pelaksanaan sistem berasaskan komuniti di 7 buah kampung di Ulu Papar, dengan kerjasama yang rapat dengan masyarakat setempat dalam hal perancangan, pembinaan dan penyelenggaraan.

Pada tahun 2009, sebuah MHP (tenaga hidro mikro) 10kW telah dilaksanakan di Kampung Buayan, dan telah membekalkan kampung tersebut dengan kuasa selama 10 tahun. Awal tahun ini, TONIBUNG telah melaksanakan sebuah MHP baharu yang telah dinaiktaraf dan kini membekal kuasa kepada Kampung Buayan dan Kampung Tiku yang berdekatan.


Kesan MHP
Pelaksanaan MHP mempunyai kesan yang meluas terhadap kehidupan di Kampung Buayan. Akses tenaga telah memberi kesan terhadap kegiatan seharian di dalam rumah, sistem pendidikan dan punca pendapatan tempatan. Akses tenaga telah membekalkan kuasa untuk aktiviti-aktiviti yang menjana pendapatan; sebagai contoh, MHP tersebut telah merangsang pembangunan homestay, lantas menjanakan pendapatan hasil daripada kumpulan sukarelawan / pelancongan dan para pengembara di trek sepanjang Salt Trail yang melalui Ulu Papar. Pada masa ini, sekumpulan belia dari Kampung Buayan sedang berada dalam proses menubuhkan  sebuah perniagaan "glamping" ekopelancongan, setelah mengambil bahagian dalam sebuah program sepanjang tahun berkenaan keusahawanan berasaskan komuniti dan bertumpukan kelestarian yang telah diadakan oleh Energy Action Partners.

Tagal Sungai
Selain meningkatkan kehidupan dan menjana pekerjaan, MHP mempunyai kesan alam sekitar yang positif, kerana MHP telah memberi insentif kepada komuniti untuk melindungi kawasan tadahan air mereka. Dengan sokongan daripada Green Empowerment, komuniti tersebut telah menubuhkan sistem Tagal Sungai - sebuah set protokol komuniti berkenaan interaksi komuniti dengan kawasan sungai dan tadahan air. Protokol-protokol ini merangkumi peraturan-peraturan tentang penggunaan dan kemasukan; contohnya peraturan-peraturan (dan akibat-akibat yang berkaitan) tentang siapa yang dibenarkan untuk menuai hasil hutan di kawasan tersebut, spesies yang boleh / tidak boleh diburu, dll.

Tagal Sungai telah direkod dan dan ditubuhkan secara rasmi di Kampung Buayan berhubungan dengan MHP. Namun begitu, protokol-protokol ini dibina di atas asas ilmu dan amalan pemuliharaan tradisional yang telah diamalkan untuk bergenerasi lamanya di Ulu Papar. 


"Damn the Dam"
Komuniti ini menjaga alam sekitar setempat dengan pelbagai cara; selain daripada mengamalkan protokol pemuliharaan di kalangan mereka, penduduk Ulu Papar telah berjuang untuk melindungi tanah mereka daripada ancaman pembangunan sumber dan projek-projek infrastruktur berskala besar.

Pada tahun 2009, Kerajaan Negeri Sabah telah mengumumkan rancangan untuk membina Empangan Kaiduan (yang telah dinamakan semula sebagai Empangan Papar). Projek empangan mega ini akan membanjiri lembah Ulu Papar dan memindahkan penduduk komuniti secara paksa. 9 buah kampung akan terjejas dan melibatkan lebih daripada 1000 orang. Selama 10 tahun, penduduk Ulu Papar telah berjuang tanpa henti untuk menghentikan empangan mega dan menyelamatkan tempat tinggal mereka daripada kemusnahan. Pihak utama dalam usaha ini adalah Pasukan Petugas Menentang Empangan Kaiduan / Papar (TAKaD), sebuah kumpulan tindakan akar umbi yang dibentuk oleh komuniti-komuniti yang menentang empangan tersebut.

Awal tahun ini, pihak kerajaan telah mengesahkan rancangan untuk meneruskan rancangan tersebut, lantas menarik balik janji mereka setelah membatalkan projek ini sebelumnya. Namun begitu, penduduk Ulu Papar bertekad untuk tidak pernah menyerah diri meskipun terikat dalam sebuah perjuangan yang panjang dan sukar untuk melindungi tempat tinggal mereka.


Bergerak Ke Arah Keadilan Alam Sekitar
Kampung Buayan adalah sebuah tempat yang unik dalam pelbagai cara. Namun begitu, perjuangan komuniti ini menentang ancaman empangan mega dan ketersingkiran, malangnya, merupakan sebuah perkara yang terlalu lazim berlaku. Dalam konteks kecemasan iklim global, kini merupakan masa yang lebih genting berbanding sebelum ini untuk menyokong keadilan alam sekitar, dan untuk hak-hak insan yang melindungi ekosistem tempatan mereka.

Written by HPNET Communications Coordinator, Lara Powell, with input from Kampung Buayan Village Head, Irene Tani Kodoyou. Translation by Sonia Luhong. 
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"HIDDEN NO MORE" INTERVIEW SERIES: SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT CHANGE-MAKER, KOTO KISHIDA

12/13/2019

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The Hidden No More feature series was designed to spotlight women change-makers who have transformed gender barriers, and made impactful contributions to energy access for marginalized communities.

For this 4th edition, we reached out to Koto Kishida, former Malaysia Program Manager at Green Empowerment and strong advocate for sustainable rural development. Through this conversation, we gained insight into Koto’s experience as a female leader working at the intersection of energy access and natural resource management. 

Our conversation shed light on watershed protection and enhancement -- an important, yet undervalued, area of micro hydropower (MH), which Koto has been tirelessly working to promote. Koto recognizes that MH incentivizes communities to protect the catchment area ecosystem; by motivating watershed strengthening, micro hydro projects (MHPs) can play a key role in building climate resilience in rural communities. 
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Read on to learn why Koto is committed to promoting environmental conservation in community energy projects, and to gain insight into her journey as a woman energy practitioner.

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Can you tell us a bit about yourself?

My name is Koto Kishida. I am a Japanese citizen but have spent the majority of my life in the United States. In the last few years I lived in Malaysian Borneo, first as a volunteer in 2016, and then as the Malaysia Program Manager for Green Empowerment (GE) from 2017-2019. As some of the readers may know, GE is an HPNET Member, a US based NGO that works on rural sustainable development in Latin America and SE Asia. Most of the work GE has done in Malaysian Borneo has been in the area of rural sustainable development focused around energy access. GE has been supporting local NGOs such as PACOS Trust and TONIBUNG to install community based micro-hydro and solar mini-grid projects.
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​How did you start your career?

For most of my professional career, I worked for Oregon State's environmental protection agency, first analysing environmental samples and later working to minimize loss of forest cover and reduce polluted runoff from agricultural and forest land uses to protect water quality through policy and regulations. A large part of my work involved analyzing how much vegetation/forest cover was needed to sufficiently protect the aquatic environment. Having worked on both regulatory and voluntary programs to comply with environmental regulations, I came to understand the critical roles the local communities play in protecting the environment. 

I had traveled to SE Asia in the early 2010's and was drawn to rural communities where people lived traditionally. While traveling I saw rapid development as well as emerging environmental issues. This is when I began having the desire to support local communities who had a more sustainable vision for development in their communities. I reached out to a number of NGOs that worked on environmental issues, with my desire to volunteer during my sabbatical planned in 2016. One of the NGOs I contacted was Green Empowerment. At the time, GE was working with its main partner organization, TONIBUNG, to explore opportunities to access funds for conservation. In 2016 I traveled to Sabah in Malaysian Borneo to develop TONIBUNG's monitoring program as GE's volunteer. 
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During my stay in Malaysian Borneo working with rural communities, I saw the day-to-day as well as long term struggles indigenous people faced there. My main take-away from the experience in Malaysian Borneo was the same as I had learned in Oregon — the success of conservation efforts depended on the local people's desire and ability to continue living in their community in a sustainable manner. There is a need to create a space for the community members to figure out the future they want for themselves. Our only role as practitioners is to facilitate the discussion and provide support as requested by the community. 
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Tell us about your current work in the MH field

I just wrapped up my stay in Malaysian Borneo as the program manager for GE. While there, I supported TONIBUNG in a number of ways, including fundraising, project management, overseeing budget, and advising on organizational structure and policies. While I was able to contribute, I learned so much more from the experience. I will never forget the privilege of having been given a chance to work closely with a number of indigenous-led organizations that are fighting to defend and honor the rights of its people during one of the major shifts in Malaysia's politics. 

In the past few years, TONIBUNG mostly worked with two types of funding sources -- CSR funded solar/micro-hydro hybrid projects with a focus on local social enterprise development, and grant funded micro-hydro projects with an emphasis on climate change mitigation through conservation of forests. 

TONIBUNG has installed 30+ community-based MH systems in Malaysian Borneo since early 2000’s. Based on the insufficient flow during the dry season for some of the communities, TONIBUNG began installing solar and micro-hydro hybrid systems for some of the communities in Malaysian Borneo starting in 2015. Where there is sufficient flow, they still install MH only systems as well. 

TONIBUNG and GE had been able to access funds to build community MH systems by highlighting the inherent conservation values of such projects on the surrounding forest lands. Unlike solar mini-grid projects, MHPs motivate communities to protect their forests as source water. Because intact forest cover can mitigate for the seasonal variability of stream flow, communities have added incentive and tend to keep the forest cover upstream of their MHP intakes. I was able to continue building on their success and continue to bring conservation project funds to finance MHPs. 

I left Malaysian Borneo recently and returned to the US. I hope to continue supporting MH practitioners through research and fundraising, focused on securing dedicated funds for conservation for MHPs for HPNET and GE.
Why is catchment protection and enhancement important in MH projects?

As with GE's Malaysian partner organizations, I have learned that holistic MH projects are inherently better than projects that focus just on constructing infrastructure. There is also an increased need for dedicated funds to prioritize conservation activities for MHP watersheds with communities already experiencing the impact of climate change. Community members in Malaysian Borneo and practitioners from other countries have shared with me that seasonal variability in flow and erosion from land use have had negative impact on operation of MHPs. Intact forest cover creates climate resiliency, could extend flow during the dry season, and can mitigate sedimentation issues. 
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Unfortunately, when conservation is a budget line item, there are many ways for the funds to be spent on other important activities or materials for the project. For almost all of the projects I was involved with, at least a portion of funds set aside for conservation related activities were spent on transportation or construction of RE systems. It has always been important to address watershed management as part of community-based MH projects, and I understand that the need for it is greater than ever.  
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What are some of the key challenges that you've encountered as you've pursued your professional and personal journey to make a difference?

A key challenge I’ve encountered is developing effective ways to demonstrate and communicate the ecological value of MH projects. 

In order to evaluate the effectiveness of certain practices, programs, or strategies, we need to establish the baseline and status of certain metrics. Within the context of community-based MHPs, quantifying ecological benefit of micro-hydro systems requires interest and commitment by the communities to collect data and have them analyzed, dedicated multi-year funding, and discipline/support from NGOs to continue the effort over time. 

Based on my experiences in both Oregon and Malaysian Borneo, I’ve come to understand that agreement and commitment around monitoring don’t come about quickly. For MHPs, it’s difficult to ask people to think beyond construction of the energy system, which is already very challenging. While communities may develop and comply to regulations for watershed protection (e.g. logging is prohibited in the catchment area), documentation is another level of commitment, beyond not breaking the rules. Sustainable restoration initiatives require incentive, such as tangible evidence of the benefits of such activities; evidence requires time and consistent monitoring, which, in turn, requires funding.

There is a difference between passive eco restoration and active watershed strengthening. We can assume that passive restoration results from MHPs in the sense that, if communities are compelled to leave the catchment area alone, the resulting natural progression (i.e. of trees maturing) is a desirable outcome in itself, even if there is no active attempt at ‘enhancement’. If this is not good enough evidence to garner support, we’re stuck; unless we can find a funder who is willing to fund semi-long term monitoring, we won’t be able to attain more specific evidence of the ecological benefit of MHPs. 

That said, this prioritization of quantitative data and scientific methods is a very Westernized approach. Just as international funders may be biased against local actors who lack strong English writing skills, accepting only evaluation standards set by Western funders may prevent indigenous practitioners from accessing funding. So another key challenge I’ve been faced with is this problem of colonialism within international development; there’s a real need to decolonize research methods and develop more inclusive approaches, which place value on indigenous methodologies.
When you think of the words “gender” and “energy” what other words or terms immediately come to mind? 

Opportunity, Leadership, Long Term, Investment

Many of the rural communities that lack energy access are often facing other challenges such as lack of or limited economic opportunity, access to education and health care. There is a need and opportunity to listen to diverse opinions and insights of community members to have the best chance at success. Holistic community energy projects that aim to also address these challenges provide space for the communities to discuss their collective desires and long term goals. 

Our partners in Malaysian Borneo working on energy access projects understand the opportunity these projects provide as an organizing tool for communities and to develop leadership skills. Where the communities embraced the opportunity to build micro-hydro committees that are gender balanced, I saw that they tended to have better management of the MHPs in general, with good documentation. I have also seen some women assume leadership roles within their community beyond the management of the MHPs, such as being a village head or a part of JKKK, village development and security committee. These outcomes are not realized quickly - and community members may not connect the dots and credit the efforts to engage all community members put in many years ago. 
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Even though there are success stories, engaging women during planning meetings and recruiting them to join committees do not always become a priority during project implementation. I attribute this to the capacity of NGOs we work with. Some of the partner organizations we worked with had a limited number of female staff, and the project managers had challenges with the construction of infrastructure alone, such that gender balance was not a major consideration. And I think our local partners value meeting the communities where they are. For cultural reasons or the particular situations that the communities are in, if they do not have female representatives in leadership positions in the MH Committee, that does not mean progress has not been made. 

I did not make a significant impact on addressing the gender issues while working with TONIBUNG, other than some isolated successes. I have tried to understand the reasons why certain jobs are filled by men only, and challenges women face at the workplace, in order to understand my priorities for how to address these challenges. For TONIBUNG, I encouraged their staff to be inclusive of women when working with communities, and questioned their sexist comments or jokes when I heard them. I also participate in groups and discussions with others who raise gender issues, and promote local and indigenous women to speak at professional conferences. ​
What are some of the solutions that you feel could be employed to address the gender challenges in the sector?

My hope for energy sector organizations is to evaluate their operation and understand the reasons if and why men dominate their workplace, and think of ways to address those root causes. Most likely training should be provided to all staff so there is a mutual understanding around what is considered sexual harassment, gender bias, and unacceptable behavior within the organization. Without these understandings and willingness by the organization to commit to these policies, it would be difficult for women to thrive in any organization. ​
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As far as working with communities, as I mentioned earlier, GE’s partner organizations such as PACOS Trust and TONIBUNG already understand the value of engaging women and youths. In addition to working with the elders and men who tend to be in leadership positions more often, they make an effort to engage all community members when working on a community project. As a non-indigenous, non-local practitioner, I try to be careful especially in communities as not to overstep my place as an outsider with limited understanding and experience of the local context. As much as I would like the best outcome for the communities, I do not want to force my agenda or values. Rather, while I am in the communities I fold in success stories with female leadership in conversation, and definitely make a point of spending more time with women outside of formal meetings and work parties to build relationships, but mainly to listen to what’s on their minds. Even though my time in the communities is limited, it gives me a sense of what’s important for the women. 


To a room full of young women and men, what key message would you want them to remember? Any advice?

For men, I would encourage them to check their gut feelings and thoughts for potential biases. If they find themselves doubting opinions of their female colleagues or community members, I would like them to consider what if the idea came from someone else, perhaps a male colleague. Would their gut feelings or opinions be the same? Rather than shutting down ideas, I would challenge them to fully explore their female colleagues' ideas. 

For women, I would encourage them to support their own ideas and opinions, even if their colleagues are dismissive of their ideas. I would also encourage them to seek a supportive peer group outside of their organization but still within the energy sector. I think this is a good survival strategy in any sector. 

For Western, non-indigenous men and women entering the sector, I would encourage them to consider what biases, expectations or assumptions they may carry with them as they enter unfamiliar contexts. It is important to continuously reflect on your positionality and centre local voices, in order to build healthy relationships and successful community development projects.
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