The Impact of Low Smoke Stove Project in North Darfur and Kassala States – Sudan

Presented By: Muna Eltahir

Practical Action: Promoting technologyPractical Action’s Vision is of a sustainable world free of poverty and injustice in which technology is used for the benefit of all.

Practical Action’s Mission

To use technology to challenge poverty by:

Building the capacities of poor people.Improving their access to technical options and knowledge.Working with them to influence social, economic and institutional systems for innovation and the use of technology.

Situation Analysis: Indoor smoke from burning solid fuels exposes women and young children to indoor pollution 100 times higher than acceptable levels (WHO), Causes respiratory and eye diseases.

North Darfur’s allowable sustainable cut is approximately 93,000 tons of wood in contrast to the current 419,068 tons of annual wood consumption in the State.

On average fetching and cooking with biomass takes 2-3 hours a day.

More than 20% of a poor household’s income goes on biomass.

The Low Smoke Stove Project Aim: Improve the livelihoods of 15,000 poor families by

switching their cooking fuel from wood or charcoal to LPG, a cleaner and cheaper fuel.

Location: North Darfur and Kassala States, Sudan.

Funder: Carbon Clear.

The Low Smoke Stove Project Partners: Implemented by Practical Action in close

collaboration with the Women’s Development Association Network of Darfur, 60 CBO run micro-loan schemes, and private sector companies.

Innovation: the first carbon credits programme to be registered in Sudan and the first to be gold standard accredited.

Influence: Winner of the Gate’s Foundation ‘Momentum for Change, Lighthouse Activity Award’.

Targets

Over 95% of households, in Darfur, use biomass fuels (firewood and charcoal), the project’s targets are:

Reduction in indoor air pollution in households.

Reduction of overall household energy expenditure for low-income families.

Reduction of pressure on dwindling forest resources in the Darfur region of Sudan.

Reduce energy poverty.

Reduce GHG emissions.

Activities LPG cook stoves are distributed through a revolving

fund of micro loans to pay for the stove and LPG gas canister.

Phase One (2008-2013): Distributed 7,500 LPG stoves.

Phase Two (2014-2018) aims to distribute 10,000 – 16,000 new stoves, including expansion to rural areas.

Health ImpactReduction of indoor air pollution levels by 80-85%.

Eliminates exposure to abuse and/or gender based violence. when girls walk long distances to fetch firewood.

Improving the nutritional status of children and elders.

Environmental ImpactWood consumption has decreased from 38 kg to 5 kg and charcoal consumption from 35 kg to 15 kg (The switch to LPG has enabled households to save on average 33 kg of wood and 20 kg of charcoal per month).

Slowing the destruction of local forests by an average of 80 kg of wood per household that switched to LPG per month.

Reduction of carbon by more than 300,000 tons in project lifespan.

Social Impact

• Establishment of two national networks (Clean Cook Stoves - Renewable Energy).

• Women save on cooking time: about 1-2 hour/day, less time cooking and buying daily fuel needs.

• More free time for mothers to engage in income generating activities; farming, handcrafts and other social activities.

• Gender equality: Men are increasingly involved in food preparation (37.5% in Nov. 13).

Gender mainstreaming• Older sisters freed from responsibility of caring for their younger siblings.

• Higher enrolment of girls in schools.

• Combating early marriage and Female Gentle Mutilation

through Community Health Promoters.

Economical Impact

The average money saved is stated to be 134 SDG.

Alleviate poverty by reducing fuel budget and help

reach UN Minimum Level of Service (1 GJ/capita/year).

Significant reduction in household expenditure

freeing income for education, food and other essentials.

Thank you

info@practicalactionsd.orgMuna.Eltahier@practicalactionsd.orghttp://practicalaction.org/practical-

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