BARAL foundation for environment & sustainable devlopment is an independent, non-profit, non-government, policy, research, and implementation institute working on sustainable development (SD) at local and national levels. BARAL addresses sustainable development through four interactive themes: environmental-developmental integration, environmental friendly digitization programs, climate change mitigation and adaptation measures, and rural and educational development. The BARAL team consists of experienced personnel from the field of engineering, medicine, social science, information technology, and finance. BARAL has experience in and outside Bangladesh with international and local organizations and institutions.
Mission: To work with the poor and underprivileged people to eradicate poverty and injustice.
Vision: To establish a digitized, enlightened, democratic, prosperous, and environmental friendly Bangladesh.
Major Objectives:
1. To engage in charitable work while promoting well-being and social welfare activities strictly on a non-profit basis among communities and individuals of Bangladesh. 2. To develop capacity of life through education and training. The beneficiaries include the rural or urban people, however, development will be ensured in different sectors of livelihood by putting immense priority on climate change, environment, energy, information technology, and sustainable development. 3. Promote/support peoples issues through different policy research and advocacy projects.
Contact Information
Our Focus
According to the “Annual Plan of Activities” BARAL has set a target to install 5,000 ICS in the Pabna and Sirajgonj district as well as 400 domestic biogas digesters in rural area of Bangladesh. Specific activities include:
1. Raising awareness about ICS and biogas digesters among elementary, secondary, and college level students. 2. Development and implementation of educational and public awareness programs on climate change. 5. Training of scientific, technical, and managerial personnel.
Our Experience And Interest In The Four PCIA Central Focus Areas
As a new organization, BARAL has faced many social and cultural constraints in rural Bangladesh. About 30% of the target audience expresses negative feedback about an ICS or biogas plant in their own home. 50% of the people can understand benefits of the ICS and biogas plant but do not want to shift from their traditional stove. Furthermore, 10% of the people want to take an ICS or biogas plant if good subsidy is provided. Only 10% if the people want to buy an ICS or biogas plant by providing their own money. We found that people are habituated to old cultural practices. It is difficult to break certain practices, but optimistic matters are that people are gradually habituates to take new technologies of stoves and biogas. BARAL is working to make the user more comfortable with these technologies. Local inhabitants were not familiar with the terms climate change, carbon reduction, and the negative effects on health due to traditional cook stoves. After the intervention, these rural community members become aware of the above mentioned terms and are now demanding to get such improved technologies.
The objective of BARAL market development is to improve and disseminate biogas plants and ICS as mainstreaming renewable energy solutions in rural areas while better addressing poverty, gender, social inclusion, and regional balance issues ensuring and enhancing commercialization and sustainability of the sector.
Action items:
1) Work with business groups to discuss an education and outreach campaign. 2) Work with state officials and policymakers to explore expanded use of the ICS and biogas fund . 3) Work with biogas developers, the agriculture and food processing sector, and utilities to develop an organic fertilizer for proper development of farmers. 4) Work with state officials to determine feasibility of state projects and have private sector outreach on other high profile projects for public demonstrations. 5) Arrange soft deducting credit for having a biogas and ICS from a public or private bank of Bangladesh 6) Arrange at least 70% subsidies for having an ICS or biogas plant.
People of rural Bangladesh are not conscious about the standardization of technology regarding cooking, heating, and ventilation. We are trying to create awareness around this issue.
BARAL monitors all of its projects with field level manpower. They have thousands of beneficiaries in the project area and they are supposed to meet with them once a week. Field visits by senior project staff or organization personnel will be another monitoring activity. Submitting regular reports in agreed formats can also be mentioned as part of the monitoring process. All monitoring and evaluation strategies have to be developed in line with the listed objectives. In addition to this, there are new tools used for monitoring and evaluation purposes such as the Logical Framework Analysis (LFA). It renders a clear concept of what needs to be achieved. A results-based monitoring system tracks both implementation (inputs, activities, outputs) and results (outcomes and goals). Implementation monitoring is supported through the use of management tools – budget, staffing plans, and activity planning.
Relevant Publications or Studies
Our Contribution to the Partnership
BARAL would like to participate in the activities of the Partnership for Clean Indoor Air by providing the following in-kinds and logistic support.
1. BARAL will provide its office and infrastructure for disseminating and setting of ICS and biogas plants. 2. Providing sufficient equipment for manufacturing ICS. The design and technology is approved by the Institute of Fuel Research & Development of Bangladesh Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (BCSIR). 3. Providing logistics resources.
