Tanzania Traditional Energy Development and Environment Organisation (TaTEDO)

TaTEDO is a renewable/ rural energy national development NGO based in Dar es Salaam but with field activities in 8 regions of Tanzania, i.e. Kilimanjaro, Arusha, Tanga, Morogoro, Mwanza, Shinyanga, Dar es Salaam, and the Coast region. TaTEDO initiatives target both urban and rural poor. The groups includes households, institutions, social centers, farmers, charcoal makers, artisans, and energy related small and medium enterprise particularly those owned by women.

TaTEDO field approaches use PRA methods to identify problems, assess development needs, get insights of socio-cultural and institutional settings within the target groups. Experience shows that, inadequate awareness among target groups and stakeholders on effects that might be caused by the production and use of particular types of energy is a major barrier that hinders efforts towards positive achievements. Therefore, target groups are provided with information in various ways including promotional materials like posters and T-shirts, trade fair attendance, onsite demonstration and exchange visits. Furthermore, energy technologies are location specific and the needs and wishes of the beneficiaries , to a large extent, determine modification aspects that should be considered for successful adoption of improved energy technologies. The need to improve affordability, durability, thermal efficiency of stoves to the changing needs of the users arises from different local situations and needs; this is always acted upon. Women who are the main users of stoves and ovens are encouraged to participate fully at all stages of adaptive research and development issues including, collecting information on perceptions and preference, redesigning, field testing, and modification of prototypes.

In Tanzania, market growth for efficient energy technologies has been limited by the extremely low awareness and understanding of these technologies among the population at large and the potential market stakeholders in the country. Therefore, TaTEDO raises awareness among the general public, especially decision makers, users, producers and entrepreneurs on the potential benefits accruing from the greater use of improved energy technologies. Knowledge and awareness are important links in the process to successfully develop markets of improved energy technologies. Awareness raising activities include: conducting workshops at the national level for policy and decision-makers and financial institutions. This activity is important and aims to inform and engage these stakeholders on the potentials of improved energy technologies so that they can formulate appropriate energy strategies, policies and financing mechanisms; TaTEDO conducts seminars for district authorities, village leaders, stove dealers and associates. This is done to inform these stakeholders on the need and importance of improved energy technologies so that they can be incorporated into their development plans. It is also aimed at reinforcing support and cooperation from the local government authorities in the implementation process. The stove dealers presently selling the traditional metal stoves are involved in the seminars and convinced of the benefits of the improved stoves and they in turn persuade their clients to use improved stoves; TaTEDO provides technical assistance to entrepreneurs on improved energy technologies in production and use. The main objective of this activity is to strengthen and support entrepreneurs working with improved energy technologies to provide better quality of services and to develop markets for the technologies both in urban and rural areas. The main focus is on provision of necessary skills and knowledge on production, use and maintenance of efficient energy technologies; TaTEDO builds capacity of SMEs to undertake businesses profitably and sustainably through enterprise development services (EDS). The lack of entrepreneurship knowledge includes lack of business planning skills, marketing planning skills as well as limited information about access to finance. In order to address the above-mentioned problems, TaTEDO provides improved energy technology entrepreneurs and SMEs with EDS to enable them to undertake businesses profitably. TaTEDO also links these entrepreneurs and SMEs to funding organisations and credit institutions so that they can access financial resources.

To maintain standards, newly developed stoves, before being disseminated, are tested for efficiency. This is done in collaboration with Tanzania Industrial Research Development Organisation (TIRDO) and University of Dar es Salaam. TaTEDO also does close monitoring on performance of the improved stoves that are already in use.

There is an ongoing study by TaTEDO aimed at assessing the environmental effects of energy production, supply and use in household, social centres and small and medium enterprises. These sectors which include local beer brewing, baking, charcoal production, pottery, and food vending are the major consumers of woodfuels and kerosene mainly for cooking and lighting respectively. These sectors play a significant role in the social and economic development of the Tanzanians especially, rural women. Both sources emit significant amount of harmful gases which contribute to indoor air pollution. The effect of widespread and daily use of kerosene in wicked lamp and three stone fires in poorly ventilated kitchens raise questions about possible health and environmental impacts. This initiative will recommend more efficient and less harmful technologies that can be used to minimize impacts in the respective sectors.

i. Improvement of Production and management Process of Metal-ceramic Charcoal Stoves in Dar es Salaam, 2001: This report is about improved production and management processes for metal-ceramic charcoal stoves in Dar es Salaam. The study intends to assess the opportunities to solve the management and production bottlenecks facing producers of improved stoves in Dar es Salaam.

ii. Charcoal Industry in Tanzania: The study analyses charcoal industry in Tanzania by assessing energy related policies, techniques of harvesting trees, methods used for charcoal production, marketing and its relation to environment. Other areas like gender and poverty reduction are also considered in this study.

iii. Rapid Feasibility Study on Social, Cultural, Institutional and Technical Information on Production and Utilization of Biomass Fuels in Four Villages in Ikwiriri Township, Rufiji, 2001: This Rapid Feasibility Study was conducted in four villages, Mgomba Kaskazini, Mgomba Kati, Ikwiriri Kaskazini and Umwe Kusini in Ikwiriri Division, Rufiji District-Coast Region. The objectives of this study were to: Identify suitable or appropriate efficient woodfuels production and utilization technologies; asses market potentials and production resources; establish willingness of the communities to participate in the project; and identify social and cultural aspects related to woodfuel utilization.

iv. Solar PV Awareness Raising and Human Resource Development Study, 2001: The report is a result of the study on "Removing Barriers to the Transformation of the Rural PV Market in Tanzania" have been carried out in Mwanza and Dar es Salaam under the auspices of the Ministry of Energy and Minerals. The central thesis of the study focused on identifying barriers that hinder adoption of solar PV technology in Mwanza Region with an ultimate goal of transforming the rural solar PV market in Tanzania.

v. Sub-sector review on Renewable and Rural Energy in Tanzania, 1999: This document iconsists of a review on the renewable and rural energy sub-sector. The result shows a picture of the Tanzanian renewable and rural energy sub-sectors as diverse and consist of a number of different actors and stakeholders.

vi. Tanzania Rural Energy Study, 1998: The study was carried out jointly by Hifab International (Stockholm) and Tanzania Traditional Energy and Environment Development Organization (TaTEDO, Dar es Salaam). The overall objective of the study was to identify projects that could improve the energy situation for rural people. In addition the proposed projects should be environmentally benign, gender sensitive and address the situation of the poor.

vii. Study on Environmental Effects Associated with Energy Production and Use, 2005. The study aimed at assessing health effects, socio-economic and environment effects associated with different types of energy production and use chains. The study will provide a clear picture on the environmental impacts related to energy production, supply and use in Tanzania and will propose appropriate interventions.

viii. Enabling Access to Sustainable Energy (EASE), 2001 The study is in the inception phase of the EASE programme.

Lack of information and knowledge sharing constitutes a major barrier to the use and adoption of improved energy technologies. In this regard TaTEDO is willing to draw, share experience and exchange energy related information through networking. TaTEDO has substantial experience and competency in the following areas of sustainable energy technologies and related environmental practices: Capacity building for targets groups (training of artisans, technicians and partners) on how to produce, use and disseminate knowledge of renewable energy technologies particularly efficient woodfuel stoves; Carrying out several adaptive research activities to further improve the energy technologies and services; Awareness creation on renewable energy technologies, environment related practices, studies and implementation methodologies; Lobbying and advocacy for renewable energy and related supportive policies and strategies; Rural energy strategic, economic and environmental assessment and planning through Participatory Rapid Appraisal (PRA) methods; Energy and poverty linkages assessment and related interventions implementation; Consulting services in renewable energy and related fields.