Solar Power for Community Development

Project Number: 12-Stunami-2005
Project Location : Poonakary and Kandawalai A.G.A Divisions in Kilinochchi
District: Kilinochchi
Sector : Power and Energy
Executing Agency: Green Peace Movement.
Implementing Partner: The Economic Consultancy House (TECH)
Total Budget : Rs. 2,860,000.00
Donor Contribution: Rs. 2,370,000.00
Local Contribution: Rs. 490,000.00

Brief Description:
The main objective of this project is to enhance the literacy rate in the target areas. It is envisaged that sustainable standard of living of the local communities will also be enhanced by this project.

There are 04 A.G.A divisions in Kilinochchi District: Karachchi, Kandawalai, Poonakary and Pachchilaipallai. It is intended to provide solar power to Kandawalai and Poonakary A.G.A divisions. 50 families of young children with no electricity supply are selected from each A.G.A division.

30 W solar panels and accessories are to be provided for this purpose This Solar Home System consists of 3 lamps and a 50 Amp Battery. Electricity by solar power incurs less running cost and the opportunity for obtaining ample solar radiation is high in the target district. This project is andenvironment-friendly ‘ project – generation of electricity from solar power produces no harmful emissions.

20 years of civil disturbances have adverse impact on the infrastructure of the Northeast and Kilinochchi District has been affected severely. Worsening poverty, vulnerability and illiteracy are conspicuous in the target areas.

Back Ground:
Kilinochchi District is situated in the Northern part of the island. It covers a land area of approximately 1237 sq. km. The district is divided in to 4 Administrative Divisions: Karachchi, Kandawalai, Poonakary and Pachchilipalli A.G.A Divisions.

Approximately 80% of the population in Poonakary and Kandawalai A.G.A divisions have been living below the poverty- income level The literacy rate among the adults are 87.7% for males and 83.4% for females. 20 years of civil conflict have severely affected the socio- economic status of this district. 90% of the total population of this district is without electricity supply. This means that many children cannot do much ‘homework’ at home and this has been found to be the main reason why some children lag behind in their education. This in turn turns away a section of the children from school.

Review of Kilinochchi District Population and Student population

A.G.A Division

Total no. Of families Total no.of.students

Karachchi 17,796 15,050

Kandawalai 7,720 4,948

Poonakary 7,730 5,781

Pallai 2,384 2118

Total 34,930 27,897

Justification :
20 years of civil conflict have ravaged the socio-economic, technological and environmental status of North-East SriLanka . Among the 8 districts in this region, Kilinochchi, Mullaitivu and Mannar districts have been affected most. This has destroyed their infrastructure by ‘skill drain’ - depletion and deprivation of Human, Physical and Financial Resources. These areas are now thus poverty-stricken.

Many children have no lighting at home to do ‘homework’ brought from school. . They are demoralized by their poor performance and some drop out of education.

Women have household chores throughout the day. So the provisions of opportunity to study in the nights will 1. Keep the children at school and 2.give the adults to become literate

Obtaining electricity from the mains supply is expensive. Although the initial capital cost for this project-solar power for generating electricity- is only affordable through the micro credit scheme, the target families can obtain electricity supply at no running costs with Home Solar Scheme.

When solar energy is utilized for the generation of electricity, there is no emission of harmful substances to the environment. It also improves the internal home environment by eliminating the harmful smoke emissions of kerosene lamps commonly used for lighting. In addition significantly better quality of light is provided by the solar power system as opposed to the dim light from kerosene lamps.

Furthermore, the operation and maintenance of the system is easier and safer than the handling of kerosene bottle lamps. It has been found on a national basis that the incidents due to burns caused by kerosene bottle lamps are highest in Mannar, Vavuniya and Mullaitivu districts.

Electricity will be gradually used for not only studying but also for other household purposes like cooking, sewing etc. Some of these ventures are likely to bring additional income for families. Thus improvement will be seen not only in literacy but also in general socio-economic areas.

Relationship to transition programme strategy
This project is proposed for poverty-stricken areas. Enhancing literacy means socio-economic development, which is naturally followed by technological and environmental development.

Expected situation at the end of the project

Improved education among children and literacy among adults
Enhanced socio-economic activities
Improved standard of living of the local communities
Development of the awareness of alternate sources of energy
Less discharge of harmful substances into the environment
Reduction in life – threatening accidents caused by the kerosene bottle lamps

Development Objectives:

The project addresses the following development objectives:

To improve education of children
To enhance literacy among adults
To raise sustainable standard of living

Immediate Objectives:
The project addresses the following immediate objectives, out put and activities:
Objective 1: To improve education of children and to enhance literacy among adults
Objective 2: To enhance the sustainable standard of living of the local communities in the Target areas.

Out put 1: Education of children and literacy of adults will improve.

Out put 2: The sustainable standard of living of the target families in the target areas is to be raised

Activities:
Collection of information regarding the families living in the target areas

Analyzing the above information
Identification and selection of the target family’s 1.with school-going children, 2. With low income and 3. Without electricity supply.
Provision of solar panels and accessories to the families
Training the families on installation, operation and maintenance of solar home system

Direct Beneficiaries:
The direct beneficiaries are the 100 families 1.without electricity supply, 2. With low income and 3.with school children.

Indirect beneficiaries
Manufactures solar power units and builders

Beneficiary participation
Each family is to obtain a loan of Rs. 6,000.00 and will continue repayments under the micro credit scheme. After receiving training, each family will be able to install, operate and maintain solar home system and repay Rs. 250 per month over a period of 2 years.

Target areas:
Kandawalai & Poonakary A.G.A Divisions in Kilinochchi District

Implementation:
The proposed project is to be implemented by the TECH, with the financial assistance of the Green Peace Movement, Solar Home Scheme and the TECH.

Implementation partner:
The implementation partner is the TECH. The Economic Consultancy House (TECH) is registered with the Government of Srilanka as a Non Governmental Organization in all districts of North-East province for the promotion of socio-economic and technological development.

.Responsibilities and roles:
The project will be implemented with the support of Rural Development Society, Women Rural Development Society and Divisional Secretary with the active participation of the direct beneficiaries.

Project Management:
The project will be managed by the TECH with the guidance from the Green Peace Movement field office and the District Secretariat.

Exit plan and sustainability:
The educational status and the living standard of the people in the district have been adversely affected by the prolonged civil disturbances in the North-East Province of SriLanka TECH intends to minimize this problem by conducting this project with the financial assistance from the Green Peace Movement and the Solar Home Scheme with the active participation of the direct beneficiaries.

Reporting Requirements;
Monthly progress and financial reports will be prepared by the TECH in a format to be submitted to Green Peace Movement

Local Contribution:
TECH is to be the main implementing agency to organize and mobilize the community to participate in this project and take responsibility for the monitoring and evaluation of the project The TECH is to contribute Rs. 490,000.00 for the implementation of the project. Each target family is to receive Rs. 4900.00 from the TECH.

Donor Contribution:
The Green Peace Movement is to contribute Rs; 1,620,000.00 and Rs 750,000.00 is to be obtained from the Solar-Home Scheme for implementation of the project. Each target family is to receive Rs. 16,200.00 9 in which Rs. 6000.00 is provided as loan.

Financial plan

	Financial plan

Description			Contribution

		UNDP		SOLAR	IMPLEMENTING		TOTAL
				HOME	PARTNER	(TECH)
				SCHEME

1. Cost of solar panels and		1,600,000.00		750,000.00	490,000.00		2,860,000.00
Accessories
(100@28,400)


2. Training
(100@200)		20,000.00



Total		1,620,000.00		750,000.00	490,000.00		2,860,000.00

Financial summary

Contribution from the Green Peace Movement Rs.1, 620,000.00

Loan Rs 600,000.00 and Grant Rs 1, 020,000.00

Contribution from the Solar –Home -Scheme Rs. 750,000.00

Contribution from the TECH Rs. 490,000.00

Grand Total Rs. 2,840,000.00

Work plan for the project

Activities/Months

Preparation and submission of the project proposal.

02 Selection of beneficiaries

03 Purchase of solar panels. And accessories

Provision of Training and Installation

05 Monitoring and Evaluation. Of the project

Operation and maintenance of solar panel