Project

Addressing barriers to the adoption of improved charcoal production technologies and Sustainable Land Management practices through an integrated approach

Lead country

Uganda

Participating countries

Uganda

Project status

Under implementation

Implementing period

From May 20, 2014 to November 20, 2019

SDGs addressed by this project

SDG targets

  1. 7.1 Ensure universal access to sustainable, reliable energy
  2. 15.b Mobilize resources, incentives for sustainable forest management

Project ID: 4493

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Technical team

  • Energy Programme

Technical area(s)

  • Energy access

Sub-area(s)

  • Sustainable charcoal

Landscape(s)

  • Forests

Sub-landscape(s)

  • General

Transformed sector(s)

  • Forestry and other land use
  • Agriculture

UNDP role(s)

  • Capacity development / Technical assistance
  • Innovative approaches
  • Institutional mechanism and system building

Strategy

  • Governance
  • Food and agricultural commodities
  • Monitor inventory

Sub-strategy

  • Institutional framework
  • Participatory governance models
  • Laws/ Policy/ Plan formulation
  • Sustainable agriculture practices and use of resources (TP 2, 7, 8, 9)
  • Demonstration sites/Pilot
  • Sustainable land management
  • Energy finance
  • Knowledge/Data management

Social inclusion

  • Local community/CSOs
  • Women

Gender equality

  • Women farmers
  • Livelihoods for women
  • Awareness raising (on gender)

Gender result effectiveness scale

  • Gender responsive

Pathway(s)

  • Systems pathway
  • People pathway
  • Sci-tech pathway

Risk reduction target(s)

  • Hazard control/mitigation
  • Improve resilience

SDG target(s)

  • 7.1 Ensure universal access to sustainable, reliable energy
  • 15.b Mobilize resources, incentives for sustainable forest management

Conventions and protocols

  • National Development Policies
  • National Action Plan

Private sector(s)

N/A

Hot topic

  • Multi-stakeholder collaboration
  • Poverty reduction

Project description

Charcoal is the preferred cooking energy in Uganda (particularly by urban consumers) because of a variety of reasons including: it is affordable by all cadres of society and the only option available for the many low waged urban employees; it is substantially more efficient than wood and burns with very limited smoke, it has high-energy content per unit weight; it has a higher energy density than wood; it is easier to transport than wood and can be easily transported to markets far away from the forest. As a result, many people consider charcoal a relatively modern fuel rather than a traditional one. Government statistics attests to this. According to Uganda Bureau of Statistics, the total nominal value of household consumption of firewood and charcoal increased by 81.6% from UShs. 18.0 billion In 1996/97 to UShs. 32.7 billion In 2005/06. The value of charcoal consumption more than doubled, while the value of firewood consumption increased by 67.7% for the same period. Notwithstanding its popularity, the charcoal sub-sector remains plagued by inefficient production practices, lack of sustainable supplies of woody biomass and inadequate, often conflicting, policy statements. At this rate, the pressure on natural resources will be exacerbated even further as communities produce more charcoal to meet their livelihood demands and urban charcoal consumer demand.The overall goal of this project is “Improved charcoal production technologies and sustainable land management practices through an integrated approach in Uganda.” The objective of the project is to secure multiple environmental benefits by addressing the twin challenges of unsustainable utilization of fuel wood (including charcoal) and poor land management practices common in Uganda's woodland through technology transfer, enhancement of the national policy framework and the promotion of Sustainable Land Management (SLM) and Sustainable Forest Management (SFM) practices. The project consistent with the National Development Plan (NDP) to promote a low carbon emission development path, the National Forestry Policy (2001) that seeks to promote the rehabilitation and conservation of forests, soil and water resources, the National Action Plan (NAP) to combat desertification under the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) and other relevant national policy and legal frameworks. The project involves piloting low carbon emission sustainable charcoal technologies and broader sustainable land and forest management practices in four districts: Mubende, kiboga, Nakaseke and Kiryandongo.

USD $3,580,000

Grant amount

USD $14,862,108

Leveraged amount (co-financing)

1

Source(s) of fund

Sources of fund

 

  • Global Environment Facility – Trust Fund ($3,580,000)

Implementing partner(s)

  • Government of Uganda

Project metrics

Outcome 1:

Existing & ongoing policy, regulatory and institutional work on sustainable charcoal and land tenure security integrated with new biomass energy strategy (BEST) under developmentImproved coordination of institutions managing sustainable charcoal production at pilot district levelImproved data collection and monitoring of biomass energy and charcoal production and use (integrated into national database and for use as baseline information in a possible NAMA) Improved charcoal and biomass guidelines and ordinances at district levelHeightened awareness of new institutional frameworks and ordinances, guidelines and certification schemes at district level

 Indicators:

(1.1) Biomass Energy Strategy (BEST) developed, validated, approved and in use. National charcoal survey and updated standardized baseline reports completed based on current data
(1.2) Framework for institutional coordination and resource mobilization developed between MEMD, local government authorities and the National Forest Authority to manage charcoal trade at district level
(1.2) Charcoal by-laws including licensing procedures standardized and strengthened
(1.3) Baseline report and functional biomass database established and hosted at MEMD and published in Uganda Bureau of Standards reports
(1.4) Local guidelines and standards for certification schemes developed, adopted and publicized in targeted pilot districts
(1.5) Awareness and educational program on local guidelines and standards completed in all targeted pilot districts
(1.5) Updated guidelines for measuring biomass (CAI & MAI) calculated using the biomass study technical manual. The technical manual will be updated and revised by year 2
(2.1) 60 sustainable charcoal cooperatives organized and operational with 2,400 charcoal champions in pilot districts. Activities to meet this KPI will involve:
• Developing ranking criteria for categorizing charcoal producers or entrepreneurs
• Conducting surveys to rank different actors into pre-determined categories
• Training of all groups on local ordinances and standards for sustainable charcoal certification schemes as well as improved kiln technologies
• Demonstration of Casamance kiln operation and viability to target group (total of 400 casamance kilns deployed)
• Demonstration of retort kiln operation and viability to target groups (total of 200 retort kilns deployed)
• MRV, tracking and licensing system established for all improved kilns piloted
• All groups in compliance with certification standards (as per Output 1.4.1)
(2.2) Delivery model to support consumer financing schemes for charcoal producing groups with local financial institutions established.
(2.3) Basic Project submitted for registration to appropriate authority under an appropriate carbon development methodology in the Voluntary Market and/or a Sustainable Charcoal NAMA Design Document developed and endorsed
(2.4) Profit margin per output unit of charcoal produced with new technologies increased by at least 20% per group (with new kilns) as compared to baseline scenario for all participating charcoal cooperatives
(2.5) Training and technical assistance provided to all briquetting businesses that are receiving loans from Micro-Finance Institutions in conjunction with CleanStart
(3.1) Improved capacities of stakeholders in targeted districts to manage SFM and establish dedicated renewable biomass feed stocks. More specifically:
- At least 1,100 private woodlot owners in the four pilot districts identified, trained and contracted to make land available for woodlot establishment (minimum 5,900 hectares set-aside).
- Training all communities/woodlot managers on new charcoal regulations and SFM best practices, including use of specified tree species and optimal ecological yield from such species.
-Technical support provided to all woodlot owners on tree nursery management as an entrepreneurial activity with target to plant over 17.4 million seedlings
- Dissemination of over 17.4 million tree seedlings to woodlot owners
- Establishment of land use and forest management plans (including zoning and mapping of forest areas) for all targeted woodlot areas
- Contracts signed between woodlots owners and charcoal producer groups for feedstock supply
(3.2) SLM/SFM knowledge effectively transferred from ongoing SLM projects in neighboring districts to four pilot districts for this project.
Outcome 2:

Low-carbon charcoal production technologies have successfully replaced inefficient systems in targeted pilot districtsSustainable charcoal recognized as a viable SME in pilot districts by end of projectCarbon finance is integrated into sustainable charcoal practice in targeted areas Increased incomes for all charcoal cooperatives involved in projectTechnical support for charcoal briquetting producers enhanced
Outcome 3:

Strengthening the capacity of key stakeholders in SFM and SLM best practices and establishment of sustainable woodlotsSLM/SFM knowledge effectively transferred from ongoing SLM Best Practices in the neighboring Cattle Corridor districts replicated in the four target districts
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Project reports and documentation

 

Project Document (ProDoc)