Experience of the WEF

nexus at village level:

How can farmers cultivate co-benefits?

Plan of presentation

• Nexus approach

• Learning from the past – Nepal, Peru

• Planning for the nexus - Zimbabwe

• Planning for Total Energy Access –

Togo

• Conclusions

Nexus approach

one in which the ‘solution for any one

problem, like energy, must give equal

consideration to others in the nexus,

finding interconnected solutions that

maximise synergies and manage trade-

offs’ (Best, 2014).

Nexus approach: also important

at smaller, localized scales

• Most food in SSA is produced locally by

smallholder farmers, fishers or herders

• 55 per cent of all new electricity supply

needs to be from decentralized

systems to reach the goal of universal

energy access by 2030 (IEA, 2010).

Poor People’s Energy Outlook

Learning from the past

Nepal & Peru : micro-hydro

Learning from the past

• micro-hydro schemes in Nepal since

1975 and Peru since 1992

• studies to evaluate sustainability (2002,

2005, 2006)

• Findings reviewed to see what they can

tell us about WEF nexus

Electricity brought ++ impacts : but

• no direct impact on cultivation or livestock

• no consideration of how energy (or water)

could support these practices

• Not designed on the basis of eventual

productive uses for increasing incomes.

• No other types of energy such as biogas

production were considered

Learning from the past

Learning from the past

• Chalan: river level affected by upstream

farmers building irrigation canals,

disrupting electricity supply in the

summer months.

• Yumahual: some of the water source

needed to be diverted for drinking water

for the nearby town of Choropampa thus

reducing electricity generation capacity.

Learning from the past

Poorest households were less likely to be connected to

electricity, and if they were, were less likely to use it for

productive purposes. These were almost always in off-

farm enterprises and required additional investment

such as buying a fridge or other appliance.

Except: use of electricity or the water-power for milling

(Nepal). UNDP study (2011) found dramatically reduced

time spent on agro-processing (grinding grains, hulling

rice, pressing oils), saving 155 hours/year for women

and 85 for men using electrical mills.

Lessons learned

While many households benefited economically, the

benefits were greater in the larger and better

developed areas where there was more scope for

non-agricultural livelihoods and small businesses.

A more deliberate attempt to make the connection with

energy needs in smallholder agriculture would bring

further benefits.

Schemes are making a smaller contribution to broad-

based development than they might otherwise. This

ultimately affects their long-term sustainability.

Planning for the nexus

Zimbabwe : micro-hydro

Planning for the nexus

Practical Action has built 5 micro-hydro

schemes in the Eastern Highlands of

Zimbabwe over the last 14 years.

In the Himalaya micro-hydro scheme

(2013) a more deliberate attempt to

connect the energy scheme with

agricultural livelihoods was made.

Planning for the nexus

Himalaya wanted a system that would not only

supply community services and households

but would connect with the agricultural

livelihoods crucial to the survival of the

community. As a result:

- an irrigation component was included;

electricity pumps irrigation water

- a cold-storage facility is being set up to help

keep produce fresh before it is sold.

Planning for the nexus

Made possible by a sophisticated and

organized community structure

Trained community members are responsible

for all future maintenance of the plant and

delivery of energy

Two co-operatives developed: one to make and

sell fencing and electricity poles; the other to

manage the irrigation scheme.

Planning for the nexus

Made possible by a sophisticated and

organized community structure

Trained community members are responsible

for all future maintenance of the plant and

delivery of energy

Two co-operatives developed: one to make and

sell fencing and electricity poles; the other to

manage the irrigation scheme.

Planning for the nexus

Himalaya learnt lessons from others

• Chipendeke : benefitted farmers through

power supply (mills, workshops) but failed to

recognize that farmers needed the water

close to the plant to irrigate their land

• Community decided that the micro-hydro

should be switched off for short periods

during months when the river level is low

Lessons learned

A successful WEF nexus needs

• a good understanding of the competing

needs and trade-offs during implementation

• Strong community institutions, built up

through the approach taken to planning and

constructing the scheme, together with the

ownership and management structures put in

place, which means these trade-offs could

be effectively dealt with.

Planning for TEA - Togo

Planning for TEA - Togo

Cooking with wood or straw on a three-stone fire or simple mud “stove”

Lighting using battery-powered torches

Human or animal power in agriculture, workshops and other industries

Planning for TEA - Togo

Hydro

Mini-grids

Biomass Gasification

Pumping

Biogas for Cooking

Solutions relevant to the WEF nexus

Conclusions

• Focus on productive uses of decentralized energy

alongside household & community services use

• Make a deliberate attempt to connect energy and

water uses with mainstream agricultural livelihoods.

• Use bottom-up approaches which ensure local

institutions can handle trade-offs as they arise.

• Make the most efficient use of the resources

available to produce the best development outcomes

(social, economic, environmental)

At national and international levels

• Major donors must build the needs of rural

communities and small-holder farmers into their

programming. Cross sector working so requires high-

level commitment and encouragement.

• New ways of working between ministries of

agriculture, water, and energy, which may have

competing objectives e.g. local cross-departmental

pilots with partners experienced in community

engagement

• Championing by the SE4ALL High Impact

Opportunity for nexus issues + capacity building

Thank you

mary.allen@practicalaction.org.uk