Transforming the Charcoal Sector

Progetto concluso
Tanzania © SDC

The project builds cases on district levels that formalize and regulate a sustainable, energy efficient charcoal value chain, increase incomes of the charcoal producers, generate revenues to the villages for the benefit of the whole community and ensure that the Village Forest Reserves are maintained and harvested sustainably. The promotion of the piloted system is to result in increased resilience to climate change and a reduced rate of deforestation.

Paese/Regione Tema Periodo Budget
Tanzania
Canbiamento climatico ed ambiente
Impiego & sviluppo economico
Protezione della biosfera
Sviluppo delle piccole e medie imprese (PMI)
Environmental policy
01.01.2011 - 30.04.2016
CHF  2’910’000
Contesto

Tanzania’s dependence on biomass to meet its energy needs is tremendous. 130 million m3 of solid wood are consumed annually for charcoal and fire-wood by 96% of Tanzanian households. Due to very weak sector governance, trees are felled and converted into charcoal in an unsustainable and inefficient way, with devastating effects on the environment. In response, Tanzania began piloting the REDD approach (Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation) for climate change mitigation and adaptation, sustainable forest management and community poverty reduction. In general, policy-makers have rather negative perceptions towards biomass energy, advocating for a costly switch to fuels perceived as more modern such as electricity and LPG.

Obiettivi

Delivering sustainable development and benefits to rural communities in Tanzania through improved climate change mitigation from reduced deforestation and greenhouse gas emissions, through enhanced environmental sustainability from better biomass harvesting and through leveraged returns on biomass resources from carbon credit sales, and through more efficient production technologies and biomass energy-friendly energy sector policies.  

Gruppi target
  1. 2,000 charcoal producing households and 3,000 small-scale farmers in Kilosa and Mpwapwa districts of Morogoro and Dodoma regions respectively (Central Corridor)
  2. Academics, policy advisors and -makers nationwide
Effetti a medio termine

Outcomes (objectives) of the phase:

  1. Component 1 – Sustainable Charcoal: Commercially viable and pro-poor value chains established for legal and sustainably sourced charcoal by applying the “making markets work for the poor approach (M4P)”
  2. Component 2 – Biomass Energy-related Research, Knowledge Management and Governance: Credible data and analysis communicated through coordinated advocacy leading to more biomass-friendly governance and policies in Tanzania’s energy sector
Risultati

Risultati fasi precedenti:  

Previous efforts by SDC and others to introduce sustainable charcoal in Tanzania failed as they were often supply-side driven. It is now apparent that premium, high-priced market segments must be identified and targetted to turn community-sourced charcoal into legal, pro-poor and sustainable value chains. Introducing community-based forest management (CBFM) concepts within a REDD framework takes time, so building upon existing CBFM projects is vital. Convincing high-level decision- and policy-makers of the critical importance of biomass fuels for Tanzania’s socio-economic development may be very challenging. Long-term research evidence-based advocacy work is therefore required to reach their “hearts and minds”.


Direzione/Ufficio responsabile DSC
Credito Cooperazione allo sviluppo
Partner del progetto Partner contrattuale
Economia privata
  • Settore privato straniero Sud/Est


Budget Fase in corso Budget Svizzera CHF    2’910’000 Budget svizzero attualmente già speso CHF    2’832’593
Fasi del progetto Fase 3 01.12.2019 - 31.12.2023   (Completed) Fase 2 01.12.2015 - 31.03.2020   (Completed)

Fase 1 01.01.2011 - 30.04.2016   (Completed)