Project Detail

Transferring experience on practical implementation of low-carbon technologies in Basen community of Shirak region

The project aims at introducing an innovative idea of application of solar thermal system for hot water supply to sport hall shower unit, kindergarten kitchen and greenhouse in Basen community of Shirak region.
Basen community is located at the altitude of 1650 m above sea level with long-lasting and severe winter. The community has no natural gas supply and mainly uses electricity for heating. The population is mainly engaged in cattle breeding as crop production is considered to be risky due to frequent hails, severe frosts and droughts in the region.
Within the project activities it is planned to install a multi-purpose solar thermal system for providing hot water to the kindergarten kitchen and the sport hall shower unit located in the same two-storied building. Besides, the project envisages constructing a pilot greenhouse next to the building to be also heated by the solar thermal system. The operation of the greenhouse will provide children of the local kindergarten with chemical-free vegetables and serve as a demonstration site for promotion of a ?green? income-generation source ? a viable alternative to livestock breeding.

Project Snapshot

Grantee:

"Biosophia" Healthcare, Environment, and Agriculture Development Center” NGO

Country:

Armenia

Area Of Work:

Climate Change Mitigation

Operational Phase:

OP5 - Y2 (Jul 12 – Jun 13)

Grant Amount:

US$ 33,920.00

Co-Financing Cash:

US$ 15,420.00

Co-Financing in-Kind:

US$ 10,110.00

Project Number:

ARM/SGP/OP5/Y2/CORE/CC/13/18

Start Date:

4/2013

End Date:

3/2014

Status:

Satisfactorily Completed

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Project Characteristics and Results

Policy Influence

Concrete recommendations on good agricultural practices, in particular, promotion of energy efficient greenhouses supplemented with solar heating technology will be developed by the project and provided to regional and central authorities. The recommendations will be presented for incorporating into the priorities of Agriculture and Environment sections of 2014-2016 Social-Economic Development Programme of Shirak region.

Significant Participation of Indigenous Peoples

N/A

Linkages gef projects

N/A

Planning gef grant

N/A

Planning non gef grant

N/A

Emphasis on Sustainable Livelihoods

Shirak region is the poorest region in Armenia with the highest level of unemployment. The siginificant part of the population of Basen community is socially vulnerable families. The operation of the solar system will ensure considerable savings of electricity and local biofuel while availability of a low-cost hot water will improve sanitary and hygiene conditions of the kindergarten kitchen and sports hall shower unit. Besides, savings accrued from the greenhouse operaton, will be directed to other essential needs of the kindergarten.

Project sustainability

The application of solar thermal system and operation of the greenhouse will result in annual monetary saving of US$ 2,500 which is the main prerequisite for project sustainability especially in light of expected increase of natural gas and agricultural products prices.

Notable Community Participation

The community will have an active participation in project planning, implementation, monitoring and evaluation processes which is proved by a significant cash and in-knd local commitment to the activities envisaged by the project. Besides, within the framework of the project ?Basen? social development foundation will be established by the community initiative group, which will ensure active public participation in further management of the income generated by the greenhouse.

Policy Impact

The project activities imply from Armenia's commitment under the UNFCCC and are in harmony with the national strategy and policy on its implementation. Moreover, this initiative is in line with the state policy on ?RA 2010-2012 Strategy on Sustainable Development of Communities and Agriculture?, ?National Program for Energy Saving and Renewable Energy of the RA?, ?Sustainable development programme? and with the country?s policy on decentralization and development of rural communities.

Gender Focus

The project contributes to increasing equal opportunities both for men and women. The staff of the kindergarten, which is one of the main beneficiary groups of the project, mainly consists of women. As part of women empowerment component, it is envisaged to involve women in operation and maintenance of the solar system and greenhouse unit.

Promoting Public Awareness of Global Environment

The project is in line with priorities and strategy of the GEF Small Grants Programme. It contributes to climate change mitigation and capacity building on low-carbon technologies in community level through improving local livelihoods and disseminating the experience and knowledge gained. Within the framework of the project it?s envisaged to raise awareness of local population on global environmental challenges.

Inovative Financial Mechanisms

The project plans to establish a community-based ?Basen? social development foundation, which will manage the income accrued from solar thermal system operation. Moreover, revolving fund principles will be considered through ?Basen? foundation.

Replication of project activities

This initiative is a comprehensive replication of the SGP projects on solar energy use successfully implemented in several communities of Shirak region, namely Artik, Shaghik and Gyumri.

Capacity - Building Component

Through project implementation it?s envisaged to develop capacities of local population to apply low-carbon technologies in the region. The project will also contribute to introducing the culture of greenhouse crop production in Shirak region and use the project greenhouse as a demonstration site. Trainings for community population on operation and maintenance of the solar thermal system and greenhouse unit will be conducted. Educational and knowledge materials will be developed and distributed.

Project Results

The project will produce the following outputs:
1. Installation, piloting and testing of a solar thermal system
2. Construction of a energy efficient greenhouse supplemented with the solar thermal system and establishment of biohumus production
3. Provision of the solar hot water to the kindergarten kitchen and sports hall shower unit
4. Establishment of ?Basen? social development foundation registered at the State Registry of the Ministry of Justice of Armenia.
5. Practical trainings on operation and maintenance of the solar thermal system and greenhouse for kindergarten personnel, educational institutions, NGOs and other stakeholders
6. Dissemination of lessons learnt and knowledge obtained through information materials and a documentary.

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Indicators

Biophysical

Tonnes of CO2 decreased or avoided by energy efficient and renewable energy technologies or applying environmentally sustainable transport practices introduced by SGP Project 14

Empowerment

Number of CBOs / NGOs formed or registered through the SGP project 1

Livehood

Increase in household income by increased income or reduced costs due to SGP project 2500

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