Practical Action organized a launching workshop of Result Based Financing for Sustainable Hood-stove Market project on 10 February 2015 at Hotel Shangri-La, Kathmandu. On the same event, an interaction on Technology Justice in energy access was also conducted. 

The Chief-guest of the workshop, Honorable Member, National Planning Commission, Prof. Dr. Govind Nepal highlighted the commitments of Nepal Government for providing clean cooking solutions to all by 2017 and also expressed support to the project from Nepal Government’s side. He also discussed about energy insecurity in Nepal and need of effective planning to tackle the problem.

Ram Pd. Dhital, Executive Director of Alternative Energy Promotion Centre (AEPC) highlighted the efforts of AEPC to make Government’s initiative successful. Likewise, Vishwa B. Amatya, Practical Action welcomed the participants and Min B. Malla briefly highlighted project objectivities and modality. 

The project is being launched by Practical Action in the backdrop that every year in Nepal8,700 people mainly women and children die prematurely due to household air pollution mainly generated from inefficient and polluting cook-stoves (WHO).  After conducting a detailed research, Practical Action has developed a hood-stove technology (package of specifically designed smoke-hood and an improved biomass cook-stove) to provide clean, efficient and safe cooking solutions to rural households. With financial support from GIZ EnDev, the project will be implemented using result financing measures to establish sustainable market of the hood-stoves. Within the four years project period 30,000 households from Gorkha, Dhading, Rasuwa and Makwanpur Districts will directly benefit from the project.

Apart from the project launching, the second part of the workshop covered an interaction about “Technology Justice in Energy Access”. Clarifying about the concept of Technology Justice Achyut Luitel, Regional Director of Practical Action South Asia Regional Offices, stated that Technology Justice is essential to achieve development and sustainable wellbeing for all. Today’s technological innovation is far more likely to be aimed at enhancing the lifestyles of the populations whose lives are already comfortable - wealthy consumers in developing countries, than it is at meeting the needs of those living in poverty.   In the context, Practical Action wants to lead a change in the way the world approaches and governs technologies, for overcoming the injustices to create a world where everyone has access to appropriate technologies – a world with Technology Justice.

Similarly, Nawa Raj Dhakal, Assistant Director, AEPC mentioned that with AEPC’s support many poor households have now access to clean energy. Likewise, Dr. Rabindra Dhakal from National Academy of Science and Technology highlighted the importance of innovation and technology development for increasing energy access for the poor people and ensuring Technology Justice.

The participants of the program were the government officials, donors and non-government organizations, experts, advocacy groups, civil society members, private organizations and media personnel.