Projects - ENERGYCoP
Projects
UNHCR Eco-stove and Solar Street Light Project in Bangladesh

Posted by: SAFE Administrator
Modified date: 11/06/2017
UNHCR Eco-stove and Solar Street Light Project in Bangladesh
Categories
Technology field of reference: Cooking, Lighting
Relevant sectors: Nutrition, Food Security, Protection, Environment
Population type: Refugee
Category of funders: Not Available
Project Description
The eco-stove and solar street light project launched by UNHCR in 2008 aimed to protect the environment and reduce the risk of exposure to physical violence that the refugees face when collecting firewood. This was facilitated through improved eco-stoves. Solar street lighting was installed with the goal being to protect females against harassment while using bathrooms and latrines. This project had successes but also had room for improvement. As of June 2010, approximately half of the 28,000 refugees have access to an Eco-Stove and 143 solar lights have been installed in the Kutupalong camp. Not all the refugees who received the eco-stove are using them. A number of refugees claim it takes a lot of space and reduces the residential space for sleeping. Compressed rice husks (CRH) were distributed for cooking fuel, but with a reduction in the quantity provided due to a shortage, refugees had to return to using firewood. Men, women, boys and girls have expressed their fear of collecting firewood from the forest to meet the shortfall because of beatings and harassment by villagers. Further training on how to use theeco-stoves should be developed. There were some reports that fuel was not saved by the stoves. This could be explained by the fact that some stoves had a double burner and thus more food could have been cooked at one time. It was unclear to what extent the eco-stove team conducted trainings on how to use the stove. A beneficiary informed a researcher that she had been trained only on maintenance but not cooking practices. Monitoring of the stoves, including consumption of CRH and wood, was recommended. The project took place in Kutupalong Camp ID 1 and Nayapara Camp ID 2 in Ukhia, Chittagong of Bangladesh.
Location
Unnamed Road, Ukhia, Bangladesh
Starting and ending date
Number of beneficiaries reached through energy related activites or interventions
2412 Muslim Rohingya refugees from Myanmar
Names of implementing partners
United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR)
Funding sources
N/A