Case Study: From Manufacturing to Microfinancing. by Rural Women of Bangladesh

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1 Case Study: From Manufacturing to Microfinancing Solar Home Systems by Rural Women of Bangladesh UPOKULIO BIDDUTAYAN O MOHILA UNNAYAN SAMITY Presented by Farzana Husain Research Engineer Prokaushali Sangsad Ltd

2 Women s energy service cooperative at Char Montaz, Bangladesh Project Goal Empowering women through energy technology related services Enhancement of Off-grid Rural Electrification by Utilization of Renewable Energy Technology Poverty reduction Main objectives Scope of income generation for women Business model for off-grid electrification Local capacity for RET utilization Improving social inclusion

3 BACKGROUND The project was designed on the basis of experience gained during solar electrification of some cyclone shelter in the remote coastal areas. It was obvious that those areas would not be connected to the grid in the next 100 years The people living there could be helped with modern lighting using renewable technology provided they could operate and maintain the systems themselves Giving women the opportunity to assemble the components and run the business of SHS could achieve the double benefits of empowering the women and increasing access to energy of the population

4 Scenario during the Starting Period of the Project There were a lot of social hindrance to work with cooperative Women were very conservative Women had no power to take any decision & their economic status were very poor No access of electricity, so there is very little scope to work after evening Most of them have a very little academic qualification

5 Main features 35 women owner members Factory/head office in Char Montaz Management of the energy business Implementation of Solar Home System sales program Assembly of high quality lamps and charge controllers for solar systems Operation of solar battery charging station Technical assistance from PSL

6 Activities of the cooperative Private sector suppliers -batteries -other BOS Import of controller kits and solar panels Char Montaz Women's Microenterprise Supply of Lamps and Controllers Sustainable Energy Project (SEP) 4micro-enterprises National SHS Program Services to Private Rural Consumers Supplier of SHS to NGO

7 Solar Home System Sales (Upto Aug)

8 Revenue from Sale of Lamps 4,000 3,500 3,000 2,998 3,599 Revenue (USD) 2,500 2,000 1,500 1, Jan`00 - Jun`00 Jul`00 - Dec`00 Jan`01 - Jun`01 Jul`01 - Dec`01 Jan`02 - Jun`02 Jul`02 - Dec`02 Jan`03 - Jun`03 Jul`03 - Dec`03 Jan`04 - Jul`04

9 Destination-wise sale of DC Lamp Number of lamps sold Jan`00 - Jun`00 Jul`00 - Dec`00 Jan`01 - Jun`01 Jul`01 - Dec`01 Jan`02 - Jun`02 Jul`02 - Dec`02 Jan`03 - Jun`03 Jul`03 - Dec`03 Jan`04 - Jul`04 Retail Sale SHS of CEWDC To RERED

10 BCS`s Performance (Mar`01 to Apr`04) 8,000 7,000 6,000 6,693 5,945 Income Expenses Profit 5,000 USD 4,000 3,000 3,961 3,449 2,912 2,709 2,000 1,000 - (1,000) MBCS RBCS BBCS GBCS (249) Battery Charging Station

11 Members of the Cooperative

12 Assembling the charge controller

13 Assembling the Lamp Circuit

14 Testing Lamp Circuit

15 Inspection of Charge Controller Circuit

16 Checking the Circuit

17 Testing Charge Controller

18 Working with Office Accounts

19 Participating in a Exhibition at Dhaka

20 General Meeting

21 Taking a SHS to consumer s home

22 Solar Battery Charging Station

23 Cooperative s Shop

24 User of SHS of Cooperative

25 Project Impact Individual and collective benefits poverty alleviation through income generation enhanced physical and intellectual skills of women through electronics assembly Improve the lighting & indoor air quality by replacing traditional kerosene lamps with modern fluorescent lamps spin off business for rural enterprises overall expenditure pattern changes towards ensuring better quality of life for the family Overall enhanced status of women. Ability to participate in local level negotiations Removed some social and cultural barriers on gender role

26 Runu s(a Cooperative member) own shop at the market

27 Shahida s(a Cooperative member) own shop at the market

28 Dissemination of Improved Cook Stove

29 Capacity Building on ICS Construction

30 Lessons Learnt on Empowerment Opportunity for Women in Renewable Energy Technology in Bangladesh demonstrates the capability of rural women in clean energy service delivery. Micro-enterprise development as removed some of the social and cultural discrimination associated with gender role to be played by women: An opportunity aimed towards poverty alleviation. Women got the opportunity to use their intellectual skills, to make decisions on their business, have meetings with the elites, make presentation on their progress.

31 Thank You