Good to be back home, after three weeks away from wife, kids, family and friends. I am very thankful for the fact that I was not exposed to any dangerous situation nor any major losses (with the exception of the one LapTop) during the trip. Looking back, the highest (only?) risk was really transport (combination of heavy traffic and different driving culture). I was actually warned about that by several persons, before the trip. As we speak this one even reached the Norwegian News channels: http://allafrica.com/stories/201302281492.html
The next week will be busy for me due to other consultancy assinments, but I will spend as much time as possible refining and updating the ‘travel diary’. Then it is time to share some of my reflections and ideas…
Driving my wife to the local airport, yesterday, I by the way came across this: One of the Bikes for Africa containers, attracting peoples attention…
Last day of this my first africa trip…
Said goodbye to the very friendly persons at Manhattan Gesthouse.
First meeting of today was with Mr. Godfrey R. Turyahikayo, Executive Director of the Rural Electrification Agency (REA) of Uganda. As for yesterday, Henry accompanied me. REA is part of Minestry of Energy and Mineral Developmet and has a very important role in implementing the National Development Plan, where accelerated rural electrification is one key objective.
We had a very fruitful Meeting, where we first presented the NREEG and Mr. Turyahikayo then explained the main mechanisms for stimulating rural renewable energy development, including infrastructure, remote energy supplies (feed in tarrifs) and small scale PV systems (credit and subsidies).
Had lunch with Lucrezia Koestler at Fontes. Read more about the water and sanitation projects of Fontes at their web. Learned a lot during that lunch-hour! Main takeaways:
- Building something is ‘easy’ (just engineering). Making it last for years is more difficult (human element comes in)
- Training and follow-up, i.e. key to success
Spent the afternoon/evening to catch up adm. and to update the blog.
I just realized that the plane leaves 05.30 in the morning and not just after midnight, as I for some reason had told myself. It is going to be a long day/night…
Well, here I am at the airport and there is a free WiFi. Positive surprise!
Was picked up by the driver 07.45. The 15min drive to pick up Henry took us an hour (traffic) and we were already late for our first meeting of the day… Not good for my now soaked shirt.
Anyway, we were apologised, and the meeting with Mr. Geoffery Ssebuggwawo, director at the Energy for Rural Transformation branch of Private Sector Foundation Uganda, i.e. BUDS-ERT, turned out to be very informative and fruitful.
Next meeting was at the Embassy and the Energy Councellor, Kristin T. Wæringsaasen. She has also had positions at Norad and Norfund. We were briefed about the current situation of fund holdback, due corruption. Good news is that it was the Ugandian monitoring setup which itself discovered the corruption.
Kristin also briefed us about the latest programs and develpments in Uganda, especilly those which contribution from Norwegian companies.
The rest of the afternoon/evening was used to explore the availability of renewable energy products in the local markets. Prices are coming down, but what about the quality!?
We also met with the exclusive Bboxx representative of Uganda. A facinating concept!
Got to bed early yesterday, so was ready for beakfast at 6.30 this morning.
Accidenty, I met Drs. Ronald C. van Giessen, an expert in animal production chains (see DEiPAC), outside the breakfast hall, and before I knew it I was also introduced to opportunities in that area… (including growing mushroom on manure)
Was picked up at 8.30 by John Petter Gaustad and his wife and taken to the Norwegian Business House. There I met with Leif Dons and Christopher Ssewagudde, both responsible for the set-up and operation of the business networking facility.
First meeting of today was with already mentioned John Petter at g-teck. John has been in the business for a long time and was willing to share a lot of his practical experiences. Current product Portfolio also pretty impressive.
Next meeting was with Henry Luzinda at Ekorn Solar, one of the more active members of NREEG. Henry volunteered to follow me in the coming days and i.e. make the NREEG representation more powerful in meetings with the authorities and associations.
Third meeting was with the CREEC. We (me and Henry) initially met with two representatives, Wim Getkate and a colleague, both very experienced and full of insight in the mechanisms for successful implementation of new technology (e.g. energy efficient and clean burning biostoves ). We were invited to view their facilities for performance testing of biostoves and solar systems. Very impressive and not least important work!
Forth Meeting of the day was the Norges Vel Renewable Energy incubator office. Many intersting projects in the pipeline.
Passed the border of Uganda around 01.00 a.m. Ugandian customs officers must be the most friendly ones in the world. Kickboxing on the TV took most of their attention, but still they were very expedite. VISA application accepted with a smile.
Found out that the backseats of the bus were not occupied. Made a ‘bed’ there… Humpy ride, but managed to sleep a little. Woke up alone in the bus at 6.00. We had arrived an hour ago! The driver was waiting for me, but he did not know where Manhattan guesthouse was. Poped by at Hotel Sheraton, therefore, to borrow some WiFi. Found the address at Trip Advisor and off we went.
Reception at Manhattan was closed, but we managed to find a portier. He accepted an early check-in, and bed was just around the corner…
Breakfast at 10.15, although it really closed at 10.00. Lucky me!
Borrowed a Internet modem, but I emptied it pretty fast. Headed for the city centre to find an internet cafe. Motorbike taxis seems to be the thing in Kampela. Worked for some hours before I had chinees dinner at the foodcourt. Returned by motorbike. Have started Reading the latest book of Jon Nesbø. Got carried away for the rest of the night. Some picures:
After a nice breakfast including pourage (I think it was), I went for a meeting with Elisabeth at Green Development.
A fantastic story of encouragement and willingness to invest time and money for a good cause. We had a lot to talk about and share and 1 1/2 hour went like a wind. I certainly learned a lot!
Keywords:
- In the poorest areas of Nairobi (and elsewhere close to the big cities), where there is no access to firewood, buying charcoal for the prep. of food swallows up to 50% of the total income
- Charcoal is in mot cases NOT produced sustainably (deforestation)
- More than 4million people (women) die as a direct cause of inhaling smoke during Cooking EVERY year
- Biowaste (like rotten fruit – there is a lot, as no fridges – and peelings) could ‘easily’ be made into bioethanol (or even simpler; biogas)
- Collecting biowaste to fermentation and destillation plants could be a source of income for quite many
- Bioethanol/gas stoves could easily replace charcoal/firewood stoves
I forgot to take a picture of our meet, but on my way I got carried away as a result of my previous electrical installation inpection experience:
I also had the pleasure of meeting Paul Mbole, program manager, at NCA Kenya, before heading for Kisumu. Many interesting projects related to gender and environmental justice, renewable energy systems being part of the solutions, in the pipeline. See: http://www.kirkensnodhjelp.no/en/What-we-do/Where-we-work/Eastern-Africa/kenya/
Again I forgot to take a picture, but I took some of the taxi driver, the bus and some buildings – he-he:
Didn’t manage to connect with all the stakeholders as planned, but that is OK. Gave me time to do some adm. tasks. WiFi fairly stable, thanks to Mr. Ranneberger.
![WP_20130221_003[1]](https://arebare.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/wp_20130221_0031.jpg)
Did, however, have a short meeting with Jon Bøhmer at Kyoto Energy. Very experienced and energetic person, with a lot on his mind. We talked about the challenge of logistics and possible cooperative solutions, as well as the opportunities related to engaging universities and polytechnics in entrepreneurship thinking.
Also spent more time with George to exchange information and ideas. He is a gift, with all his Insight, knowlege and passion for climate change issues. And he is spreading the word, by involving schools and coaching key persons, like Alphaxard Ndungu.
Got up at 05.15 to make myself ready for the 06.00 shuttle bus to Nairobi. Was picked up at the hotel which was very convenient, considering my 30kg box with IT equipment. Turned out that this bus was just the linkbus to Arusha. The luggage was well taken care of (placed on top of the bus).
Mnt. Meru is also an impressive massive, by the way
VISA process at the border went smoothly, and I could wave goodbye to yet another concern…
Arrived Nairobi around 15.00 and took a Taxi to the YMCA.
Was welcomed by George, the program responsible at YMCA and a dedicated (and very competent) climate change soldier. He came straight from the currently ongoing First Universal Session of the Governing Council/Global Ministerial Environment Forum – Nairobi from 18 to 22 February 2013 (http://www.unep.org/gc/gc27/). There as a youth representative.
George is running number of Clubs at schools in Nairobi. Was Lucky to follow him to a school nearby. Todays topic: The way the UN organises work related to Climate Change and other related topic. What 14year old would be stay after School to learn more about that in Norway?
Later in the afternoon there was a meeting in the ‘African Youth Initiative on Climate Change – Kenya‘. Many future politicians there!
Woke up with this view fom my window…
After breakfast we met with the secretary general of Tanzania YMCA. The national HQ and the largest facility is in Moshi. Impressive work done here every day!
The Meeting was part of the yesterday mentioned plan of establishing a YMCA node in Lushoto as a ‘lab’ for entrepreneuship and small business incubation, linked with YMCA youth activities.
After lunch it was time to say goodbye to my dear friends that I have spent the last few days with. First day on my own on this trip actually…
Have spent the afternoon/evening at an Internet Cafe at the campus. Lots of admin to be done (incl. v.a.t. reg. for my Company). Not the ideal time for Power outages. I think I have counted seven, so far…
06.00 AM bus to Nairobi tomorrow…
Today we again visited the university to talk with the management on Cooperation oppotunities.
Then I guess it is time to share some thoughts about our mission…
We would like to make Lushoto (and its surrounding district) a ‘living lab’ for developing a scalable framework for entrepreneurship and (small) business incubation, using the potential outreach and momentum of YMCA/YWCA youth activities. Back-to-back with the more traditional activities like sports, music, practical activities, spiritual activities, etc.
AND the growing number of Savings and Loan Groups. In order to succeed we need to team up with partnes and SEKOMU univ. has many of the qualities, values and practical approach needed.
Faculty for Justice & Peace, their eco-tourism focus, their eLearning set-up, etc.
In the afternoon we headed for Moshi. New hours in the car, but also a very good Meeting to discuss impressions from the day and plans for how to og about to make this happen… Arrived in Moshi around 9 p.m.
…and by the way: It is my birthday today (!!). 45 IS NO AGE!
Some Pictures:
Freebies Library 