All in all, there have been eight orientation and demonstration programs on SWP technology for small farmers between February and March 2019. With mostly appreciated support by the Renewable Energy for Rural Livelihood Programme the programs could take place from 23-26 February 2019 and 26-29 March 2019. 

The main objective was to promote SWP systems and raise awareness to rural farmers and showcasing the practical as well as affordable nature of the technology. With an impressing number of 406 participants consisting of farmers and representatives of two eight cooperatives, farmers affiliated to a local development bank, municipality representatives, SWP supplier representatives and Winrock staff. 

The programs had the following agenda: 

1.    Opening Session:Introduction to the topic by representatives of Nepal Agricultural Co-operative Central Federation Ltd. (NACCFL) and Winrock. 

2.    Orientation Session:Sharing by Winrock of the Knowledge Exchange Project and explaining the technology with all its characteristics and financial analysis. The promotion of SWP systems and showing the advantages against conventional electric and diesel pumps was the main goal of the session in order to encourage farmers implementing the technology and increasing their productivity. Audio-visual materials were presented to the farmers as well and questions raised concerning governmental subsidies as well as from technical perspectives have been answered. 

3.  Demonstration Session: Four different SWP products were presented in a field visit to the participants and demonstrated in operation at a near river. Technicians and Engineers explained the product and answered questions from the participants about the working principle, application and business model for installing SWP systems. 

Further, the implementation of several networks among municipalities, Small Farmer Agricultural Cooperative Limited (SFACL), farmers and SWP suppliers was on account of Winrocks effort. Multiple numbers of network events took place between November 2018 and March 2019, where each stated stakeholder had the opportunity to learn from each other, exchanging contacts and knowledge on SWP technology, with prospect on implementation and its benefits. 

Find out more about the project here: Exchange: Knowledge Exchange to Make Solar Water Pumping (SWP) Systems Affordable for Small Farmers (SEPS16)

This webinar – the 2^nd in a series of four webinars – will feature banks and financing specialists from South and Southeast Asia who have enabled local banks and local developers in the region to make financing available for small-scale hydro mini-grids. Using specific examples, speakers will present:

• Why and how local banks are critical to replication of sustainable hydro mini-grids
• Incentives for local banks in lending to hydro mini-grids and local developers
• How local banks can build internal capacity to lend to mini-grids
• How local developers can develop the necessary skills to access local bank financing
• How banking regulatory challenges can be overcome
• Roles of government and donors help to accelerate the process of enabling local bank financing.

For more thematic background, please refer here.

Speaker: 

DINESH DULAL - Department Head of Energy and Development Organization Department at NMB Bank Ltd. Kathmandu, Nepal

KAPILA SUBASINGHE - Vice President (Specialized Project Lending)/Head of Consulting, DFCC Bank

MARGARITA MANZO - Energy Finance Specialist 

Moderator: 

RANISHA BASNET

Thematic Discussant

DIPTI VAGHELA - Manager Hydro Empowerment Network (HPNET)

Topic and main goal of this years workshop is to bring together experts and practitioners in the field of energy access in order to create new ideas of making electricity more accessible to global regions with limited access to it. A set of working papers will be produced and the participants work in collaboration to identify strategies and creating synergies for the goal. 

The "Innovation Lab" is non-traditional workshop format where the participants reflect their goals and find ways of collaboration for achieving them. This interesting workshop will be launched by the Affordable Energy for Humanity (AE4H) "Global Change Initiative", a global consortium of researchers and practitioners with the commitment to end energy poverty and pursuing sustainable development through clean technologies. 

Find out more about the workshop AE4H 2019 Innovation Lab