BIOMASS IS A BURNING ISSUE IN THE DEVELOPING COUNTRIES
Woodfuel, charcoal, agricultural waste and dung account for more than 50% of total energy consumption, in many
African countries this amounts to up to 90%. Two thirds of this consumption is household energy.
Half of the world population relies on woodfuels to cook and to boil water and, in some areas, for heating. With
increasing scarcity, many people shift to lower grade fuels (agricultural wastes and dung). This obscures the real
extent of the shortage and has other health impairing and environment-degrading effects.
Household energy measures
- are cross-sectoral and complement activities in other fields: energy, forestry, health, education, environmental
protection and resource conservation, emergency and refugee aid, food security, promotion of small industries
- take a participatory approach to advising partners and
- co-operate with other donors, such as EU/ SADC, WB/ RPTES and UNHCR.
Consequently they
- are sustainable,
- more cost-effective, get results faster
- are adapted to the needs of the beneficiaries,
- maximise the transfer and exchange of knowledge, and
- create networks among governmental and non-governmental partner organisations/institutions on the theme of
household energy at national, regional and international level.
