Decentralization of Technical and Programmatic Skills

Although improved cookstove projects (ICPs) have been implemented in Asia since the 1950s, too many projects over too long a period of time have experienced consistently low adoption rates. This is primarily due to two reasons. One reason is the fact that technical cookstove expertise is still highly centralized. Related to this problem is another: the improved stoves introduced across one country are often limited to one or two designs. Trainings which have been held in the past have limited themselves to the design and construction of these one or two designs. These designs, although they may be appropriate to the needs, wants and conditions of one target group, will never be appropriate for all possible target groups – there are too many variables involved.

In answer to this problem the Asia Regional Cookstove Program (ARECOP) based in Yogyakarta, Indonesia and the Food and Agriculture Organization - Regional Wood Energy Development Program (FAO-RWEDP) in Bangkok, Thailand embarked on a collaborative effort to develop and implement Asia regional trainings to decentralize ICP technical skills and programmatic knowledge. This training is different from those before it. It is not designed to transfer particular stove designs or stove building techniques. It invites participants to use a process of selecting a stove and dissemination pattern which does not ignore the multitude of variables which are connected to any stove. These variables include, but are not limited to: fuels commonly used, available stove materials and their characteristics, economic limitations, gender roles, kitchen size and layout, preferred cooking position, cooking habits, foods commonly cooked, traditions, household industries, non-cooking functions of stoves, combustion theory, heat transfer and heat loss theory.

The training is aimed at improved stove project field workers who are involved in the initial surveys and assessment activities and have the most information to make wise choices in modifying the traditional stove or selecting another improved stove design. The process used cannot be defined as technical or non-technical. It is both, as both must be integrated in the development of an appropriate stove design.

Since 1996, ARECOP together with various partners have been conducting the training “Improved Cookstove Selection and Dissemination”, in Indonesia (1996), Cambodia (1997), Bangladesh (1998), Nepal (1998), Vietnam (1999), Philippines (2000), Sri Lanka (2001), Thailand (2002) and Lao P.D.R (2002). The modules have also been translated into several national languages (Indonesian, Vietnamese, Bangladeshi, Nepali, Hindi). Various in-country trainings had also been conducted based on the modules.

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