Welcome
The International Center on Small Hydro Power (IC-SHP) welcomes all members to March's newsletter. In this edition:
- SHP News
1) The Global Environmental Fund visited China for future cooperation
- IC-SHP News
1) ICSHP finalist in the World Bank Development Marketplace!
2) The Indian New Consul visited ICSHP
3) International Women¡¯s Day at ICSHP
4) New International Staff at ICSHP The Indian
- Member's Forum
1) Conversion of 400 watt Cut-out into Meter system by the Butwal Company Limited
2) Promoting SHP in Nepal with the Independent Power Producers¡¯ Association
- Opportunities for
Project Funding
1) BID Challenge 2006
2) The Critical Ecosystem Partnership Fund (CEPF)
3) Call for proposals: Middle East and North Africa Iniciative 2006 Grants
4) Intelligent Energy Europe ¨C Call for proposals 2006
- Upcoming Events
1) April
2) May
At the beginning of the month one representative of Global Environment Fund visited Hangzhou and ICSHP, GEF defines itself on their web site as an international investment firm that invests in clean technology and emerging markets.? GEF invest in, and provide management support to, companies that make positive contributions to environmental quality, human health and the sustainable management of natural resources. The Firm¡¯s investments focus especially on companies whose business operations deliver measurable environmental improvements through deployment of improved environmental infrastructure and ¡°clean¡± technologies. The aim of visit was getting an overview of the current status, tends and regulatory framework of the Small Hydropower sector in China and to lay the foundation for a future cooperation. Contact fulviobart@inshp.org for further details.
ICSHP finalist in the World Bank Development Marketplace!
Our proposal to provide remote, low-income households in India with affordable electricity from Pico Hydro on a fee-for-service basis has been shortlisted by the World Bank 2006 Development Marketplace competition!? The proposal, in partnership with the local Indian state government, seeks to establish a replicable financing model to make efficient serviced pico hydro systems affordable to remote communities, without the need for subsidies or development funds.? The proposal was selected as one of 119 finalists out of over 2,500 proposals and we have been invited to defend the project at the World Bank in Washington in May 2006.? Please contact Andrew Ogilvie for further details or enquiries about the project on andrew.ogilvie@inshp.org.
The Indian New Consul visited ICSHP
The new Consul General of India, Mr. V. Prakash, together with Consul Vanlalvawna paid a visit to ICSHP on 24th Feb. ICSHP has very good relation with India Consulate, as ICSHP has very frequent cooperation with India government, institutions and private sectors in the field of small hydropower. Consul General exchanged views and opinions with Prof. Tong, He was keen to cooperate with ICSHP in the further. He also expressed that he would attend the upcoming conference in April.
New International Staff at ICSHP
Evelyn Noy ¨C Development Project Officer ¨C Technical Cooperation Among Developing Countries Division.
Evelyn is a mechanical engineer from Canada with a MA in International Affairs, concentration in international development. She joins INSHP with 6 years of experience in sustainable development. She will be working on a variety of projects, including technology transfer, CDM, and partnership development. Contact: evelyn.noy@inshp.org.
International Women¡¯s Day at ICSHP
International Women's Day (8 March) is an occasion marked by women's groups around the world. This date is also commemorated at the United Nations and is designated in many countries as a national holiday. When women on all continents, often divided by national boundaries and by ethnic, linguistic, cultural, economic and political differences, come together to celebrate their Day, they can look back to a tradition that represents at least nine decades of struggle for equality, justice, peace and development. For the United Nations, International Women's Day has been observed on 8 March since 1975. The Day is traditionally marked with a message from the Secretary-General.
This year¡¯s theme is: Women in decision-making.
More information: http://www.un.org/events/women/iwd/2006
We also celebrated the Women¡¯s Day at ICSHP¡¯s headquarters where the Managing Director, Madame Zeng Yuehua, shared with us the institutional message for this event.
Members' Forum
Conversion of 400 watt Cut-out into Meter system by the Butwal Company Limited
The Butwal Company Limited? has recently launched a new policy to convert 400 watt cut-out in to meter system. It is considered as a process of the continual improvement in the distribution system. Most of the customers have welcomed this new system. This new system is being implemented from 6 Bhadra, 2062 in Syangja/Palpa Distribution Centre. Till the end of Bhadra, 2062, a total of 117 consumers from Galyang, Walling and Rampur areas have been converted into meter system. Please contact Erika Imhof erikaimhof@inshp.org for further details.
Promoting SHP in Nepal with the Independent Power Producers¡¯ Association
IPPAN organized a forum with its members on 17th February 2006 at its office. The objective of the program to scrutinize these issues, come up with possible solutions and conduct sustained advocacy to alleviate the problems faced by IPPs. Moreover the current issues on PPA include; 1) NEA not signing any new PPAs despite load shedding, 2)Tariff escalation for 1-10 MW plants. 3) Project promoters sitting on license and not proceeding with development of the projects. On the basis of such information, IPPAN will develop position papers and precede further actions.
More information at: http://www.ippan.org.np/latest_activities.htm.
Funding Opportunities
BID Challenge 2006
The Business in Development (BiD) Challenge 2006 is offering €150.000 in start-up finance for plans that combine income generating business with poverty reduction in a feasible way. Take this opportunity to present your plan and get access to the expertise, experience, finance and network that you need to start your business.
Deadline for submitting proposals: 20 March 2006. Please, see http://www.bidnetwork.org/set-26-en.html for further information. Good luck!
The Critical Ecosystem Partnership Fund (CEPF) is a joint initiative of Conservation International, the Global Environment Facility, the Government of Japan, the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation and the World Bank. CEPF provides strategic assistance to nongovernmental organizations, community groups and other civil society partners to help safeguard Earth¡¯s biodiversity hotspots. The Critical Ecosystem Partnership Fund (CEPF) has a two-part application process. Applicants must first submit a letter of inquiry. If invited, applicants then complete a more detailed proposal. More information: http://www.cepf.net./xp/cepf/apply/index.xml or write us ¨C erikaimhof@inshp.org.
Call for proposals: Middle East and North Africa Iniciative 2006 Grants
OSI's Middle East & North Africa Initiative (MENA) welcomes grant proposals from organizations around the world in accordance with its project aims. Those aims are to support organizations and their projects in the Middle East. Preference is given to local organizations on the ground in the region or initiatives that partner local and foreign organizations' expertise. Grants applications will be accepted on a rolling basis throughout the year, with remaining consideration dates as follows: 1) Applications Due: May 26, 2006; Consideration Date: July 28, 2006; and 2) Applications Due: September 11, 2006; Consideration Date: November 13, 2006.
Further information can be found on:
http://www.soros.org/initiatives/mena/news/menacfp_20060201,
or write us - erikaimhof@inshp.org.
Intelligent Energy Europe ¨C Call for proposals 2006
In total, approximately €51 million of financial support will be made available. Successful applications can expect to receive financial support covering up to 50 per cent of the total costs. The deadline for sending applications will probably be the end of October 2006. More information in:
http://europa.eu.int/comm/energy/intelligent/call_for_proposals/index_en.htm
Upcoming Events
1. International Conference on Renewable Energy for developing countries
April 5-7, 2006 ¨C Washington DC
Contact: http://securereg.udc.edu/icredc.
2. Second Hydropower for Today Conference
April 22-25, Hangzhou - China
Contact: Mr. WANG Yansong: wangyansong@inshp.org.
3. Modelling Managing water Quality in Mediterranean river basins, Montpelier, France
April 24 - 26, 2006 - Montpelier, France
Contact: Jochen Froebrich, Water Quality Protection and management, University of Hannover, Germany Tel: +49 511 762 19411, Fax: +49 511 761 9413, e-mail: jofr@fggm.uni.hannover.de
4. 3rd Asian Renewable Energy Fair & Conference - REAsia 2006
May 29-31, Beijing ¨C China
For more detail information, please visit the website: www.re-asia.com or contact Ms. Nicole Song nicole@gracefair.com, tel:+86-10-64390338.
Click here to get PDF document of newsletter Feb. 2006.
IN-SHP Member Survey
In order to build a clearer idea about what type of assistance IN-SHP members need IC-SHP to provide, we have recently sent survey to all IN-SHP members. If you have not sent your response to us yet, please do so. If you have not yet received the survey from IC-SHP or if you have any questions, please contact Mr. Wang Yansong at hic@mail.hz.zj.cn
