Sankhuwashabha: Ending Indoor Air Pollution

In late 2016 and early 2017 we worked with EcoHimal Nepal to develop and test smoke free cooking stoves to end indoor air pollution, reduce deforestation and empower women.

After successfully installing and testing 30 stoves, we worked with EcoHimal Nepal to secure funds from the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) and a dedicated Crowdfunder campaign to purchase and install a further 131 smoke free cooking stoves.

The stoves are manufactured in Kathmandu and transported by lorry, tractor and eventually on foot to the villages of Rukuma and Chepuwa. Every single household in these two villages will have a stove and be free of indoor air pollution by the end of 2020.

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Both Chepuwa and Rukuma are incredibly remote, this region of north-east Nepal borders Tibet and lies adjacent to the Makalu Barun National Park. The environment here is fragile and under threat. Traditional open hearth stoves use an enormous amount of wood compared to the more modern metallic stoves we are providing.

We expect use of fuelwood to drop by at least 30%, but we know from the pilot phase that savings can be up to 75%. This means that the local forest can be sustainably managed, households will harvest wood at a rate which allows it to replenish so the overall number of trees remains the same, or even increases. We can’t assume this will happen however, which is why an on the ground project coordinator is employed to educate families on sustainable agro-forestry.

The most noticeable benefit of these stoves is that they have a chimney to remove smoke from the home. Our aim is therefore to end indoor air pollution for every household in the two villages.

Finally, the stoves are more efficient and cleaner. This means less time spent on chores like collecting and stacking wood, cooking and cleaning. This frees up an enormous amount of time for women in the household who can use this time to pursue their business or educational ambitions.

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Goal

Empower indigenous community to adapt to and mitigate climate change.

Objectives

  1. Installation and use of metallic Improved Cooking Stoves

  2. Raise awareness of local communities on:

    • the impacts of indoor air pollution on human health,

    • deforestation,

    • forest conservation,

    • and climate change mitigation and adaptation

Measures

  • Improved cooking stoves installed in 100% of households;

  • Firewood consumption reduced by at least 30%;

  • Reduce indoor air pollution in at least 90% of households;

  • At least one woman and one young person in each household is aware of climate change issues;

Activities

  • Coordination with local, provincial and central level government and other organizations;

  • Coordinate with fabrication companies and fabrication of ICS

  • Capacity building training on installation and use of ICS

  • Installation of ICSs phase wise in all HHs

  • Education on forest conservation, degradation of high pasture forest, climate change and its relation of forest and people’s daily lives and long term effect to the coming generation

  • Awareness raising of local people on effect of indoor air pollution on indoor hygiene practices

  • Sensitization and empowerment of CFUGs

  • Monitoring and Follow Ups of installed ICSs

  • Reviews and Feedbacks from ICSs users HHs

  • Mid-term and final evaluation of the project

  • Sharing of findings and learning of ICS to the wider public

Number of people expected to directly benefit

  • 160 HH of Rukuma and Chepuwa village, ward 2 of Bhotkhola rural municipality;

  • 830 people of 160 HHs;

  • Women, children, youth and senior citizens, 32.53% (270 Youths) and 52.16% (433 women)

  • 2 Community Forest Users Groups

  • Indigenous organization (CBOs)

Number of people expected to indirectly benefit

  • 1,110 HH of ward 1,3,4, and 5 (neighbouring wards)

  • 5,746 People

Our partners in Nepal, Eco Himal, report to us on a quarterly basis and produce an annual final report. Quarterly and annual reports are saved on our Project Reports page.

Location

Chepuwa and it’s smaller neighbour Rukuma are in Sankhuwashabha, north-east Nepal:

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