Consumer Awareness and Communication

Despite the expansion of SHP and other renewables in many countries, there are still some issues to be addressed in order to reach a fair level of development for this technology. One of these issues is the lack of awareness and information about the technology and its benefits. If policy-makers, energy planners, vendors, developers and consumers do not have access to accurate, easiliy grasped information on the technology, they will not be able to make a responsible choice of service. (Source: Alliance for Rural Electrification, 2008)

The following information is based on the report by the Department of Industry/ World Bank (2003): Remote Area Renewable Electricity Fund (RARE) Pilot Programm. Trainign Manual for Community Mobilisation

What is community mobilization?

Community mobilization is the process by which members a community come together to achieve collective goals.

What is the aim of community mobilisation?

• To assist the community to make an informed decision about whether they want to participate in the projects.
• If they do, to establish the capability for the community to manage and operate a self-sustaining commune based micro hydro mini-grid.

Why is Community Mobilisation important? The community is expected to manage operate and maintain the project itself. To make sure the scheme works successfully local people need to:

• know about and understand their responsibilities,
• be consulted and help to make decisions,
• help to build and operate the scheme (so they know how it works)
• commit to keeping it working by paying their fees, and have confidence that their fees are used properly
• benefit from the project

The principles that RARE fosters through community mobilization are:

• ensure people whose voices are not always heard (for example women, some poorer households) are encourage to speak up;
• ensure the community is consulted about issues that concern them and is involved in decision-making;
• foster the development of local organisations to develop themselves;
• develop skills in local people.

Challenges of community mobilization are:

• some people may be unwilling to give up their individual interests to the broader benefit of the community as a whole
• may create tension for the communes and organizations
• requires leadership and other skills that may not readily exist within the communes and organizations
• requires a greater commitment of resources, leadership and time - community mobilization may be perceived as less important than other aspects of the project

Case study: India - Community-Based Rural Micro Hydro Project: This project used a process-based, learning-by-doing approach to building and operating a micro hydro plant in this community. The community invested a significant amount in the project, both financially and in-kind. The community now runs and maintains its own power system,and is more interested in preserving the local forest than previously.