Embed Size (px)
DESCRIPTION
Citation preview
| www.avani-kumaon.org | [email protected] | +91.9412092982 |
“AVANI has generated optimism by initiating programs that bring technology and employ-ment to over 5,000 families which promises to reverse the trend of migration in search of work.” - Rajnish Jain, Director
Problem Statement:Over 7 million people in the Central Himalayan Region live close to large tracts of pine forests with diminishing access to fuel wood, water, and other life support systems, because fires caused by the pine needles destroy the ecosystem.
Theory of Change:
Avani provides a village-level cook-ing energy solution that reduces fuel gathering time by 70% over wood, provides smoke-free homes, and reduces deforestation, which protects the health of people and forests, while generating income and reducing carbon emissions by generating clean electricity.
Headquarters: Pithoragarh, Uttarakhand, India
Established: 1999
Impact Areas: India
Type: Non-Profit/NGO
Sectors: Environment
Staff Size: 28 and 120 volunteers
Annual Budget: $362,360
Major Funders: Ford Foundation, Volkart Foundation
Awards: Ashden Awards, Honorary Mention, 2007
AVANI - GSBI™ Class of 2010
PROMOTING APPROPRIATE TECHNOLOGY AND CONSERVATION BASED LIVELIHOOD OPPORTUNITIES
Solution:AVANI’s latest energy initiative generates energy from locally gathered pine needles. Unlike most bioenergy projects, this one uses a feedstock (pine needles) that is harmful if it is not har-vested, to generate combustible gases that produce electricity which it sells to the local grid utility. It also addresses the most energy intensive and vital household process – cooking by sup-plying charcoal, which is a by-product, at a price cheaper than gas or kerosene. Families can pay for the charcoal either in cash or by collecting pine needles.
This profile was developed during the 2010 Global Social Benefit Incubator™, the signature program of Santa Clara University’s Center for Science, Technology and Society. Updated 8/26/2010. www.scu.edu/sts/gsbi
Investment Required:$450,000 in grants and loans over two years for piloting and scaling up the pine-needle gasification energy busi-ness.
Social Impact:
Required Budget:
Growth Plan:
2011: 120 Kw gasifier system in oper-ation meeting needs of 8,000 people.
2013: 3 gasifier systems in operation meeting the needs of 24,000 people and generating enough profits to fund expansion.
2014: Self-sustainable with $360k cash positive to further expand our operations
Impact to Date:• 25 villages electrified and a thriving business that produces
solar energy and employs rural youth• Over 500 artisans and farmers earning income from our silk
and wool textile enterprise• Team of 30 rural youth trained in-house to run the enter-
prise• Almost 50% of the management team is women
Milestones Achieved:
1999: Rural poor started paying for solar technology services
2003: Electrified 9 villages with EU Funding
2005: Ford Foundation grant to start wild silk cultivation project
2006: Pine needle gasifier started generating electricity used for various activities at AVANI center
2009: Wild silk cultivation and pro-cessing business became a profitable artisan’s cooperative
| www.avani-kumaon.org | [email protected] | +91.9412092982 |
“Thanks to the training Avani gave me, I was able to teach my husband to weave, and we now have a handsome income with-out having to migrate from our beautiful village.” – Deepa Bora, Digoli Village, Central Himalayas
PROMOTING APPROPRIATE TECHNOLOGY AND CONSERVATION BASED LIVELIHOOD OPPORTUNITIES .
