Thursday, March 16, 2006

My work in Burkina

I think its about time to tell you about my work here in Burkina. I am here to work with members of the program PTF-LCP (Programme National Plateforme Multifonctionnelle/Lutte contre la pauvreté) initiated by United Nations that is geared towards reducing poverty through providing access to energy services. Here is some info on the actual multi-functional plateforme:

-The multifunctional platform is built around a simple diesel engine, than can power various tools, such as a cereal mill, husker, alternator, battery charger, pump, welding and carpentry equipment, etc. It can also generate electricity and be used to distribute water.

- The multifunctional platform also stimulates the creation, development and/or modernisation of other artisan activities in the villages (e.g. blacksmiths, mechanics, carpentry, etc…). It is both manufactured, installed and maintained by private mechanics
If you are interested in learning more about the program, you can visit the following website: http://www.ptfm.net/



So where do I fit in? The main objective of the program in Burkina during 2006 is to install 100 plateformes with 20% of them geared towards micro-electricity and water distribution systems. My job is to collaborate with the engineer on the team to mis on ouvres les activites prevue pour l’annee 2006. Among these activities are conducting feasibility studies on areas of Implementation, creating a preventive maintenance program, follow-up and evaluation of the already installed systems…

So there is a great deal of learning for me which is quite exciting. Another interesting part about the work is that its really a collaboration among many groups and sub-groups. From governmental departments such as ministry of environment and energy to local and international groups such as local NGO Tin Tua and the UNDP, in addition to consultants and many more, for me its really interesting to meet with people in each group, learn about what they do and become a part of this team to achieve a higher goal, reducing poverty in Burkina through access to energy services.

As for the logistics of it; the Burkina program consists of a national office in the capital who consists of six experts (this is what they call themselves “les experts”) in different fields. Then there is four subgroups CAC (cellule d’appui conceille) in four different regions of the country who will proceed with the activities in each region. As part of my job, I am to coordinate the activities between the national office and the CACs. We will see how that goes! I am stationed in Ouagadogou where the national program is but will most likely travel to the four regions quite frequently.
This was an overview of what I am here to do. It may sound all clear and pretty to you. But let me tell you and I can guarantee there will be lots of challenges along the way. This is a development project, and as I've heard, there is no development project that is not complex with fuzzy areas and uncertainties.

0 Comments:

Post a Comment

<< Home