The aim of the present project is to establish a fund for pilot measures on sustainable energy use that can react flexible to rapidly changing needs.

The following types of measures will be promoted:
     • Pilot measures to improve and adapt technical solutions;
     • Pilot measures to prepare and test markets;
     • Pilot measures to test and adapt economic and organisational methods of
       disseminating innovations;
     • Seminars and workshops to introduce new topics;
     • Training sessions on capacity building;
     • Preparation of materials.

The pilot measures will help to establish a sustainable basic energy supply that is used by small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and households under market conditions. The measures act at micro and meso level. However the evaluation and dissemination of the results forges links to the meso and macro level and helps to accelerate the dissemination of innovative concepts at international level.

In terms of the impact of the individual measures to be promoted, the target group consists of the end users of innovations in the field of sustainable energy use, i.e. small-scale enterprises, households and small utility companies. However, as the primary objective is to disseminate the solutions to be tested, the direct partners in cooperation are public-sector and non-governmental organisations in the energy, environmental protection and natural resources conservation sectors.

Methodological approach and components of support consist in:
     • Support for pilot and demonstration measures on the specific implementation of 
       activities to use and disseminate renewable energy;
     • Comparative evaluation of experience to date;
     • Support for measures to disseminate lessons learnt (workshops, media), 
       organisation of opportunities to share experience;
     • Processing experience in the form of a "compass" for methods and technologies;
     • Expert advisory services to decision-makers and implementing organisations;
     • Impact-oriented monitoring.

The key components of support are:
     • Provision of funds to implement pilot measures in order to test and refine
        technological and methodological innovations and to conduct activities to raise
        awareness and promote use of these innovations;
     • Evaluation and supra-regional dissemination of results in sectoral events;
     • Creation of advisory materials, individual consultancy.

The fund should be established for at least two phases of three years each in order to be able to evaluate, systematize, document and disseminate the experiences and impacts of the projects after their implementation and to be able to incorporate the experiences of the first phase into the concept of the second phase.

The indirect costs for the fund’s administration, consultation of project partners and project analysis and evaluations should not exceed 15 to 20% of the fund’s financing volume for the individual projects which should not fall below € 1,5 million for each phase.

Fulfillment of BFSD Members’ Project criteria:

• International or scalable on an international level:
The fund supports projects in African, Asian and Latin American countries. The projects experiences will be systematized, documented and disseminated internationally.

• Multi-cultural or adaptable for different cultures: 
  - The pilot measures will take place in different countries, in rural and urban regions  
    with different target groups.
  - A connection between the different cultures will take place through the evaluation
    and supra-regional dissemination of the results.

• Contribution to humanity / natural heritage:
   - The dissemination of sustainable energy use decrease work-load of women in
     households and of craftsmen of small enterprises.
   - It reduces environmental impact of energy use

• Sustainable Development aspect:
   - The fund will only support projects which are economically viable, ecologically 
     sound and which improve local participation.

Participation:

• What type of collaborative effort might be possible?
   - Identification of pilot projects and promising approaches
   - Dissemination of the experiences

• What elements might additional partners bring?
   - Financial resources
   - Technical know-how

Additional Information:

Web-link: The link to GATE activities is: www.gtz.de/gate/.

There are currently two similar funds active: 
 - The GATE Small-Scale Project Fund on Appropriate Technology 
 - The environmental Grants Fund