Category Archives: Event

Community Development Officer Workshop

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Kakute projects hosted a workshop on February 2022 that brought together senior community development officers from the northern regions of Tanzania. SCDO’s involved in the workshop were coming from Arusha DC, Meru DC, and Longido representing Arusha region, Moshi DC, Same DC, and Mwanga DC representing Kilimanjaro region, Mbulu DC, Babati DC, and Kiteto DC representing Manyara region as well as SCDO from Dodoma City Council, that makes total of 10 SCDOs.

The workshop begun with the Opening Speech by Mama Blandina Nkini, the regional community development officer of Arusha.  On her Speech she insisted about the importance of cooperation between NGO’s and Community development officers as she mentioned that private sector including NGOs are the second hand of the government despite of the fact that they did not receive any fund from the government.

Mama Blandina Nkini - Arusha Regional Community Development Officer

Mama Blandina Nkini – Arusha Regional Community Development Officer

After the opening speech, the guests were briefed on the objectives of the workshop and expected result from that workshop

The main objectives of the workshop were: –

  1. To meeting with DCDOs from identified District in order to understand potential social and economic livelihoods existed in the identified districts and the challenges faced by community.

  2. To recognize the Role of Non-Governmental Organizations and Government in addressing and mitigating those challenges and way forward

  3. To introduce the PP Power solution to DCDOs and explain the business opportunities available through using PP Power solution and to discuss how to reach groups of entrepreneurs and youth groups in their districts

The CDO’s were introduced with the history of KAKUTE Project from 1995, it was then followed with the presentation about Business development service (BDS) which is the main core activity of KAKUTE project.

All the planned objectives were discussed for two days including Presentation of PP Power solutions along with demonstration where Business opportunities available through using PP Power battery and make an extra profit by investing in a PP Power solution were presented such as

  • Doing barber business.

  • Keep the light on the kiosk and extend the time to serve customers.

  • Keeping light on livestock sheds, like chicks shed.

The workshop closed with the speech of Mr. Cosmas Ngafa, senior community development officer from Dodoma city council, who also continued to emphasize cooperation between NGOs and community development officers as they are the ones responsible for leading those NGOs in their respective areas of work.

Mr. Cosmas Ngafa – Senior Community Development Officer from Dodoma City Council

End user training at Arusha

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On 20th and 21st December 2021, KAKUTE Projects conducted end user training which brought together, all intervened end users, Community Development Officers (CDOs), Ward Executive Officers (WEOs), and Mtaa Executive Officers (MEOs) found in the areas where intervened entrepreneur (end user) are found. The purpose of the training was to assessing the solutions to understand the innovation model, with a specific focus on technology, efficiency, financing, market linkages, and delivery models.

The training was for 2 days opened by Mr. Livinus Manyanga the executive Director of KAKUTE Projects on 20th December and Closed on 21st December by Deputy Regional Administrative Secretary (RAS), Mr. Chitukuro. Lesson learnt from end users, where they are now, where they come from and where they want to be. Also challenges they faced, opportunities in their business and competitions

End user participants and implementers of all community-based projects were able to share experiences by discussing the successes and challenges in implementing projects and strategies to eliminate those challenges. Also, end users were taught on how they should be creative entrepreneurs and how to utilize available opportunities and were introduced to the techniques to employ so as to combat potential competitors in the future.

An evaluation of the steps that have  been taken to see if the initiated projects have been able to meet the needs of other development partners and raise capital and funding to raise business capital and also end users where introduced on  how to identify productive stakeholders in strengthening projects initiated within the Community and discuss ways to establish relationships with business development stakeholders such as Financial Institutions, Technology Distributors, Technology Developers and Government Institutions.

End users were able to provide feedback and their experience which they have encountered whilst seek for loan from financial institutions. Among of the mentioned challenges were, some of financial institutions do not accept land as a collateral, farmers in order to access loan must cultivate more than 50 acres of land, some financial institutions do not accept estate as a collateral but they accept house. Other entrepreneurs conveyed that they were told by the financial institutions that they do not meet loan requirements

Also participants were introduced on the steps to follow in order to formalize their business, which were to register the business name, how to acquire TIN number, tax clearance, ho to acquire business license, how to open a bank account, and all licenses which are required in depending with the nature of the business.

Guest of honor thanked, all participants who attend a two-day seminar. He agreed that he was able hear end users described the successes they have achieved and the challenges they are currently face, he proceeds by agreed that he was able hear the techniques that end users will use so as to eliminate those challenges. He also insisted all stakeholders to continue to work together with KAKUTE in order to achieve their business goal which aimed at increasing their income and providing employment opportunities in their areas they come. Also, he expressed greetings from the Government to all participants and KAKUTE team, and he then thanks the sponsors of the project DOEN Foundation and the implementer of the project KAKUTE Projects for the good work being done in Dodoma, Iringa and Morogoro.

In the entrepreneurial journey, education is a very important factor for success. The required education includes education on how to manage a business, record keeping, marketing and customer acquisition techniques, how to capture the market for the products or services you offer. From the training participants agreed that before trainings provided by KAKUTE they didn’t know how to manage their businesses, record keeping or having a business plan. On the other hand, many entrepreneurs/end users agreed that prior the training they were un aware on how they can formalize their business, as well as the importance of business formalization something which is among of the requirements in acquiring loans from financial institutions.

Stakeholder and Project Partners Meeting

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On  23rd November 2021, KAKUTE Projects and SELCO Foundation from India convened  a meeting  of  partners and stakeholders at  the  African Dreams Hotel in Dodoma to discuss  the  implementation  of  the  Decentralized Renewable Energy (DRE) project that is Developing Grassroots Energy Innovations for Productive Use and Well-Being in Rural Tanzania that funded by DOEN Foundation from Netherlands and implemented by KAKUTE Projects in partnership with SELCO foundation, SAGCOT and Local Government Authority (LGA). The main objective is to improve rural livelihoods, which can be divided into agricultural and non-agricultural sub-sectors, which has been implemented in three phases namely Scoping & Identification, Ground Intervention & Forge Partnership and Documentation & Dissemination.

The meeting was attended by various people from different sectors such as Entrepreneurs (beneficiaries of the project), Solar technology solution suppliers/ technicians, Egg Incubator Fabricator, Financial institutions, Government institutions, journalists and Other project partners. The purpose of this meeting was to bring together the stakeholders and provide them with feedback on project implementation for two years of pilot, as well as to identify the achievements and challenges encountered during implementation and to agree on strategies to address them.

The meeting presentations  and discussions were  structured  around  four sessions which include

  1. Emerging Business Models for DRE – Livelihood Solutions in Dodoma

  2. Challenges and learnings from the enterprise side: Discussion on the key learnings and way forward from the supply side (energy enterprise and the technology providers.

  3. Role and potential of local government in complementing DRE – Livelihoods: Inputs and potential way forward on leveraging the support from Community Development Officers (CDOs)

  4. Unlocking financing for DRE solutions: Barriers, possibilities, potential solutions to complement livelihood programs in Tanzania (Dodoma and beyond)

Decentralized energy services remain at the forefront in the fight against poverty. Small and Medium Enterprises (SME) are driving this effort to provide an alternative to Government owned utilities and other large energy providers in rural poor  community in Tanzania. SMEs allow entrepreneurs to provide alternative energy supply in remote and rural areas while also providing jobs, lowering energy costs, and reducing carbon and other greenhouse gas emissions.

KAKUTE Projects makes renewable energy available for productive use in rural area where there is no connection to grid. Our integration is through technology innovators  living in rural areas in Tanzania who share our vision by looking at the obstacles facing the end user. The solutions that involve financial (micro-loans), technical (a customized product) and social (training). We always aim at paving the way to clean, reliable energy for as many people as possible.

We have been able to install 16 technical solution to rural innovators living in Dodoma (Dodoma City district), Iringa (Iringa rural District) and Morogoro (Kilombero district). People access to renewable energy for productive use in Agricultural value chain, poultry value chain and livestock vaccination, water and sanitation, and Livelihood solutions.

These interventions focus on decentralized energy innovations and can improve livelihoods, and also develop implementation models that address both demand and supply-side challenges and result in equitable economic growth and reduce the impact of poverty in rural areas.

The biggest challenge for solar technology is that many people still do not know whether solar power can be used for production. Solar power equipment is expensive and requires a lot of capital so some people need it but they can’t afford it. Although Tanzania is trying to develop the renewable energy, there are challenges that disrupt the efforts that are initiated by the government and other renewable energy stakeholders in Tanzania and one of them is financing. The high initial investment cost and higher interest rate on loan and requirement for collateral as one among the critical challenges facing renewable energy development in most developing countries including Tanzania. Initial investment is a unique and essential tool for any project development as it enhances investor’s confidence and reduces the financial gap. There are few or no incentives for local manufacturing or importation of renewable energy equipment such as solar devices.

LESSON LENT FROM THE MEETING

DRE Private-sector  enterprises  play  a  critical  role  in  delivering  energy  services. End user innovators and technology supplier lack  of  access  to  financing  requires  banks  to  be  flexible  in  their  investigations and  to  become  familiar  with  specific  issues  facing  this  sector.  There  is  a  need for  the  public  sector  to  invest  in  infrastructure  that  supports  scale-up  activities.

The  impact  of  programs  on Agri and non-Agricultural  technology innovation-specific  issues  and  the  environment  is important  to  consider  in  rural  area  DRE programs. Further,  many  issues  facing  the  end user and private  supplier are  not  energy  specific,  but  applicable  to  all  entrepreneurs  in  the supply chain in the sector. The  workshop  presentations  and  discussions  stress  the  need  for  public  and private  sectors  to  take  a  nontraditional  approach  to  public-private  partnerships to  support  DRE technology  employed  in  rural  areas  of  poor community in the off grid.  Deployment  of  this  technology  faces  many  challenges, including  poor  quality  equipment,  weak  or  unpredictable  demand, the  absence of  quality  control  standards,  and  the  lack  of  a  viable  manufacturing  and commercial supply of energy efficient technologies and services. Nevertheless, the solutions and demonstration on the ground interventions are demonstrating  that  such  an  industry  could  be  fully  commercialized in the long run.  It  is  possible  for  public-private  partnerships  to  stimulate  growth, improve  efficiency, and make better  use  of  subsidy  funds. DRE is  not  just  about  providing  electricity and technology;  affordable  maintenance systems  are  needed.  Also,  standards  are  needed  to  ensure  technology  is  employed  properly  and  equipment  is  installed  properly.

RECOMMENDATIONS

  • A lot of people have an insufficient understanding of these technologies. Most of the issues in renewable energy development and technologies such as knowledge of its establishment, application, and socioeconomic and environmental importance are still unknown to the public.

  • Match the technology/equipment with  local  needs  and  ensure  adequate  infrastructure  to  support  investment  and

  • Characterize the  DRE Technology solutions  as  end user entrepreneurial  at its    People  in  this  sector  are  not  just  focused  on  technology;  they  are developing  innovative  business  models.

  • Access to  energy  should  drive  economic  development  and  consumers should  be  encouraged  to  be

  • Consider alternative ways  of  performing  investigations  on  entrepreneurs  with  little  or  no history  of  financial statements, especially  in  the project area

WAY FORWARD

  • Decentralize  production  to  keep  distribution  costs  low and build production  facilities  close  to  markets  to  prevent  loss  of  product  during  transport.

  • Negotiate  with  micro-finance  institutions  to  provide  lower  interest  loans. Target end user and supplier of technology solutions, since the case study  shows that end user have  been more responsible  borrowers  than  supplier, paying  loans  back  on  time.

  • Keep production  costs  low  to  assure,  at  the  bare  minimum, the  same  benefits  and  profits  seen  in  the  production  of  DRE solution on the ground.

  • Evaluate the ground intervention impact to community for sustainability, including  agricultural and nonagricultural solution, as  a  possible  way  to  reduce  triagery high  labor  costs  and  make  facilities  economically  viable.

  • Provide quality  control  training to end user on the use of technology and business development services.

  • Support  technology producers with  training  in  basic  skills  and  best  practices  in accounting,  raw  materials  procurement,  inventory  control,  and  marketing and  promotion.