Decentralized Rural Energy Project

ANNEX III
TECHNICAL REVIEW
BENIN
DECENTRALIZED RURAL ENERGY PROJECT
Response to STAP Reviewer Comments:
ANNEX III
Page 1 of 10
The World Bank-GEF Project Concept Document is an upstream presentation of a project under
preparation and also limited in length and detail. As such, a number of the STAP reviewer
comments relate to elements of the project which exist or will be further developed during advanced
project preparation and detailed in final project documentation. Specifically: administrative,
coordination and communication details will be provided in a project implementation plan and an
annex which summarizes social analysis and agreed participatory approach as it relates to the GEF
policy on public involvement.
The following responses relate directly to STAP Reviewer comments - and have been largely
incorporated into the revised project text.
Community and NGO participation. Participation and role of communities and NGOs will be
further detailed during planned project preparation activities. A workshop is planned in the course of
this FY to gather national stakeholders/PV entrepreneurs in order to collect their inputs about design
and implementation aspects. Findings will be incorporated into a participatory approach document
which will detail procedures relating to transparency and inclusion of communities and NGOs.
Project design is strongly participatory in that participation of communities is based on self selection
preceded by extensive information and awareness campaigns.
Training and information dissemination. Cross-fertilization would be carried out in part through
the Bank thematic groups activities. The Bank's Thematic Leader for Renewable and Rural Energy,
will be consulted for the organization of the "small meeting, potentially in conjunction with Village
Power '98, for project participants from not only the Benin Decentralized Rural Energy Project, but
also other similar efforts elsewhere (e.g. the Togo Decentralized Rural Energy Project, the PV
projects in Mexico, Indonesia, and Zimbabwe, and with PVMTI participants)." Some project funds
would also be allocated to address the suggestion of a study tour as provided in the comments: "...a
fact-finding trip to East Africa, or a reciprocal visit by members of the PV industry there (Kenital,
Kenya Solar, Total Solar, etc.) could be a cost effective and important investment." Additional
mechanisms for sharing and dissemination of data will also be explored during project preparation as
part of the technical assistance components.
Training and information programs are programmed in the following areas: (a) accreditation for PV
technicians (see Table 6 of Annex 1); (b) Multi-media consumer awareness programs (see Table 6 of
Annex 1); and (c) project team training in project management and utility regulations. The main idea
is to train the project team how to assess the performance of private operators and in enforcement
relating to the PV Code of Practice and the agreements of the lease contract signed by the private
ANNEX III
Page 2 of 10
operators. Additional training needs and information dissemination mechanisms will be explored
during project preparation as part of the information campaigns and training component.
Option to lease. The project proposal is consistent with the STAP Reviewer's emphasis on the
importance of option to lease systems.
Lanterns vs. solar home systems. Surveys undertaken during project preparation determined the
type and size of the systems in which the target markets were strongly interested: 20 and 50 Wp SHS
were preferred because of the possibility to have at least 2 to 4 lighting points and/or a radio and
television. However, it was agreed that there was a potential market for lanterns in the poorer section
of the target zone. To deal with this situation, the project will be designed so as to assist private