Practical information

Massive Dissemination of Improved Domestic Charcoal Cook stoves

René Massé

To design improved cook stoves that comply with the requirements of cooking traditional dishes, but also with the ability of local craftsmen to manufacture and widely disseminate them instead of traditional stoves, it is first necessary to know about the habits of the families and craftsmen and which constraints they have to deal with.

The massive dissemination of improved cook stoves has therefore to start ... more...

The issue of improved cookstoves: Advantages and challenges of the spread of improved cook stoves

René Massé

Over recent years, a variety of projects aiming to spread the use of improved cookstoves have been realised. The first NGOs introduced the improved cookstoves on a local level in order to reduce the dangers that come with traditional stoves: to prevent children from burn injuries and reduce respiratory problems caused by inhaling smoke from indoor cooking. These projects have progressively been ... more...

Designing an Improved Domestic Cookstove on a Charcoal Basis in Sub-Saharan Africa

René Massé

In Sub-Saharan Africa, the traditional charcoal stove is fairly similar across a range of countries; it is commonly called "Malagasy stove" -- perhaps in reference to its origin. An improved cookstove is first and foremost a stove consuming less charcoal than the Malagasy stove. But its design requires that other constraints and conditions are taken into account to allow for a massive and dynamic distribution. Thus we will ... more...

The challenges faced by rural electrification funds

René Massé

Rural electrification funds (REF) serve as intermediaries between the institution financing these funds and the beneficiaries of their services, the rural electrification operators, and even credit institutions. Therefore they have to be set up in a way that enables them to respond quickly to the evolving needs of the operators and the banks and to the requirements imposed by donors.

The following is a non-exhaustive ... more...

Institutional Framework for a Program of Rural Electrification

René Massé

1. Rural Electrification (Monitoring of repayments by the licensees and the settlement of litigation RE) in Africa

The majority of countries which have achieved electrification of their rural areas have done so through their national electricity companies, and out of their own capital

In Africa, we can put the countries into five groups based on their rate of rural electrification^more...