AID contract no. AID/DSAN-CA-0182 with Volunteers in Technical Assistance (VITA) to enhance its ability to extend appropriate energy technologies based on renewable resources to LDCs

THE PROGRAM WILL IMPROVE VITA"S EXISTING TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE MECHANISMS, PROMOTE AND DEVELOP A GLOBAL ALTERNATIVE ENERGY NETWORK, AND SUPPORT, THROUGH A WELL PLANNED SMALL GRANTS PROGRAMS, THE ABILITY OF LOCAL IMPLEMENTING ORGANIZATION TO CARRY OUT SUCCESSFUL RURAL ENERGY EFFORTS. AEP WILL BE ADMINISTERED AS A SEPARATE VITA PROGRAM ARM, ENABLING IT TO DRAW UPON THE CORE VITA PROGRAM. THE PROGRAM CONSISTS OF THREE MAJOR SERVICE DELIVERY COMPONENTS; (1) TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER SERVICES, (2) INTERNATIONAL ALTERNATIVE ENERGY INFORMATION NETWORK, AND (3) SMALL GRANTS PROGRAM. TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER SERVICES ENCOMPASS VITA"S EXISTING RESOURCES -- CONSULTANTS, DOCUMENTATION CENTER, PUBLICATIONS DEVELOPMENT AND DISTRIBUTION, TRAINING, AND EDUCATIONAL ACTIVITIES. THESE ARE SUPPORTED BY ON-GOING PROMOTIONAL CHANNELS AND ARE IMMEDIATELY AVAILABLE. THE INFORMATION NETWORK INVOLVES ESTABLISHING AN INTERNATIONAL POOL OF ORGANIZATIONS AND INDIVIDUALS INVOLVED IN ALTERNATIVE ENERGY. THESE CONTACTS AND INTERACTIONS WILL FACILITATE INFORMATION DISSEMINATION AND ACCESS, INITIATIVE IDENTIFICATION, AND THE USE OF VITA"S TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER SERVICES TO PROMOTE INFORMATION DIFFUSION CENTERS, EACH HAVING THEIR OWN ENERGY DATA BASES AND OUTREACH CAPABILITY. VITA WILL BE AUTHORIZED TO MAKE SMALL SUBGRANTS AVAILABLE TO OTHER PVO"S AND LDC ORGANIZAIONS. TYPICAL ACTIVITIES TO BE FUNDED THROUGH THESE SUBGRANTS ARE ALTERNATIVE ENERGY DEMONSTRATIONS, INVESTIGATIONS OF SMALL BUSINESS POTENTIAL, INSTITUTION BUILDING, PLANNING ASSISTANCE, AND RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT. Update on renewable nergy activities: A new agreement with VITA signed in 1985 includes (1) development of a renewable energy data base, (2) design and implementation of an international woodstove network, and (3) compilation and review of renewable energy technology assessments and conduct of one or two assessments. The latter includes an assessment of windmills (versus photovoltaic systems and diesel pumps) to pump water in Morocco. (PD-FAQ-841)