Fuelwood and alternative energy sources (ICAITI)

The evaluation (PD-AAQ-636) covered the period 9/82-8/84 and was prepared by the USAID/Ecuador Energy Officer as an update of a 7/82 mid-term evaluation conducted by VITA (PD-AAL-648). ICAITI has responded to VITA"s recommendations and major project objectives are being accomplished. The project"s success and the significant commercial applicability of many specific technologies (e.g., bakery ovens, lime and lumber kilns, biogas digesters, and solar hot water salt systems) have led ROCAP to extend the project through 6/86 at increased funding in order to allow ICAITI to enlarge its efforts to disseminate and transfer these technologies, especially among small- and medium-scale industries and commercial farms. ROCAP found the recommendations of the USAID evaluation very useful in deciding on this extension and its concrete activities; for example, the recommended industrial survey will help shift project emphasis to private sector commercial applications. Some of the project"s most important concepts have been accepted satisfactorily in rural areas and farms and are being disseminated with the help of national institutions and PVO"s. National committees have been formed to disseminate the most promising technologies in areas not yet covered by ICAITI. This dissemination is expected to decrease fuelwood use and increaseuser convenience.