STEP CHANGE: Demonstration of the Potential of Renewable Energy for Productive Use in Rural Uganda

Created Aug. 30, 2021, 3:26 p.m.
Updated Jan. 11, 2022, 11:25 a.m.

Off-Grid Renewable Energy in Agriculture

Action for Rural Women’s Empowerment (ARUWE) together with Caritas Kasanaensis Luwero and Ndejje University is conducting research on Off-Grid Renewable Energy in Agriculture. The research aims at demonstrating the Potential of Renewable Energy for Production Use in Rural Uganda.  Renewable energy in agricultural production can be a useful way of responding to the increasing energy demand of the sector as well as a means for promoting social and environmental sustainability. STEP CHANGE will develop knowledge about the impact of renewable energy technology for productive use in rural Uganda via a citizen science approach. Citizen scientists selected from farmers of six agricultural cooperatives and interested community members, will participate in the initiative.

In Kyankwanzi, Kiboga and Luwero districts, agricultural cooperatives have been trained and mobilised to use renewable energy technologies. Their impact, notably when it comes to environment, individual and community autonomy, fighting corruption, knowledge transfer, and improved skills for economic benefit, will be investigated. Based on this analysis, it will be explored to what extent the adoption of renewable energy in agricultural production can be a useful way of responding to the increasing energy demand of the sector as well as a vehicle to promote social and environmental sustainability.

Building on lessons learnt, the Citizen Science Initiative will collect evidence on the potential of up-scaling of these experiences to the whole region while providing an esteem of the up-scaling potential at the national level.

This initiative is part of the Step Change project, which aims to explore how Citizen Science can make science more socially robust, inclusive and democratic. The project, launched in March 2021 and funded under the H2020 programme, will implement 5 Citizen Science Initiatives in the fields of Health, Energy and Environment”.

Aim

Overall objective of the research: Demonstration of potential of off-grid renewable energy (RE) for productive use for agriculture in rural Uganda

Objective 1: To identify the impacts achieved by three ongoing projects in Kyankwanzi, Kiboga and Luwero districts where agricultural cooperatives have been trained and mobilized to use renewable energy technologies 

Objective 2: To provide evidence on the potential of up-scaling of these technology transfer experiences to the whole region and provide an estimate of the up-scaling potential at national level.

How to participate

Citizen scientists are being recruited from the agricultural cooperatives from Kiboga, Kyankwanzi and Luwero; and from private and public from the agriculture and energy sectors in Uganda. They will  participate in the finalization of the research methodology, providing information and data collection. Citizen Scientists will also participate in data analysis and dissemination to inform policy briefs. Participants will also upscale the adoption of renewable energy use in rural Uganda.

Needed equipment

Phones and Laptops

About branding

Profile image design by: ARUWE

Logo design by: Step Change

Completed from 01/03/2021 until 31/12/2023
Keywords
Environmental Justice Technology Climate Change
Science Topics
Agriculture & Veterinary science Climate & Weather
Tags
Participate from home
Participation tasks
Learning Problem solving Data analysis Audio or video recording Identification Observation Photography Data Entry Transcription
Coordinator
Other Organisations involved
Caritas Kasana Luwero
Non-governmental
Location
Regional

Agricultural Cooperatives in Communities

Contact
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