Solar Cooking Case Study: Appropriate ICTs for Development in Nigeria

A Solar Cooking Case Study: Appropriate ICTs for

Development in Nigeria

September 2005

Carole St. Laurent

[email protected]

(416) 762-2245

Project Background

Visited Oke-Ogun Community Development Network (OCDN) in Ago-Are, Oyo State, Nigeria (south-east) 10,000 people, farming community, OCDN

introduced computer training centre in 2003

No telephones; poor radio reception OCDN Internet café as of 2004

Project Background (cont’d)

Fantsuam Foundation (FF) is an organization in BayanLoco, near Kafanchan, Kaduna State, Nigeria (central)

Micro-finance, computer training, and Internet café

Partners with OCDN on some projects

Map of Nigeria

Ago-Are, Oyo State

BayanLoco, near Kafanchan, Kaduna State

Project Background (cont’d)

OCDN and FF: Prior interest in solar cooking Emailed and online instructions, text +

diagrams, were not successfully implemented

Would video be a more effective training medium due to literacy, oral culture, and its richer communication possibilities through audio and visual content?

Benefits of Audiovisuals

We retain:* 10% of what we read 20% of what we hear 30% of what we see 50% of what we hear and see 70% of what we say 90% of what we say and do

*Robert Pike, as cited in Javidi, Giti and Sheybani, Ehsan. 2004. Effects Of Interactive Multimedia In Distance Learning. http://www-ice.upc.es/butlleti/innsbruck/416-114.pdf (updated Feb. 2004; accessed Aug. 20, 2005).

SC Project Created

Result: Solar Cooking Video Project Goals:

SC outreach in two communities to improve economic well-being, health, and the environment

Via local Solar Cooking (SC) Training Videos Evaluate their effectiveness

Solar Cooking Training Video Production Training Website Development/Online Tools

Training

Importance of Solar Cooking

“In some locations, many families are said to spend nearly a quarter of their income on firewood.”*

Coal, Kerosene and oil are even more costly Nigeria will be completely deforested in 2020

at current depletion rates** 70% of Nigerians live on < US$1 per day*** Renewable Energy for Rural Industrialization and Development in Nigeria, UNIDO,

2003

**Environment and Energy for Poverty Reduction Programme, Government of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and UNDP, May 20, 2004

Importance of Solar Cooking (cont’d)

Over 1,100 people die each day in sub-Saharan Africa due to illness caused by cooking smoke – mostly women and children.*

Collecting firewood and cooking over a fire is a significant burden on women

*African Networks for Health Research and Development (AFRO-NETS). 2004. Indoor Air Pollution - The Killer in the Kitchen. http://www.afronets.org/archive/200410/msg00058.php (updated Oct. 15, 2004; accessed Aug. 12, 2005)

Importance of Solar Cooking (cont’d)

46% of Nigerians lack clean water* Typhoid fever, and other water-borne

diseases, cause significant health problems in Nigeria**

Solar cookers can pasteurize water and prevent diseases and untimely deaths.

*Environment and Energy for Poverty Reduction Programme, Government of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and UNDP, May 20, 2004

**Dr. Chris Azukaeme, Kafanchan, Nigeria

CooKit Panel Solar Cooker

Rashid Adesiyan checking water in CooKit Panel Solar Cooker, Ago-Are, Nigeria (Note: the pot must be put in a clear plastic bag for effective solar cooking)

Box Solar Cooker

Box Solar Cooker with Glass Lid, Ago-Are, Nigeria (with Rukayat Adewumi, front, and Grace, back)

Parabolic Solar Cooker

Parabolic Solar Cooker, BayanLoco, Nigeria (left to right: Maria Ajayi, Pastor David Adesokan, Ezekiel Kyari)

Ago-Are Community,South-western Nigeria

Community

Project Overview

Carole St. Laurent

Trainer / Researcher

Oke-Ogun Community Development Network

ICT Training, Internet Café

BayanLoco Community,Central Nigeria

Community

Fantsuam Foundation

Micro-finance, ICT Training , Internet Café

Project Outputs

Two Nigerian NGOs gained skills in: Solar Cooking Video Production Simple Website Production

Two Solar Cooking Videos were created: How to Solar Cook (in Hausa) How to Build a Box Solar Cooker (in Yoruba)

Project Outputs (cont’d)

Preliminary Research indicates that: Video effectively communicates general

solar cooking information, motivations, use, recipes

Complex instructions need more support (e.g., video improvements, interactive training method, or hands-on practice)

Diffusion of Innovations

Diffusions of Innovations (DOI) is a popular model for development – e.g., agricultural extension agents reach some farmers, who reach their neighbours with new innovations

Huge problem: sometimes only 14% of message reaches neighbours, and 25% of it is distorted

Video + Diffusion Efforts = Improvement

Video improves the diffusion of innovations model: Improves access to 100% of the original

message, without distortions This allows successful implementation of

the innovation, versus trying and failing due to inadequate knowledge

50% of audiovisual material retained, versus 10% of messages that are heard

Video + Diffusion Efforts = Improvement (cont’d)

Increased success with innovation will increase its spread (otherwise, a good innovation could receive a poor reputation and its benefits be missed out on by communities)

The best way to share the information is from local actors in the local language with local modifications e.g., locally created videos

Project Outputs (cont’d)

More educated community members grasped solar cooking principles more quickly, and took stronger leadership roles in workshops

Points to effective use of video in “train the trainer model”

Communicating for Change in Nigeria uses this model with videos, primarily for HIV/AIDS awareness

ICT4D Historical Development Pyramid

Focus on ICT4D (applications, software, processes)

TI

ME

Focus on Digital Divide, Infrastructure (phones, Internet, electricity)

Development goals remained unmet. ICTs alone have a limited impact on development.

Activity

Literacy, ICT skills, language, gender, content relevance and language, and social needs are critical enabling factors.

ICTs “by the people for the people,” based on local context, language, and needs.

Lessons Learned

Focus on local content creation (new fonts, localised software)

OCDN – Some of the People

L to R: Chief Adejumo*, Chief Adetola*, Pam McLean+, Education Minister, Chief Mojoinola*, David Mutua~

*Board of Directors

+Volunteer/Founder from UK

~Project Manager, 2003-2004

OCDN Information Centre

Mujidat Lawal, OCDN Trainer (2004-2005)

Bringing diesel for the generator on a taxi

Rukayat Adewumi, OCDN Trainer (2005 - )

L to R: Internet Customer, Carole St. Laurent, Rukayat Adewumi, Photocopy Customer, at the OCDN Info Centre

Building a Box Solar Cooker

David Mutua (L), shows people how to construct a box solar cooker at OCDN Info Centre, Ago-Are.

Video Training

Carole showing Stephen (L) and Tobi Ajayi (R) how to edit videos.

Shooting Construction

Producing Yoruba Video

Enjoying Soccer, OCDN

The new Television Viewing Centre attracts customers for soccer games, and is available for educational programs such as the solar cooking training.

Video Training, FF

Carole leading the first Video Production course at Fantsuam Foundation ICT training centre, Kafanchan.

Building Box SC at FF

Building Panel SC at FF

Team Members at FF

Ezekiel Kyari, Carole St. Laurent, Gloria Ayuba, David Mutua