Mission Solar Cooking Foundation The Netherlands – KoZon (SCN-KoZon)

Solar Cooking Foundation The Netherlands – KoZon is committed to promoting integrated solar cooking (ISC/CSI) and the use of solar energy at the lowest possible cost in East and West Africa. To this effect the Foundation has chosen to adopt a business approach and to stimulate the participation of women in the local economy.

Cooperation in and between East and West African project countries is to lead to the development of Knowledge and Service Centres in this field. The foundation aims primarily to play an advisory role and to create opportunities.

Vision and Policy Solar Cooking Foundation The Netherlands – KoZon (SCN-KoZon)

Integrated Solar Cooking and clean energy products for daily use

Solar Cooking Foundation The Netherlands – KoZon (SCN-KoZon) focuses on supporting the activities of civil society organisations that namely wish to introduce and disseminate wood-saving and solar cooking appliances. The emphasis is on the (Solar) CooKit, the Solar box, the hay basket and a water pasteurisation indicator (WAPI), as well as on wood-saving cooking appliances. This also includes on a smaller scale, the introduction and marketing of solar lamps and small solar panels for daily use. As a rule, households spend a substantial part of their monthly income on the purchase of firewood. In West and East African countries, deforestation is to a large extent caused by using wood as fuel for cooking. Food preparation on open fires creates smoke emissions and causes lung and eye diseases as well as child mortality. For daily living activities, solar energy is a clean and safe source of energy. Solar cooking is invariably combined with other sustainable cooking methods such as wood-saving cooking appliances and hay baskets: Integrated Solar Cooking (ISC) / Cuisine Solaire Intégrée (CSI).

Participation of women in the local economy

In order to improve the living standards of women, SCN-KoZon promotes and supports local ISC/CSI initiatives in which women can participate fully.  The involvement of women in these projects allows them to improve their position, to generate income and to participate in the local economy. Women have hands-on experience in cooking and daily activities. Indeed, in practice they turn out to be excellent marketers, promoters and instructors but without losing sight of the supporting role of men.

Business approach

The key element of the SCN-KoZon policy for African cooperation partners is the ultimately complete sustainability of ISC/CSI projects. This implies that subsequent to a pilot project, a business approach is adopted from the outset including an exit strategy of a maximum of four years. Beside the elaboration of a project plan, a business plan is established that includes objectives, an action plan and timetable, an ISC/CSI promotion and marketing plan as well as a detailed budget with a 5-year business perspective. In exceptional situations a charitable project approach may be conceivable. For example, one might contemplate the introduction of ISC/CSI in a refugee camp and temporary projects for the physically handicapped.

ISC/CSI Knowledge and Service Centres in West and East Africa

All ISC/CSI knowledge is compiled, documented and kept up-to-date and is available on the one hand to research, technical and sustainable development (Knowledge) and on the other hand to education, training, publications and promotion (Service). This implies that Knowledge and Service centres cooperate with local partners such as universities, vocational training, NGOs, environmental and sustainable energy organisations.

ISC/CSI documents consist of standard manuals for ISC/CSI production, promotion, marketing, training, education and quality control to be used by businesses, organisations or NGOs. The documentation is geared to a large target group including illiterates and the visually impaired. ISC/CSI documents are translated into local languages.

Project countries, networks and cooperation

The Foundation deals with requests from West and East African countries. In the countries concerned, at least two ISC/CSI experts ensure the exchange of knowledge and the development of networks with a view to expanding the ISC/CSI market in the country in question. ISC/CSI experts are technically knowledgeable and have extensive practical experience in the field of ISC/CSI as a sustainable energy method for domestic activities. ISC/CSI experts are part of an international network in Africa. They cooperate closely with the Knowledge and Service centres to reach an optimum exchange of Knowledge and Service activities. In turn, the Foundation cooperates closely with local ISC/CSI experts as their first point of call as well coordination and network contact.

The Foundation’s task and function

The foundation creates favourable conditions and advises. After an initially supervisory task in a new project, the foundation plays an advisory and supporting role. National and international fundraising for projects constitutes an important means of creating favourable conditions.

 

Objectives

Project objectives in the target countries

1. Small local ISC/CSI businesses produce, promote and sell sustainable energy products for daily life, the emphasis being on cooking activities. The products include: Solar CooKits, Solar boxes, Parabolic cookers, Hay baskets, Water Pasteurisation Indicators (WAPI), wood-saving cooking appliances and if required, solar lamps and small solar panels.
2. Small ISC/CSI businesses are financially independent after a subsidised period of a maximum of 4 years.
3. As quality control, the small ISC/CSI businesses follow standardised guidelines for each product to be produced, promoted and sold.
4. The small local ISC/CSI businesses are responsible for their own organisation, financial management and reporting.

SCN – KoZon Foundation’s objectives

1. The foundation advises, monitors and supports each project in order to reach financial and business independence within a period of four years at most. This period can be adjusted in exceptional cases.
2. The foundation pursues an active fundraising policy for projects that meet the financial support criteria.
3. The foundation manages, develops and documents ISC/CSI knowledge documents for the benefit of local projects in the target countries; the foundation supports a policy that actively develops Knowledge and Service centres in West and East Africa.
4. The foundation advocates its mission and objectives nationally as well as internationally through (social) media, publications, its website and networks.