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 GUINEA
...
‘’The
platform, a diesel engine contributing to the liberation of
women."
Thomas
Sotinel, "Le Monde", november 1996 .
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Background
and scope
As
of the beginning, a tight collaboration was established between the
Guinean project and Mali, through UNDP office, then through the Regional
Cell in 1999. This cooperation allowed the achievement of the
following :
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Arrangement
of a study tour,
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Monitoring
the launch of a pilot project by
the Regional Cell,
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Train
artisans able to install and maintain platforms, and also train
trainers Pilot Center for Industrial Technology (PCIT),
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Order
required equipment for the installation of the platforms,
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Installation,
in 1999, of 10 platforms, i.e. two in each natural region, one for
demonstration and PCIT training and another in Gonghoré sub-prefecture,
with a grant from the Canadian Embassy. These platforms are
operational as of March 1999.
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Partners
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Development
assistance organizations : UNDP, UNID, Canadian Embassy
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Counterpart
organizations : Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Small and
Medium Enterprises
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Framework
Program for Support and
Development of the Private Sector (PSDPS) – Pilot
Center
for Industrial Technology (PCIT)
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The
network of private artisans : network of partners for the
development of the private sector through the development of a staff
that will be involved in the manufacture, maintenance and repair of
platforms (artisans, NGOs, etc.).
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ADECOMA
NGO, initially in charge of functional literacy, has expressed interest
for the concept and its extension in Guinea. It has therefore been
involved in different activities organized by the cell, particularly
the training at EFP in Senegal, in May 2001. This NGO has also been
able to mobilize Canadian funding to install a platform in Gongore.
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The
transfer of competencies
Two
training sessions in October 1999 and November 2000 allowed to :
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Supervise
the installation of the equipment by the artisans and make
appropriate corrections for an optimum operation, especially the
reinforcement of the supporting frame and the cooling circuit.
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Set
up a methodology for the selection of local artisans to install
platforms. It became obvious that artisans with a training
background and mechanical experience ensured a better maintenance of
the equipment and that the rate of engine rest was poor.
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To
develop and execute the training of five trainers in the
following topics : information on the platform, the supporting
frame, the fixation of modules, the cooling system, the exhaust
pipe, as well as a theoretical and practical training on the indian
engine that was provided to mechanical trainers.
This
training permitted the trainers to train, under the supervision of a
consultant, seven artisans, in platform assembling, installation and
preventive maintainance.
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Assist
in the developpement of a program for preventive maintenance
which, beyond the sensitization already completed, will need to be
systemized, especially by the conclusion of a contract between
platform managers and artisans. Already two spare parts stores are
available in Siguiri and N’zerekore and standard price lists for
the various modules of the platform, for the remuneration of
artisans (for installation, preventive maintenance) and for the
setting up of a spare parts selling store are available.
However, it is necessary that the project encourages the opening of
additional stores in each of the Guinean natural regions where
artisans or villagers may buy quality and cheap spare parts. The
store will be entrusted to one of the trained artisans. This artisan
will be bound to sell the parts at preferential prices, previously
set up by the focal point and the technician. The artisan is
envisioned to become the owner of the store once he has reimbursed
the stock.
Progressively, this opportunity may be interesting for businessmen
in each Guinean natural region, leading them to take up the supply
of parts to the artisans.
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Research
is also underway on the use of pourghère as fuel and the use of
the chinese 16 hp RUDONG chinese engine which is most popular in
Guinea than the indian one. First tests were performed and the
analysis of results is underway.
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Training
at EFP: previous efforts were mostly focused on the transfer of skills
and the training of senior staff of the technical pilot center in
Conakry, and the artisans in the areas where platforms are installed.
In 2001, training was organized at EFP in Kedougou, Senegal, for the
Guinean team, with the support of ADECOMA and the project team in
Senegal. This three-week training was provided by Nalini Burn, partly
in Kedougou town, and another part in the village of Dindefello where
took place the EFP. This training allowed.
This
training took place April 23 through May 11 in Kedougou, Senegal,
regrouping five participants: three from Guinea, members of a UNDP/UNID
project, a UNCDF project and an NGO, and two from Senegal, representing
the UNCDF funded Local Development Fund, and the Technical Support Cell,
a government institution based in Kedougou. For the first time, a
resource person having already taken a similar training and produced
EFPs, participated in this training as assistant trainer. This is part
of the regional cell’s strategy to create a national and regional
training capacity. This person will be called upon to provide by
himself the same training in Burkina Faso where he works for PAICB.
This
PTF training mission was a second training experience at the regional
level. But it was a first one with a demonstration platform newly
installed on a mill engine that has been operating for a length of
time, in a country without a previous Ptf experience, and therefore
without the setting of an existing PTF project.
This
training allowed :
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the integration of a technical analysis component in the feasibility
study taking profit of the presence of the artisans trainer, and,
among the trainers, of the Director of the Technological Center in
Guinea, as well as an ADEME consultant. Following this training, it
was decided to develop a guide meant to allow the people performing
the studies to understand and fully integrate the technical aspects
in the determination of the feasibility of the platforms.
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to validate the training strategy of a regional and national
training capacity, although budgetary availability have not made it
possible to involve in this training a Senegalese resource person
with the scope of a future trainer. This person was finally
identified and hired in October 2001. He will be trained in Burkina
and in Senegal in October-November.
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to start building a national capacity to perform participative
feasibility studies, follow up on the platforms and support the
beneficiaries in the management of the equipment. This study should
enable the assessment of criteria for social, economic and technical
profitability of the platform, and the identification of basic
indicators for an efficient follow up of results achieved.
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to value the strategic aspects of the platform which are based on two
elements :
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The first is a methodological one; participants discovered and
appreciated the tools for diagnostic, formulation and
management/monitoring of programs designed and developed
specifically for the platform.
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The second element of the finding is conceptual and analytical, the
concepts of energy and time poverty which are highly considered,
especially in the rural area.
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Conditions
of the platforms
This
inventory, previous to the continuation of activities, was carried out
in Guinea in June 2001, by the platform team composed of Messrs. Toure
and Atigri, with the assistance of an independent consultant. The study
revealed, among other things, that a considerable work has been done at
the level of all villages and that the outputs are very encouraging,
particularly on the technical aspect (artisans training, operation and
maintenance of the equipment). The study shows also that the results
are still very weak and reversible, and that it is crucial to
consolidate the benefits of the project by a strong emphasis on :
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strengthening,
through training, of organizational, animation and management
capacities, especially for women;
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systematical
realization of participative feasibility studies to help in the
decision of installing a platform;
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accessibility
of the equipment for artisans, appropriate training and setting up
of spare parts deposits
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sustainability
of the experience, including the availability of stocks of spare
parts;
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socioeconomic
impact of the project on women and the village as a whole;
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funding
sources that are concerned with the reality of women and adapted to
the rural area.
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Perspectives
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Inventory
of the existing platforms, using as guide the identification
card filed in the platform data,
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Create
a National Coordination Cell (NCC), made of UNCDF focal point,
the PCSP administrator and the CPTI, who will be the responsible for
the overall coordination of platform activities carried out by
various partners, i.e.
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Support
and methodological advice
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Organization
and training providing
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Collection,
entering, analysis and data output, using a software provided by
the Regional Cell
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Transfer
of information from Guinea to the Cell and from the Cell to
Guinea
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Coordination
with active and potential partners, including UNCDF, and the
Regional Cell
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Send
Messrs. Touré, Atgri, Souaré, as well as a member of ADECOMA,
eventually of ACT in a participatory feasibility training
planned in Kedougou, Senegal. The training trip will be preceded,
for Messrs. Atgri, Touré and Souaré, by a visit to Malian
platforms and attend the tripartite meeting of the regional project.
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Carry
out feasibility studies for the nine platforms installed and feed
them into the data base.
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Reinforcement
of existing platform :
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five feasibility studies will be done on existing platforms in order to
obtain a precise baseline regarding social, economic and technical
data on the villages, and hence set up a follow up system focused on
determined results.
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to facilitate the follow up of these platforms and the strengthening of
capacities in Guinea, the cell will co-finance follow up costs, a
new training session at EFP in Burkina, and the setting up of
platform management systems by the Female Management Committees (committee
structures, designation of various supervisors, measurement and
accounting systems, etc.). A technical assistance will also be
provided to train the millers. On the other hand, with regard to the
transfer of skills, Messrs. Toure of the Pilot Technical Center in
Conakry will participate, as co-trainer, in the activities performed
by the cell technical trainer in Burkina and Senegal.
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Adress/Contact
For
further information, please contact:
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PLATFORM
IN THE FIELD
