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Kenya

Be0Gas: Conversion from Firewood to Biogas

Organisation

Institute for Peace Development and Innovation
Website

Support area

  • Mitigation of greenhouse gas emissions

Funding

204095 €

Project duration

Jun, 2024 – May, 2026

Laikipia County is predominantly inhabited by the Maasai community. The collection of firewood for domestic use is one of the main traditional activities. 85.8 per cent of households use firewood as the main type of cooking fuel and 30 per cent rely on firewood as the main type of lighting fuel.

This IKI Small Grants project in Laikipia North aims to replace firewood with biogas as a sustainable cooking fuel for the Maasai community. It targets 70 households and promotes emissions reduction, forest conservation, and biodiversity. The initiative includes the installation of biogas systems, training in climate-smart agriculture, and the use of the invasive species Opuntia Stricta for biogas production. The project emphasises permaculture principles and community involvement through local action plans.

Collaboration with local authorities ensures institutional sustainability. The aim is to improve health, security, and livelihoods of the target population while preserving the environment.

Capacity development

IKI Small Grants supports Institute for Peace Development and Innovation (IPSIA) in their organisational capacity development through:

  • Support for the development of a simple website
  • Coaching for the draft of IPSIA strategic plan
  • Training on conflict resolution management

About the organisation

The Institute for Peace Development and Innovation (IPSIA) is a Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) established in 2007 and located in Meru, Kenya. IPSIA focuses on rural development and agro-ecology, specifically training on permaculture; access to water and to renewable energy; promotion of value chains suitable for Arid and Semi-arid Lands. In Kenya IPSIA has implemented three projects with a component on green energy. Meru Herbs Project (2015-2018) has promoted the installation of a photovoltaic system to supply energy to the facilities of the local partner. Maziwa Project (2018-2021) has provided the installation of two photovoltaic systems for two dairy cooperatives, four thermal solar water heating systems for four dairy cooperatives and three biodigester plants for three households, to encourage the use of biogas as an innovative source of energy. Lastly, Farming the Future Project involved the installation of two Opuntia Stricta fed biodigester for the production of natural gas in the hospitality facilities of the groups, as well as one photovoltaic system to power the food processing factory at the Laikipia Permaculture Center.

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