Optimizing decision making in the global biofuel chain for sustainable development, by creating insight into trade-off between social, economic and environmental impacts, and how these affect actors in different locations and on different time scales.

Biofuels can provide a renewable and CO2 neural fuel, however biofuels are contested as the land needed to cultivate biofuels threatens food security. The market pull created by the European Biofuel Directive, that targets at a 10% obligatory blending in transport fuels by 2020, threatens food production and biodiversity in other continents, as for instance Africa, since Europe does not have the required land area neither the suitable climate. Sustainability criteria are defined, however, evidence is still lacking, as this new sector is still in the learning phase and data and expertise on best practices are being gathered. Furthermore, different actors within this global cultivation, production and usage chain have different priorities. Europe is targeting at mitigation of climate change, while Africa’s priorities are poverty reduction and conservation of soil fertility. Therefore it is important to operationalize the sustainability criteria in decision making by creating insight into the trade-off between the 3 dimension of sustainability; social (sustaining livelihoods in developing countries), economic (poverty reduction and profit making), and environmental (mitigation of climate change and conservation of soil fertility and biodiversity). Through mapping of the actor network and the distribution of costs and benefits (including externalities) in the entire chain, we will indicate where decisions can influenced. By combining this with the impact assessment we are creating insight into trade-offs and power relations for optimization of decision making. We will discuss the case of small holder jatropha farmers in Tanzania cultivating for export, based on years of research. Combined with our expertise on socio-economic modeling of the decision making processes, in this case strengthened with extensive literature research on jatropha biofuels as well as expert knowledge obtained through interviews, we will develop a decision support model for policy making in this global biofuel chain

An impact assessment methodology for small scale renewable energy projects in developing countries funded under Dutch policies defined to contribute to the millennium development goals

Vulnerable groups, such as poor people in developing countries, are often hit hard by the effects of climate change since they lack the resources needed to cope or adapt to the changing environment. To conduct poverty reduction without compromising on the environment, the Dutch government defined a variety of policy measures. One is the so‐called Daey Ouwens Fund, established to implement small scale renewable energy projects in the poorest countries of the world. This Fund aims to contribute to Millennium Developing Goal 1, eradication of extreme poverty, and MDG 7, ensuring environmental sustainability. This paper describes the methodology developed to get a better understanding of the socioeconomic and environmental impact of projects to be implemented under the Daey Ouwens Fund. This methodology uses the multi level “Strategic Niche Management (SNM)” framework to systematically assess drivers and barriers crucial in process of innovation. For three selected projects, indicators are defined within this SNM framework, based on the MGD 1 and MGD 7 and the local socio‐economic situation as well as the existing energy system and the innovative renewable energy technology of the project. These indicators are translated into sets of questions to be quantified through a limited number of semi‐structured interviews with key persons and questionnaire inquiries of a large number of potential end‐users. The data of the conducted baseline study will be presented in this paper to provide an overall picture of the current socio‐economic situation and the energy consumption in the areas were the three selected project are going to be implemented. Based on these data and the SNM framework, an overview will be provided of drivers and barriers for the projects and the expected contribution to MDG 1 and 7. The methodology will be assessed and adapted for the impact monitoring assessment that will be held in 2013

Win-win-win wastewater treatment: affordable hygienic solutions that enable reuse of water and nutrients to sustain food security and support mitigation of climate change.

Conference Paper published by International Conference on Water Management Issues in Africa, At MauritiusThe lack of access to safe drinking water and hygienic sanitation is still a major health treat for many Africans. Especially in poor communities the situation is threatening as these vulnerable communities are often affected most by climate change since they lack the ability to cope or adapt to changes such as droughts, floods, conflicts, price fluctuation, etc (UNEP 2007, Chapter 7). In recent baseline studies conducted by TU/e students to assess the socioeconomic status of people living in poor areas it was found that (Heijnen 2010, Balkema et al 2010). Their quality of life can be improved by investing in basic services such as hygienic sanitation to prevent diseases

Global experience with jatropha cultivation for bioenergy: an assessment of socio-economic and environmental aspects

This is an assessment of key economic, environmental and social issues pertaining to jatropha biofuels, based on almost 150 studies covering 26 countries. The assessment aims to furnish a state-of-the-art overview and identify knowledge gaps. So far, total jatropha production has remained small. Numbers and value of jatropha projects have even declined since 2008. The economic analyses indicate minimal financial feasibility for projects. Yield increase and value addition (e.g., through utilising by-products) are necessary. Plantations seem to fare the worst, mainly due to the higher financial inputs used in a plantation setting and the still limited yield levels. Smallholders can only achieve financial feasibility in low-input settings and when opportunity costs are low. Unfortunately, hardly any Cost Benefit Analyses (CBA) are based on real data; partly due to a lack of long-running jatropha projects. The environmental impact varies greatly across locations. Most studies indicate significant greenhouse gas (GHG) benefits over fossil fuels; however, this is only achieved with limited inputs and no loss of high C-stock biodiversity. The determinants in Life Cycle Analyses (LCA) are yield, input level, by-products utilization, transesterification, transport distances, and land cover. More LCA research is required with more accurate data, and focusing on nitrous oxide emissions and the relation between production intensity and biodiversity impacts. Minimal negative social impacts have been revealed so far, but discontinuation of projects affects communities through income losses and fostering more negative attitudes towards new projects. Moreover, hardly any studies quantify social impact comprehensively. Detailed data collection is necessary, involving baseline studies to start with. If its financial feasibility is improved, jatropha can still become an option for sustainable energy production, GHG mitigation and rural development, especially through smallholder models. Successful implementation requires careful advance assessment of local circumstances, such as the political climate, gender aspects and land ownership structures

Indicators for the sustainability assessment of wastewater treatment systems

Sustainability challenges us to reflect on wastewater treatment differently. Instead of focussing on end-of-pipe-treatment for emission prevention, attention shifts towards optimal resource utilisation, favouring the development of decentralised systems. But are these systems more sustainable than centralised wastewater treatment systems? What aspects determine sustainability? In an extensive literature review we give an overview of sustainability assessment methods and currently used indicators. Based on this we propose a general assessment methodology that builds on multi-objective optimisation and a complete set of sustainability indicators, yielding insight into the trade-offs made when selecting sustainable wastewater treatment system

Socio-economic analysis of constructed wetlands systems for hygienic sanitation in Tanzania

In Tanzania, as in many other developing countries, the great majority of people still do not have access to safe drinking water supply and hygienic sanitation. For institutions, such as schools and hospitals, where water supply is available, constructed wetlands system (CW) can provide hygienic sanitation. However, successful implementation of constructed wetlands in Tanzania is still hindered by to a lack of investment capital and lack of knowledge and commitment of users, responsible government institutions and international development agencies. Based on an evaluation of 5 constructed wetland projects, including an in depth socio economic analysis of 2 systems and a broader dynamic innovation system analysis of the water and sanitation sector in Tanzania, we provide insight in bottlenecks and opportunities for constructed wetland projects in Tanzania. This analysis shows that failure of constructed wetland projects is often due to the great discrepancy between the limited private and large societal net benefits. Socio-economic costs of diseases are not visible to decision makers and remain therefore unaccounted for. As a result implementation of hygienic sanitation systems fails due to unrealistic attempts at cost-saving by taking short-cuts in the implementation and maintenance. On the other hand, there are also very promising examples such as the constructed wetland system at the Ruaha Secondary School, whose sanitation was found to be technically, financially as well as social-economically successful

An impact assessment methodology for small scale renewable energy projects in developing countries funded under Dutch policies defined to contribute to the millennium development goals

Vulnerable groups, such as poor people in developing countries, are often hit hard by the effects of climate change since they lack the resources needed to cope or adapt to the changing environment. To conduct poverty reduction without compromising on the environment, the Dutch government defined a variety of policy measures. One is the so-called Daey Ouwens Fund, established to implement small scale renewable energy projects in the poorest countries of the world. This Fund aims to contribute to Millennium Developing Goal 1, eradication of extreme poverty, and MDG 7, ensuring environmental sustainability. This paper describes the methodology developed to get a better understanding of the socioeconomic and environmental impact of projects to be implemented under the Daey Ouwens Fund. This methodology uses the multi level Strategic Niche Management (SNM) framework to systematically assess drivers and barriers crucial in process of innovation. For three selected projects, indicators are defined within this SNM framework, based on the MGD 1 and MGD 7 and the local socio-economic situation as well as the existing energy system and the innovative renewable energy technology of the project. These indicators are translated into sets of questions to be quantified through a limited number of semi-structured interviews with key persons and questionnaire inquiries of a large number of potential end-users. The data of the conducted baseline study will be presented in this paper to provide an overall picture of the current socio-economic situation and the energy consumption in the areas were the three selected project are going to be implemented. Based on these data and the SNM framework, an overview will be provided of drivers and barriers for the projects and the expected contribution to MDG 1 and 7. The methodology will be assessed and adapted for the impact monitoring assessment that will be held in 2013