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

Land clearing and greenhouse gas emissions from Jatropha biofuels on African Miombo Woodlands

The paper investigates greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from land use change associated with the introduction of large-scale Jatropha curcas cultivation on Miombo Woodland, using data from extant forestry and ecology studies about this ecosystem. Its results support the notion that Jatropha can help sequester atmospheric carbon when grown on complete wastelands and in severely degraded conditions. Conversely, when introduced on tropical woodlands with substantial biomass and medium/high organic soil carbon content, Jatropha will induce significant emissions that offset any GHG savings from the rest of the biofuel production chain. A carbon debt of more than 30 years is projected. On semi-degraded Miombo the overall GHG balance of Jatropha is found to hinge a lot on the extent of carbon depletion of the soil, more than on the state of the biomass. This finding points to the urgent need for detailed measurements of soil carbon in a range of Miombo sub-regions and similar tropical dryland ecosystems in Asia and Latin America. Efforts should be made to clarify concepts such as 'degraded lands' and 'wastelands' and to refine land allocation criteria and official GHG calculation methodologies for biofuels on that basis.Greenhouse gas emissions Jatropha Carbon debt

What works, and why, in business services provision for SMEs: Insights from evolutionary innovation theory

Purpose – Programmes providing services for small- and medium-sized enterprises are important. Yet, quality and impact of many of these programmes lag behind expectations. This paper attempts to shed light on the reasons behind this disappointing state of affairs. Design/methodology/approach – Modern theories of innovation and services marketing management are adopted as a conceptual framework, because these theories generate major insights about how business services should ideally be provided. The usefulness of this framework for analysing business service programmes is demonstrated through its application to one particular programme, the small business service (SBS) in the UK. Findings – Using this approach, the paper identifies several key issues. Major weaknesses in programme structure and implementation practices emerge, mainly revolving around customer focus, incentive problems and organisational issues, and the lack of a systems perspective. Research limitations/implications – Given the suitability of the framework for the analysis of our case, it could also prove to be a promising tool for analysing business support programmes in other settings. Practical implications – Managerial priorities for improvement in the UK emerge. There is a need to improve the incentives facing boundary-spanning staff. This should be backed up by further organisational reform, to address the fragmentation plaguing the current system. Originality/value – The methodological approach, of viewing practice in a SBS programme through a theoretical lens, is novel. It could be a useful supplement to conventional performance and impact assessments that are more factual in nature

Supply chain development: Insights from Strategic Niche Management

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to contribute to the study of supply chain design from the perspective of complex dynamic systems. Unlike extant studies that use formal simulation modelling and associated methodologies rooted in the physical sciences, it adopts a framework rooted in the social sciences, strategic niche management, which provides rich insights into the behavioural aspects of complex innovation dynamics of emerging supply chains. Design/methodology/approach – The use of the framework is illustrated by means of a case study about the development of a new biofuels supply chain in East Africa. Findings – Three key dynamic processes are found to be at the core of new supply chain development: networking, learning and the management of actor expectations. The case analysis suggests the need to actively manage these processes and suggests possible ways of doing so. Research limitations/implications – Generalisability is limited since the research is based on one case study. Additional case studies using the same framework would help to validate and extend the results obtained. Practical implications – Implications for strategic managerial decision making include the need to encourage stakeholder networking and shared learning, and managing their expectations. Originality/value – The paper uses an innovative conceptual framework to examine new supply chain development, which yields new insights into how these processes can be actively managed and supported