View source for Programme for Economic Advancement and Community Empowerment

'''Programme for Economic Advancement and Community Empowerment (PEACE)''', is a four-year project funded by the [[European Union]].<ref>{{cite news|title=Tar Patar finds light at the end of the tunnel|url=http://tribune.com.pk/story/903573/power-woes-tar-patar-finds-light-at-the-end-of-the-tunnel/|newspaper=The Express Tribune|date=15 June 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=PTI-led KPK govt inaugurates micro hydro project in Kalam|url=http://www.thenewsteller.com/local/pti-led-kpk-govt-inaugurates-micro-hydro-project-in-kalam/16523/|newspaper=The Newsteller|date=28 May 2015}}</ref> and implemented by the [[Sarhad Rural Support Programme]] (SRSP).<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.thenews.com.pk/print/168759-EU-to-continue-support-for-development-of-marginalised-areas-ambassador|title=EU to continue support for development of marginalised areas: Ambassador|last=Khankhel|first=Essa|date=30 November 2016|publisher=The News International}}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal|last=Dobbs|first=Ellen|last2=Wheldon|first2=Anne|last3=Sharma|first3=Chhavi|date=2016-10-07|title=15 years of development in access to off-grid renewable electricity: insights from the Ashden Awards|url=https://factsreports.revues.org/4214|journal=Field Actions Science Reports. The Journal of Field Actions|language=en|issue=Special Issue 15|pages=150–159|issn=1867-139X}}</ref> It was launched in 2013 in all districts of [[Malakand Division]], [[Khyber Pakhtunkhwa]], [[Pakistan]], namely, [[Swat, Pakistan|Swat]], [[Shangla]], [[Buner]], [[Lower Dir]], [[Upper Dir]], [[Chitral]] and [[Malakand Agency]].<ref>{{cite news|title=Empowering local communities: Olive trees spell greener days for Lower Dir's farmers|url=http://tribune.com.pk/story/861345/empowering-local-communities-olive-trees-spell-greener-days-for-lower-dirs-farmers/|newspaper=The Express Tribune|date=31 March 2015}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.thenews.com.pk/print/142320-KP-govt-implementing-reform-agenda-Khattak|title=KP govt implementing reform agenda: Khattak|date=14 August 2016|publisher=The News International}}</ref>

== Project details ==
The Programme for Economic Advancement and Community Empowerment (PEACE) commenced after an agreement worth '''[[Euro sign|€]]''' 40 million was signed between the [[Sarhad Rural Support Programme]] (SRSP) and the [[European Union]] (EU).<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.heis.com.ba/?opcija=pregled_vijest&jezik=eng&vid=167|title=Technical Appraisal and Monitoring of a Micro-Hydel Programme in Pakistan|date=4 January 2014|publisher=Hydro Engineering Institute Sarajevo}}</ref> The project runs under the principles of financial sustainability and equitable sharing of benefits with the community for [[Social development theory|social development]] purposes.<ref>{{cite news|title=Work on EU-funded power project launched|url=http://www.thenews.com.pk/print/29855-work-on-eu-funded-power-project-launched|newspaper=The News International|date=18 March 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Use of electric dryers brings dividend for Swat fruit farmers|url=http://www.dawn.com/news/1221639|newspaper=DAWN|date=18 March 2015}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://arynews.tv/en/150-kv-micro-hydro-power-house-inaugurated-in-chitral/|title=150 KV Micro Hydro Power House inaugurated in Chitral|last=Farooqui|first=Gul Hammad|date=26 July 2016|publisher=ARY News}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.dawn.com/news/1242263|title=Villagers happy as they get a bridge|last=Khaliq|first=Fazal|date=27 February 2016|newspaper=DAWN|language=en}}</ref>

=== Hydro electricity ===

Under the PEACE project 62% of the funding is utilised for generation of community run [[Micro hydro|micro-hydro]] power units in the project areas.<ref>{{cite news|title=CM reiterates commitment to community development|url=http://www.thenews.com.pk/print/72693-cm-reiterates-commitment-to-community-development|newspaper=The News International|date=12 November 2015}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.thenews.com.pk/print/145312-3-micro-power-projects-completed-in-far-off-Chitral-villages|title=3 micro-power projects completed in far-off Chitral villages|date=26 August 2016|publisher=The News International}}</ref> Hydro power stations under the project are primarily built in areas where there is no active [[Electrical grid|national grid]] or where such grid stands disrupted.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.dawn.com/news/1299805/eu-ambassador-inaugurates-power-station-in-swat|title=EU ambassador inaugurates power station in Swat|date=1 December 2016|newspaper=DAWN}}</ref> Communities contribute time and labour, known as "[[sweat equity]]", which creates a [[Ownership (psychology)|sense of ownership]] and helps sustain the projects.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.dawn.com/news/1245011|title=Women benefit most from 'smart villages' in Pakistan's Hindu Kush|last=Cheema|first=Abdur Rehman|date=2016-03-11|newspaper=DAWN}}</ref> The MHPs are run as a [[social enterprise]] and its earnings are spent on the welfare of local communities,<ref>{{cite news|title=Power up: Hydro project to light up 13,000 houses in Chitral |url=http://tribune.com.pk/story/854756/power-up-hydro-project-to-light-up-13000-houses-in-chitral/|newspaper=The Express Tribune}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=New initiatives: PTI chairman promises a "different" LG system|url=http://tribune.com.pk/story/595546/new-initiatives-pti-chairman-promises-a-different-lg-system/|newspaper=The Express Tribune|date=27 August 2013}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.thenews.com.pk/print/161140-Ashuran-Power-House-starts-production-in-Kalam|title=Ashuran Power House starts production in Kalam|date=31 October 2016|publisher=The News International}}</ref> particularly women.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.thenews.com.pk/print/168929-Project-good-example-of-govt-donor-collaboration-Ambassador-Cautain|title=Project good example of govt-donor collaboration: Ambassador Cautain|date=1 December 2016|publisher=The News International}}</ref> [[Electricity]] is generated harnessing the small [[Meltwater|glacier-meltwater]] rivers that drop steeply off soaring mountains.<ref>{{cite news|title=Son, you brought electricity to the village and added 15 years to my life|url=https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2015/jun/12/pakistan-electricity-village-micro-hydro-ashden-award|newspaper=The Guardian|date=12 June 2015}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.pakistanherald.com/news/10888/24-may-2016/power-plant-inaugurated-in-upper-dir|title=Power plant inaugurated in Upper Dir|date=24 May 2016|newspaper=Pakistan Herald}}</ref>

The European Union under the PEACE project has funded the Sarhad Rural Support Programme (SRSP) to set up 240 [[Micro hydro|micro hydropower plants]],<ref>{{cite news|title=Make your own electricity: A tale of Swat's restless heroes|url=http://www.dawn.com/news/1186944 |newspaper=DAWN|date=10 June 2015}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.thenews.com.pk/print/146090-KP-to-generate-100MW-micro-hydropower-projects|title=KP to generate 100MW micro-hydropower projects|date=29 August 2016|publisher=The News International}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=http://tribune.com.pk/story/732027/at-long-last-kalam-gets-electricity-after-six-years/|title=At long last: Kalam gets electricity after six years.|date=2014-07-07|newspaper=The Express Tribune|language=en-US}}</ref> in the [[Malakand Division]]. In general, [[Pakistani rupee|PKR]] 4/unit is charged for [[Domestic energy consumption|domestic]] and [[Pakistani rupee|PKR]] 7-10/unit is charged for commercial use.<ref>{{cite news|title=Bringing hydro power to the rural areas of Pakistan |url=http://energy-access.gnesd.org/cases/48-sarhad-rural-support-programme.html|publisher=GNESD Energy Access Knowledge Based}}</ref>

=== Community infrastructure ===

A significant portion of the funds are allocated to the building or restoration of basic [[infrastructure]] such as road, bridges, water channels etc.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.dawn.com/news/1142648|title=Road link to Chitral village restored after four years.|date=6 November 2014|newspaper=DAWN}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.thenews.com.pk/archive/print/535043-bridge-brings-joy-to-remote-villages-in-chitral|title=Bridge brings joy to remote villages in Chitral.|date=6 November 2014|website=The News International}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=http://tribune.com.pk/story/1004653/timely-assistance-solar-plants-provided-to-chitral-hospitals/|title=Timely assistance: Solar plants provided to Chitral hospitals|date=6 December 2015}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=http://tribune.com.pk/story/678598/lowari-tunnel-chitral-left-out-in-the-cold/|title=Lowari Tunnel: Chitral left out in the cold - The Express Tribune|date=2014-03-04|newspaper=The Express Tribune|language=en-US}}</ref>

== Environmental aspect ==
Electricity from hydro schemes cuts down the use of [[Wood fuel|wood]] for [[cooking]], [[heating]] and [[light]]ing, consequently reducing [[deforestation]] which is a huge problem in the [[Deforestation by region|region]]. The hydro schemes also cut [[greenhouse gas emissions]], by virtually eliminating the use of [[kerosene]] [[Kerosene lamp|lighting]], cutting the use of [[diesel engine|diesel]] [[Diesel generator|generators]], and also reducing the use of unsustainable wood. A detailed breakdown has not been made of [[Fossil fuel|fuels]] replaced, but an indication of the significance can be made by assuming that the estimated 110,000 [[Kilowatt hour|MWh]] of electricity generated each year replaces diesel generation producing around 0.8 [[tonne]]s of [[carbon dioxide]] per MWh. This suggests a substantial greenhouse gas saving of around 88,000 tonnes of [[carbon dioxide]] per year.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.ashden.org/files/case_studies/SRSP%20Pakistan.pdf|title=Winner case study summary: Sarhad Rural Support Programme, Pakistan.|date=2015|publisher=Ashden Award for Increasing Energy Access, supported by the IKEA Foundation Award}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.ashden.org/winners/SRSP15|title=The power of water brings new life to mountain villages|date=2015-06-05|newspaper=Ashden Awards, sustainable and renewable energy in the UK and developing world}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://webwidemedia.net/rspn/index.php/about-us/awards-recognition|title=Awards & Recognitions {{!}} RSPN|website=Rural Support Programmes Network (RSPN)}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://scroll.in/article/804936/what-the-smart-villages-of-pakistan-can-teach-us-about-energy|title=What the 'smart villages' of Pakistan can teach us about energy|last=Cheema|first=Abdur Rehman|date=12 March 2016|newspaper=Scroll.in|language=en-US}}</ref>

Pakistan is only producing 128 out of a potential of 3,100 [[Watt|MW]] of electricity from small hydropower projects.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.thethirdpole.net/2016/03/10/the-smart-villages-of-northern-pakistan/|title=The "smart villages" of northern Pakistan|last=Cheema|first=Abdur Rehman|date=2016-03-10|website=The Third Pole}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://earthjournalism.net/stories/hurry-up-with-the-micro-hydro|title=Hurry up with the micro hydro|last=Cheema|first=Abdur Rehman|date=21 July 2015|website=Earth Journalism Network}}</ref>

== Recognition ==
In 2015 the Programme for Economic Advancement and Community Empowerment (PEACE) project earned the [[Sarhad Rural Support Programme]] (SRSP) an [[Ashden|Ashden Award]] for Increasing Energy Access.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://web.unep.org/ourplanet/december-2015/articles/blazing-trail|title=Blazing the Trail : Our Planet|last=Butler Sloss|first=Sarah|date=2015|publisher=United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP)}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.eco-business.com/press-releases/green-energy-awards-seek-sustainable-energy-pioneers-in-asia/|title=Green energy awards seek sustainable energy pioneers in Asia|date=8 September 2015|publisher=Eco-Business}}</ref><ref>{{Citation|title=Ashden Award Ceremony|date=2016-09-06|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e-utaxWJujQ}}</ref> In 2017 the project attracted the National Award given out by the [[Energy Globe Award]] in Pakistan for supplying electricity to [[Off-the-grid|off-grid]] areas.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.energyglobe.info/pakistan2017?cl=en|title=National Energy Globe Award Pakistan 2017|website=Energy Globe}}</ref> 

==See also==
* [[European Union]]
* [[Hydro power]]
* [[Pico hydro]]
* [[Small hydro]]
* [[Renewable energy]]
* [[Sustainable energy]]

==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}
[[Category:Renewable energy]]
[[Category:Electricity]]
[[Category:Rural community development]]
[[Category:Development organizations]]
[[Category:Sustainable development]]
[[Category:Rural development in Pakistan]]
[[Category:Pakistan–European Union relations]]