Improved Cookstove Network Meeting

National ICS Network Meetings are being organized at CRT/N on at regular  basis. The participants are the representatives from the member organizations. As one chief agenda of the meeting, the program progress during the preceding three months as well as the action plan for the consecutive three months is presented by CRT/N. Other ICS program related presentations are also given by the member organizations, as decided by the previous meeting. Endorsement of new ICS Network Members is also done, if required. Other relevant issues are discussed and presented.

Till date 11 ICS Network Meetings have been organized during the entire program period. The latest meeting was held on June 8, 2005.

Brief Highlight of the 11th Network Meeting

The 11th ICS Network Meeting was held on June 8, 2005 at CRT/N. The forum was briefed on progress status of the network activities. Apart from this, the findings of two research activities " "Development of Gasifier stove for Domestic Use" and "Design and Testing of Mechanical Press for the Production of Beehive Briquettes" undertaken by RECAST and CEE respectively. Besides, Besides, Kathmandu University also presented the findings of their research activity in developing "Smokeless Metal Stove for High Altitude Mountain Areas". 

At the end, RUCODES and CRT/N also presented the overview on the implementation of Field Test on Methodology of Participatory Assessment of ICS Program made so far. The presentations were followed by very stimulating discussions and recommendations to further enhance the respective research and development work.

Consultative Meeting and Workshop 

 Organization of National Consultative Meeting

ICS Network in Nepal organized Consultative Meeting on July 2^nd, 2004 at Hotel Summit, Lalitpur. A total of 21 participants from various members’ organizations participated the meeting.  The main agenda of the meeting was to discuss and suggest on the proposed major activities such as network expansion, support to small initiatives, publication of informational materials and R& D activities and finally to discuss on future course of action and sustainability of the network which will be presented at the III PTA Meeting to be held in Vietnam from 9 – 14 August 2004 organized by ARECOP as well as the presentation of the progress activities undertaken during Phase II.

  Various issues were discussed in line with the proposed agenda and the appropriate comments/suggestions were provided by the members. It was also mentioned during the meeting that III Phase activities are flexible and will be changed and modified according to the recommendations from the members. Besides it was felt by all the members that there is a need of involvement of government and local organizations in the Network and tapping local resources for the sustainability of the Network. Hence the Network activities have been developed to support the government policy on ICS promotion and dissemination and increase in the representation from government body and strengthening linkages with the government bodies is essential in both the Central and Regional Network.

 

Organization of “Orientation on ICS Policies & Strategies and Sharing of Experiences”

 

ICS Network organized a one-day workshop on “Orientation on ICS Policies & Strategies and Sharing of Experiences” of various organizations (NGOs/INGOs) implementing ICS programs in collaboration with HMG/N Alternative Energy Promotion Centre (AEPC) and Energy Sector Assistance Program (ESAP) on September 10, 2004. The workshop was attended by 35 participants representing the Government Organizations, NGOs, INGOs and donors as well as key ICS implementing partner organizations in Nepal.

 

Improved Cookstove Network in Nepal has been serving as a platform for information sharing between organizations involved in ICS promotion and dissemination and advocating and lobbying for ICS promotion and related matters. In this regard, the issue of differences in policies and strategies of various organizations involved in ICS promotion and dissemination in Nepal and its overall impact on the ICS program has been raised by the network members from time to time during the network meeting.  Realizing the enormity of this issue, the workshop was organized with an aim to share the policies and strategies of HMG/N, to share implementation modalities/approaches of ICS programs without direct subsidy and to develop common understanding on 'subsidy less' ICS dissemination with special emphasis on mid hill districts. The workshop concluded with the need to synchronize the policy and implementation strategy of various organizations and with the experience gained from the