CUTS with the support of the Norwegian Agency
for Development Cooperation (NORAD) is undertaking an initiative
over two years (2008-2010) in Nepal, Bangladesh, and 2 states
of India i.e. West Bengal and Rajasthan to build capacity
of consumer groups/CSOs to enable them to deal with the issues
involved, take-up action research, share experiences, and
carryout advocacy with policymakers and regulatory agencies
to effect pro-consumer changes in the electricity regulatory/policy
processes. The project will be implemented in association
with partner organisations, details of which are given below.
The project will be launched with a design
meeting, where all partners’ alongwith stakeholders will be
participating. This meeting will identify specific needs of
each territory, which will be different. For e.g. Nepal does
not have a regulatory agency, thus the project will focus
on public advocacy and awareness generation. Bangladesh has
an integrated energy regulator, with a weak provision for
consumer participation. On the other hand India has a much
better regulatory structure with legal mandates for consumer
participation. Learning’s across the three countries will
also help to push the agenda, where it is lacking.
As the next step, a baseline survey will be
done in each of the four territories, which on its own will
also build capacity and understanding of the partners on the
ground realities. Concurrently, each partner will establish
a Reference Group which will act as an advisory body on the
project and its progress. These groups will comprise of representatives
of government; regulators; providers, media and other stakeholders.
Appropriate training and advocacy manuals
in local vernacular will be developed for each of the four
territories. These will be used to sensitise local grassroots
groups and build their capacity for better interventions before
the authorities. Grassroots meetings will be organised in
two phases, where elected representatives, staff from regulators
and providers will be invited to listen the voices from the
grassroots, and use it to improve their own methodologies
of supplying power to consumers.
At the end of the project, a final consumer
survey will be conducted to assess the project impact in creating
awareness and enhancing capacity building of CSOs and also
assess the next steps.
PROJECT OUTPUTS
Development of Base Papers in 3 countries
(4 Territories) on Electricity Reforms, which would be translated
into local languages.
Development of a Training Manual for undertaking
training programmes at the territorial level
Advocacy document highlighting impediments
to ensuring consumer participation in the electricity reforms
process, and ways of addressing them would be prepared in
each territory
Preparation of communication materials, handouts,
etc to be used for Grassroots meetings
The project will be launched with a design
meeting, where all partners’ alongwith stakeholders will be
participating. This meeting will identify specific needs of
each territory, which will be different. For e.g. Nepal does
not have a regulatory agency, thus the project will focus
on public advocacy and awareness generation. Bangladesh has
an integrated energy regulator, with a weak provision for
consumer participation. On the other hand India has a much
better regulatory structure with legal mandates for consumer
participation. Learning’s across the three countries will
also help to push the agenda, where it is lacking.
Appropriate training and advocacy manuals
in local vernacular will be developed for each of the four
territories. These will be used to sensitise local grassroots
groups and build their capacity for better interventions before
the authorities. Grassroots meetings will be organised in
two phases, where elected representatives, staff from regulators
and providers will be invited to listen the voices from the
grassroots, and use it to improve their own methodologies
of supplying power to consumers.