ETHIOPIAN NGO WINS SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT AWARD

UNCLAS ADDIS ABABA 001878 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: SENV EAGR ENRG PREF ET SUBJECT: ETHIOPIAN NGO WINS SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT AWARD REF: ADDIS 189 SUMMARY -------------- ¶1. (U) The Ashden Trust awarded its 2008 Sustainable Development award to the Gaia Association of Ethiopia, a U.S.-supported organization providing ethanol-burning stoves to refugee camps in Ethiopia's Somali region. Through financial assistance from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the Ambassador's Self Help Fund, and concerted advocacy support from Embassy Addis Ababa's Refugee Coordinator, Regional Environmental Officer, and Commercial Section, Gaia has provided 1,700 ethanol stoves to Somali refugees and secured reliable access to Ethanol to expand its reach. The Ashden Award's USD 40,000 grant will allow Gaia to continue the project and grow the technology. End summary. AN ENVIRONMENTAL AND SAFETY REPRIEVE -------------- ¶2. (U) In a country where wood and charcoal fuels over 80 percent of household cooking stoves, a non-wood cook stove promises security on numerous fronts. Gathering wood often puts women and girls at risk for assault, rape and violence, and degrades Ethiopia's fragile environment. Smoky biomass fires also contribute to widespread respiratory diseases throughout the country. The Gaia Association's stoves leverage the ethanol by-product from Ethiopia's sugar production to provide an environmentally sustainable, clean burning alternative to Ethiopian hosted refugees. Finally, a country-wide shift to ethanol stoves serves to further safeguard long-threatened forest biodiversity in Ethiopia. The Gaia stove, with its relatively small ethanol footprint on the environment, features incontrovertible benefits. USG SUPPORT FOR GAIA -------------- ¶3. (U) In 2006-2007, PRM provided over USD 10,000 to Gaia through the Taft Fund for Refugees (formerly the Ambassador's Fund for Refugees) to purchase stoves and fuel for refugees in the Kebribeyah Refugee Camp, where women and girls are the primary fuel wood gatherers. Two successive Ambassador's Self-Help Fund grants as well as assistance from the International Rescue Committee (IRC),the United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR),and private donor funds helped Gaia to purchase stoves and the ethanol needed to fuel them. Faced with uncertain ethanol supplies from Ethiopian Government (GoE) sugar producers, Gaia requested Embassy advocacy to secure reliable ethanol supplies. A concerted effort by Post's RefCoord, REO, and Commercial Officer proved successful in securing a GoE commitment to reliably supply Gaia. Milkyas Debebe, Managing Director of Gaia, thanked the Embassy for lobbying the GoE to secure ethanol allocations, stating that Gaia would not have been successful without such support. COMMENT -------------- ¶5. (U) Post is proud to have partnered with such an innovative and successful organization. Gaia has already had a positive impact on the environment, as well as the health and safety of refugees. The Ashden Award will empower Gaia to continue its work throughout Ethiopia. End Comment. YAMAMOTO