UNHCR Kebrebeyah Camp Report:Preparing for Scale up of Stoves and Ethanol June 2006
Compiled by Fiona Lambe, Project Gaia Research Studies, Stokes Consulting Group
Gaia Khreb 06 01
Introduction
In 2005, Project Gaia introduced 130 CleanCook (CC) stoves to Kebrebeyah refugee camp,
for the purpose of a three month pilot study. These stoves were placed in homes in the camp
and the selected households were supplied with one 10-liter Gerry can of ethanol every 10
days during the study. The progress of these households was closely monitored by Project
Gaia staff throughout the testing period and the study was conducted with the assistance and
cooperation of the UNHCR and ARRA (Administration for Refugee and Returnee Affairs,
FRDE).
The outcome of this initial study was extremely favorable. Data show that the introduction of
the stove greatly reduced the need for fuelwood, up to 100% in some cases. This has had a
far-reaching impact on the lives of refugee women and their families, as well as on the
surrounding environment. Women and girls no longer need to leave the camp to collect
fuelwood. This has significant implications for their time, health and safety and livelihoods.
Respondents reported using the time saved from gathering fuel for other more productive
activities, such as education, income generation and childcare. Women and girls feel safer
knowing that they no longer have to leave the camp for gathering firewood, a laborious and
dangerous activity. Moreover, the introduction of the CC stove has removed the smoke from
refugees’ kitchens and, consequently, has led to a vast improvement in the quality of indoor
air and in household health.
Based on these positive findings and on a similar successful pilot study conducted at
UNHCR-run Shimelba refugee camp, in northern Ethiopia, a partnership has been formed
between the Gaia Association, an Ethiopian non-profit organization, and the UNHCR-RLO,
Ethiopia, and a contractual agreement has been undertaken to scale up the number of stoves
at Kebrebeyah camp. Under this contract, Project Gaia (the Gaia Association) will increase
the number of stoves to Kebrebeyah camp by 500 by the end of 2006. Project Gaia will incur
46% of the cost of the scale up and UNHCR will incur 54% of the cost. If successful, this
contract will be renewed in the future. The initial scale up will involve the placement of the
first 300 new stoves into the camp in the coming weeks.