Ward Community Development Officers to Promote PV use

In January and February, 2006 the Project organized a series of awareness meetings with all authorities at the ward level involving ward community development officers in Mwanza region.

The Project recognizes the importance and effectiveness of the Community Development extension Officers in mobilization and advocacy work for developmental activities which has been very significant in all districts of Tanzania.

They stimulate and assist communities to take responsibility of their own development and recognize how they will be able to attain the accepted target levels using available resources particularly in the PV sector.

The Tanzanian Government has developed the concept of looking at community development services as a force maker which will increase the return on investment in social services, environment and poverty eradication.

In realization of that concept the Project conducted four meetings with the Ward Community Development Officers of all the districts in Mwanza Region in presence of the Regional and district Community Development Officers.

The project profile, objectives, strategies, approaches and achievements were discussed. Detailed discussions covered the potential applications of PV systems and its potential developmental roles in off-grid areas.

The role of the community development officers in assisting in awareness raising and the on going discussions of incorporating PV in the coming annual development plans were also discussed.

The meetings were accompanied by practical demonstration of the use of PV systems and a video show on the PV demonstration sites in schools and health facilities. The participants were provided with the project PV awareness packages to assist in the awareness creation of the beneficiaries in their respective communities.

At the end of the meeting all ward community development officers agreed to make PV a permanent agenda in their respective ward development committees and they will continue awareness raising to the communities in parallel with their routine extension works.

The major objective of the Project is to ensure that the community development extension service for the PV sector is community based, promotes environmentally sound technologies, and is financially sustainable.