Study on the benefits of Solar Ovens in the Amazon

Based on the Programme Implemented by Christian Aid and partners in Bolivia “Women With Energy”

Report written by The Bolivian Climate Change Platform 2019 Translation by Emma Donlan

Photo Soluciones Practicas Bolivia

1. INTRODUCTION

Christian Aid together with local partners: CIPCA Beni, Soluciones Prácticas, Inti and the Bolivian Platform Against Climate Change have been working with indigenous organizations and communities located in the Bolivian Amazon to implement territorial management plans. Local economic development programs have been designed for eco-community tourism and eco- agriculture, attracting multiple stakeholders, to build the resilience of the most vulnerable communities. The Christian Aid programme in Bolivia focuses on: renewable energies, young entrepreneurs, agroforestry systems and support through incubators funds for small businesses with the objective of generating sustainable alternative development models, as opposed to the predatory agroindustry, which threatens livelihoods.

In recent years, these communities in the Bolivian Amazon have suffered severe natural disasters, especially from floods, droughts and fires that have affected the livelihoods of indigenous families; and it seems that women have been the most affected.

Faced with this situation, Christian Aid together with local partners have implemented different development projects, including the solar oven project which has had excellent results in terms of local ownership, use of solar energy, reduction in the use of firewood, generating more free time for

1 women and other benefits. This document presents the base line of this project, enabling us to more systematically measure the impact of the lives of women, their environment, their resilience and their livelihoods.

The Baseline of the Project "Women with energy: solar ovens in the Amazon" has been jointly developed, above all with the objective of determining the current status of progress in the implementation of solar ovens and implications for relationships within families and within the communities already using the solar ovens and also looking at other families that do not yet have the solar ovens but which would only benefit from the project, to evaluate their current situation and to make comparisons in relation to the impacts generated by the project.

The Baseline study has been developed with a sample of the beneficiary families living in the Municipalities of San Ignacio de Mojos, San Andres, San Javier, and located in the department of Beni, and San Buenaventura and Apolo in the Department of , using survey instruments, focus groups, interviews with leaders and authorities, and interviews with technicians who are implementing the project. Subsequently, the information has been systematized and organized into the study variables:

• use of the solar ovens; • use and cost of fossil fuel and firewood; • role of women; • welfare of the family; • gender roles; • and acceptance / appropriation of the solar ovens by the public

2. BACKGROUND

The Amazon hosts the greatest diversity of ecosystems, species and genetic resources of the earth. Very diverse forest and aquatic ecosystems across the entire watershed, from dense forests, open forests, submerged forests, cloud forests, savannas, lakes and rivers with very different characteristics. It is estimated that the region has up to 30% of the flora and fauna species in the world. "Nearly 3,000 species of plants used for various purposes have been classified, many of them with the potential to provide medicines, pesticides, dyes, aromas, fibres, oils, wood and food, among others" (BRACK, 1995).

The region is also the depository of important hydro-energetic, hydrocarbon and mineral resources. Although forests generally rest on nutrient-poor lands, therefore, they are not suitable for agricultural uses, areas with good soils where agricultural activities can be developed have been located, provided that the appropriate technologies and inputs are used (BRACK, 1995).

The Bolivian Amazon covers an area of 475,278 km2, equivalent to 43.3% of the entire national surface area, involving five departments: Pando, Beni, La Paz, Cochabamba and Santa Cruz. It is constituted by a mosaic of extensive humid tropical forests, flooded savannahs, semi-humid transition forests characterized by high biodiversity found in the Chaco region to the sub-Andean forest. A total of 88 municipalities are part of the Bolivian Amazon and 15% of the Bolivian population lives in this region (RAISG: 2009)

About the municipalities where the Christian Aid solar oven project is implemented, they are the most vulnerable to the impacts of climate change. They are exposed to the inclemency of floods during the rainy season and to drought and forest fires the dry season. These natural disasters destroy the

2 wealth of flora and fauna of the forests. The Amazon area of Bolivia also has the largest number of Indigenous Peoples, no less than 16 indigenous peoples of the 36 groups recognized in the Political Constitution of the Plurinational State of Bolivia.

Photo Christian Aid

However, the Amazon has become a global concern since the 1980s, due to the accelerated deforestation caused by the colonization and regional integration programs promoted with aggressiveness by the governments from the 1980s onwards. The main component of these programs was the construction of several roads to link different communities and towns in the Amazon. Other critical elements have included the implementation of fiscal and credit incentives for agricultural production, the construction of large hydroelectric dams, mining projects, and the state supported immigration from the poorest highlands regions of the country. As a result, the region has experienced the rapid expansion of livestock activity along the roadways, which has resulted in becoming the main cause of deforestation in the region.

The conservation of forests is especially important for the mitigation of climate change, since forests contain 80% of all carbon stored in terrestrial vegetation. In turn, tropical forests contain about 25% of the carbon in the Earth's biosphere. Additionally, Amazonian forests have a high capacity to capture carbon (or in more simplistic terms: produce oxygen). In recent decades, Amazonian forests have helped to slow down the pace of climate change thanks to their ability to produce oxygen or capture carbon. In normal years Amazonian forests capture and store 18,000 million tons of carbon, twice as much carbon as the combined emissions of all fossil fuels burned in the world (BRIENEN et al., 2011).

Between the end of 2013 and the first half of 2014, a large part of the Bolivian Amazon (Beni, North of La Paz and areas of Pando, Santa Cruz and Cochabamba) suffered severe flooding. The constant

3 rains during that period caused the extensive Amazonian rivers to overflow and destroy the assets of many people. The water rose at unprecedented levels affecting urban, peri-urban and indigenous and peasant communities (their productive and economic systems, and their livelihoods, as well as other sectors). The aftermath of the phenomenon lasted throughout 2014 and the subsequent years.

Faced with this situation, Christian Aids’ partners that form part of the consortium that is currently implementing the "Solar Ovens" project, identified that one of the main problems during and after the floods was the difficulty to prepare food, given the fact that the no dry fuel was available and everywhere was covered in mud. Faced with this situation together with the communities the partners proposed to implement a pilot project using solar ovens, to respond to the need to provide a mechanism for preparing food for the most vulnerable forest families during floods. The project generated great interest among families beyond the reach of the initial pilot, leading to its extension and scale up from 2016 to 2019, because, as this document presents, the solar ovens are now being used in multiple ways and have generated new leaderships, especially among the women who are using them, with greater participation in local and municipal decision-making processes.

3. JUSTIFICATION

Photo Christian Aid

The communities with which Christian Aid and partners have been working are extremely vulnerable to the exacerbated effects of climate change, such as floods and forest fires, due to prolonged and intense rainy and dry seasons in recent decades. The impacts of these phenomena affect women more, as they are often the only ones left to manage family resources when their partners migrate for paid work, and women have less alternative livelihoods when crops are lost.

4

In the last three years Christian Aid and local partners have been implementing pilot projects on innovative solar technology in communities that have experienced extreme floods and forest fires. The use of Solar technology is not common in the Amazon, and there are few or any records of similar projects that have been implemented in the past. Despite the initial concerns about weather conditions and the challenges of adapting traditional ways of cooking (with fossil fuels) and firewood, families who have adopted the solar ovens testify that the project has had excellent results to date in terms of appropriation, female empowerment and leadership, and reduction in the use of fossil fuels. However, this is not supported by a study or formal diagnosis carried out in a more organized and rigorous way. The information we count on to date has been provided by Christin Aid partners and based on reports, testimonies and the experience of working directly with the beneficiary families.

Up to mid-2018, 245 solar ovens have been implemented in 18 communities in 6 municipalities of the Amazon, and 76 solar ovens are now being implemented in 8 new communities; resulting in a total of 317 solar ovens implemented in 26 communities, two indigenous territories in 7 Municipalities. However, as we said already, although very important results and impacts have been achieved in improving the quality of life of families and above all in the empowerment of women; currently, there are no studies and data that can provide more evidence to substantiate advocacy to inform and influence public policy. Therefore, at this stage of the project, it is intended to gather data and robust evidence to show the successful experiences in the implementation of solar ovens and the contribution to climate resilience, as a basis to present alternative models to the current energy matrix to promote greater gender equity. The aim is to make scientific data and evidence visible, so that the indigenous and farming families living in the Amazon can communicate the impacts of the project in increasing their resilience and to influence local, national and international spaces, countering the powerful interests and negative impacts related to the extractive model and the effects of climate change. In addition to having supporting documentation that show the contribution of the solar ovens in reducing pollution. Armed with this data, we hope that communities living in the Amazon can influence public policies to scale up the use of solar ovens in other areas. Likewise, this information can be used for greater coverage in in media and social networks to influence public opinion and increase recognition of the work and contribution of families in the reduction of greenhouse gases (GHG) and global warming.

The baseline with the indicators proposed in the project will increase visibility of the current situation of the indigenous families of the Amazon on the one hand and the progress made by the project in the previous phase. In addition, it will serve to improve future interventions, influence public policies and generate a favourable public opinion about the alternatives that indigenous communities and indigenous women are implementing to mitigate and to build their resilience to the negative effects of climate change.

4. CHARACTERIZATION OF THE BENEFICIARY POPULATION

Over the last two decades, the families involved with this project secure land titles to important areas of the forest because of their long struggles for land rights. They have been implementing numerous agricultural activities, gathering, hunting, fishing and integral management of their territory as strategies to defend control and manage the natural resources in their territories. Although their livelihoods are under constant threat due to the model of extractive development and the expansion of the agricultural frontier, deforestation for the extraction of wood, mining activities, hydrocarbon activity, hydroelectric and road building projects; and with everything that they entail.

5

The communities in the project area are indigenous people living on communal lands or small holder farmers. They have an average of 5 members per family. Their communities are mostly located on the banks of rivers, or others near the highway. Most of the communities do not have good road access, especially during the rainy season. The families are engaged in cultivating agroforestry crops, harvesting forest products, hunting and fishing, and handicrafts. These activities are their main source of livelihoods, they are a source of pride and cultural identity despite their difficulties and threats that must face because of climate change.

Photo Christian Aid

The use and access to alternative energy is very incipient and very scarce. Most families rely on firewood as their main fuel for cooking. Prolonged rainy seasons and increased flooding decrease the availability of dry firewood, which means that families struggle to cook and boil water to make it safe to drink. This leads to malnutrition and disease and weakens the ability of people to cope with crises, such as floods and extreme weather patterns. The dependence on firewood as the main fuel for cooking leads to deforestation. It is estimated that each family uses up to 3 kg of firewood every day. Deforestation means that women must walk farther and farther from their community to look for fuel. It is estimated that women spend approximately 1 hour a day collecting firewood and up to 4 hours a day cooking on wood. The smoke from burning wood, especially when it is wet, is often toxic and increases the likelihood of respiratory diseases.

Indigenous women are relegated in their reproductive role. Many do not know their rights, because they do not have access to education nor do they participate in decision-making at community level. For this reason, indigenous women are triply discriminated against because they are women, because they are indigenous and because they are poor. This situation is changing little by little, but they still require clear and specific public policies that accompany their struggle and leadership in daily life.

6

4.1 MUNICIPALITIES IN WHICH THE PROJECT IS IMPLEMENTED

Next, the characteristics of the municipalities where the project is implemented are described in a very summarized way and with general data:

Photo Christian Aid

Municipality of Rurrenabaque

The Municipality of Rurrenabaque is part of the Mariscal José Ballivián Province of the Department of Beni; It is located at the extreme west of the department of Beni, in the last foothills of the mountain range and in the beginning of the eastern plains. The Municipality of Rurrenabaque is located 355 km from the city of Trinidad and 450 km from the city of La Paz. According to the National Institute of Statistics (INE) in 2018 this region has 23,540 inhabitants and by the year 2020, this municipality will have about 25,035 inhabitants.

According to results of the 2013 Agricultural Census, the main product grown in Rurrenabaque, in the winter 2012 and summer 2012-2013 agricultural seasons, is paddy rice; the sowing of this cereal reached 1,403.3 hectares. Other products grown in this region are: corn 1,152.2 hectares, banana (dessert) 892.0 hectares, cacao 250.0 hectares, cassava 200.3 hectares, orange 166.2 hectares and watermelon 103.5 hectares. The municipality of Rurrenabaque has as its main livestock species to 23,909 heads of poultry, other species with a larger population are: cattle with 20,137 heads, farm birds 7,129 and pigs of 2,445 head.

Municipality of San Buenaventura

The Municipality of San Buenaventura is located north of the Department of La Paz and belongs to the . The Municipality has an area of 3,748.11 km2, which corresponds to 9.37% of the surface of the Abel Iturralde province (PMOT SBV, 2009). According to the form of historical spatial organization that the Municipality has had, based on the previous cantonal organization, the

7

Municipality of San Buenaventura is currently structured in three districts: San Buenaventura, Tumupasa and San José de Uchupiamonas. The most extensive district is Tumupasa that covers 40.73% of the total extension of the Municipality, followed by the district of San José de Uchupiamonas with 25.25% and, finally, is the district of San Buenaventura that covers 24, 02%.

The main productive activities developed by the population of the Municipality of San Buenaventura, are mainly agricultural 30%, livestock 16%, hunting / fishing 17%, wood harvesting 16%, tourism 7% and non-timber use 6%. Families also develop some other activities such as trade, beekeeping and crafts.

Photo Christian Aid

Municipality of Apolo

The Municipality of Apolo, First Section of the of the department of La Paz, is located to the north of the department, extends from the eastern high foothills of the Andes to the Amazon region, in an altitudinal gradient between 4,000 m in the border with , up to 220 m altitude at the mouth of the . Apolo is the second largest municipality in the department of La Paz, after , with an area of 13,862 km2 which corresponds to 11% of the departmental area. Its municipal capital is at an altitude of 1,460 m.

Among the main economic activities are: mining, where Apolo has areas where historically sedimentary gold deposits have been exploited in the basins of , on the banks of rivers in the Northwest region of the municipality, in the basins of the Moxos rivers , Pelechuco, Tuichi and Amantala. Towards the South border of the Municipality another mining sector is identified in the Yuyo River, in an extensive zone upstream and downstream of Pauje Yuyo. Finally, a third gold zone in the sector near the communities of Puerto El Carmen and Chushuara. There is also a recent gold mine in the San Pedro community called Chusicani.

8

On the other hand, Apolo is an essentially agricultural Municipality. Practically all the inhabitants of the rural area of Apolo and many of the urban area have production plots for self-consumption and economic sustenance, in this latter case coca, coffee and cattle are particularly important. However, it is particularly special and remarkable that the municipality of Apolo has a diversity of climates and soils, which has linked to the local culture and ways of life, determines an impressive diversity of agricultural and livestock products that are the basis of the feeding and sustenance of the population at municipal and communal level.

Municipality of

San Ignacio de Moxos is the capital of the Moxos province of the . According to data from the 2012 Census, 11,168 men and 9,946 women were registered in San Ignacio de Moxos. Of the total population of Moxeña, 52.4% live in rural areas and 47.6% live in urban areas. In the municipality there are 1,333 Units of Agricultural Production (UPA), with an average area of 668.8 hectares for each UPA, according to the 2013 Agricultural Census. The area used for agricultural activity covers 1,800.5 hectares in summer, highlighting banana production with 42,115 quintals, cassava 11,539.3 and rice with husk 9,990.7 quintals. The municipality is characterized by the breeding of cattle with 290,285 heads, followed by 25,976 poultry.

Municipality of San Andrés

The municipality is part of the Marbán province, which according to the 2012 Census, the municipality of San Andrés registered 12,503 inhabitants. According to data from the 2013 agricultural census, the municipality is the main producer of paddy rice in the department of Beni, with an area of 8,520.7 cultivated hectares, followed by the production of soybeans with 2,214.0 hectares, followed by corn, beans, plantains and other products. In much of its territory it is covered by wetlands. The raising of cattle, leads the livestock production with 161,991 heads, followed by the breeding of 42,328 poultry, as the most numerous species.

Municipality of Baures

Baures is part of the Iténez province. According to the Population Census of 2012 it has a population of 5,965 inhabitants. It has a hot and humid climate with an average annual temperature of 30 ° C. and a rainfall of 1,000 mm. It has flat topography composed of islands of wild cacao and pampas, presenting jungle areas, shallows, curichis and gallery forests.

The population bases its economy on agricultural production. The collection of wild cacao is also one of the main activities. Among the main products are corn, yucca, banana, cocoa, lemon, custard apple, tamarind and avocado. The yucca is transformed into flour (chivé) for its commercialization in nearby communities. Livestock production is favoured by the large expanses of natural prairies characteristic of the province.

In this document, as a matter of temporality, we manage families who have been benefited with solar cooking since 2015 in mid-2018 as "old families"; that already have use and management of solar ovens in some cases of 3 years, others of 2 years and 1 year. While the families that are being benefited recently with the solar oven, we are calling them "new families", which are going to initiate the use and management of solar cooking.

9

Table No1: Families and Communities that have been involved in the project

Families

This that will With solar have solar Indigenous ovens ovens Communities Territories Municipalities

Area where CIPCA Beni works 131 38 12 2 4

Area where Soluciones Prácticas works 114 34 14 3

Total 245 72 26 2 7

Source: own elaboration based on information from partner institutions.

As we can see in Table No1, 317 solar ovens are being implemented in 26 communities, 2 indigenous sub-centers of 7 Municipalities in the Bolivian Amazon.

Indigenous Territories

The project is also being implemented in the indigenous territories of Tacana, Pilón Lajas, Multiethnic Indigenous Territory I (TIM-I) and Mojeño Ignaciano Indigenous Territory (TIMI). That after the approval and promulgation in 2009 of a New Political Constitution of the State as a result of the realization of the Constituent Assembly (2006-2007); where among the central aspects that structurally reconfigure the character of the new Bolivian statehood, related to the very sustenance of the character of plurinationality, has to do with the recognition of the pre-existence of indigenous and original peoples and nations. This point implies not only the formal recognition of cultural diversity but a challenge of great societal complexity, as a political and government model. Whose concretion will be the constitution of the indigenous autonomies; in which the TIM-I territory has advanced a lot.

However, although the legal conditions are given for the realization of self-government and respect for indigenous territories; in recent years policies based on the extraction of natural resources under the concept of development, measured only from economic indicators. The Government has proposed the implementation of megaprojects, as in the case of Sugar Processing Plant of San Buenaventura which has resulted in several hectares of forest land being cleared, affecting the life systems of the Tacanas families. Also, the planned construction of the Bala y Chepete hydroelectric plants, which, if materialized, will displace several communities of the Pilón Lajas Indigenous Reserve and Territory, due to the flooding of the reservoir dam; likewise, TIMI and TIM-1 are affected by the construction of the Villa Tunari - San Ignacio de Mojos highway; as well as the colonisation of people from outside the territory illegally grabbing the lands of the indigenous peoples.

In this context, the indigenous communities are developing actions of territorial defense and vindication of their collective rights, against the current policies of expansion of an extractive model of capitalist accumulation by the Bolivian government, making evident the contradictions and setbacks related to constitutional mandates / principles, such as the "plurinationality of the State" itself and the discourse of "Living Well" or "decolonization", through the imposition of a state and governmental vision of development.

10

4.2 CHRISTIAN AID AND PARTNERS IMPLEMENTING THE SOLAR OVENS PROJECT

The institutions that participate in the implementation of the project are:

CIPCA Regional Beni

It is an institution dedicated to the promotion of sustainable rural development of communities in most of the country and with accumulated experience in its area of expertise of more than 40 years. Its regional office in San Ignacio de Moxos (CIPCA Beni), has been working together with Moxeña communities for almost two decades and has promoted improvements in the quality of life of the communities through the implementation of Agroforestry Systems, including the production of cocoa, livestock, and other economic activities such as the manufacture of handicrafts with the support of Christian Aid. The local capacities of interlocution with the indigenous peasant communities of the Amazon and of advocacy with local and national authorities make CIPCA a key actor for the implementation of the project.

Soluciones Prácticas / Practical Action is an international technical cooperation organization that has worked in Latin America since 1985 and in Bolivia since 1999. Its work focuses on supporting communities in La Paz, Cochabamba, Oruro, Chuquisaca and Potosí through the transfer and adoption by the families of technologies for poverty reduction. Among the actions carried out by this institution are the introduction of photovoltaic systems to isolated communities and the strengthening of the management of forests and forest resources. The coverage of this institution includes the municipality of San Buenaventura, where it will be responsible for the execution of project activities. The experience in processes of technology transfer and interlocution skills with the communities in their area of work, are key institutional characteristics of Practical Solutions that will allow the successful implementation of this project.

Inti Illimani

It is a Bolivian association that since 1999 has been promoting the implementation and use of solar ovens to reduce the use of fuels for the preparation of food and the efficient use of clean energy from the sun for the reduction of environmental pollutants. His work in previous years has been concentrated in the highlands of Bolivia in the departments of Oruro, La Paz, Potosí, Cochabamba, but also in a lowland municipality in Santa Cruz. The expertise of Inti Illimani is central in the process of transfer and technological appropriation.

11

The Bolivian Platform Against Climate Change

It is a network of work with 9 years of operation, specializing in the subject of Climate Change in the areas of awareness of civil society and advocacy on policies of response to this phenomenon of high relevance for all efforts to promote development and improvements in the quality of life and climate justice of the vulnerable population. In addition to the thematic expertise, the PBFCC provides coordination, systematization and communication skills to achieve the results of this project. That works under the legal protection of UNITAS. In 1976, the National Union of Institutions for the Work of Social Action, UNITAS, was founded to become a mechanism for the defense of human rights, the recovery of democracy, and support for popular organizations. Its commitment to social - economic justice and the financial administrative and coordination capacities developed in its almost 40 years of existence are important capacities to enable the implementation of the project's actions and its objectives.

Christian Aid in Bolivia

In the last two decades, Christian Aid in Bolivia has become a point of reference for rights-based work in the Bolivian Amazon. It works with harder-to-reach communities, where

government programs and other NGOs find it too difficult or "expensive" to work logistically. In past years, when political tensions arose over the conflicting views of the development of the Amazon, with increasing threats to rights defenders and organizations accused of "hindering development," many international NGOs have withdrawn their programs in the region. However, in the chaos of Christian Aid, this has strengthened Bolivia's determination to support communities to ensure that the rights to land and territory for which more than two decades have been worked are respected, and that women and men historically excluded from forests have a significant voice and participation in decision-making processes that affect their territories and are increasingly threatened by predatory logging companies, extractive industries (mining), agro-industry (soy, rice) , and large infrastructure projects such as roads and dams. His role in the present project is coordination, monitoring and follow-up; besides generating alliances and synergies with its allies and international partners.

5. OBJECTIVES OF THE SOLAR OVEN PROJECT

5.1 General Objective

Bearing in mind that the General Objective of the current Project is to "Contribute to the strengthening of the resilience of very vulnerable families in the Bolivian Amazon through the introduction and consolidation of access and use of solar ovens" and its specific objective is: "Consolidate and strengthen the results of the pilot phase of the project, investing in robust, scientific and participatory monitoring and evaluation in the field to provide qualitative and quantitative evidence that solar ovens are a viable local energy and sustainable solution, bringing benefits

12 especially for women living in remote Amazonian communities, which can be replicated and expanded in other areas in the future. "

In this framework, the general objective of the Baseline Study is:

Determine quantitatively and qualitatively the initial situation and progress of the families of the Amazon

• on the use of solar ovens; • use of firewood; • fuel expenses, • time dedicated to the preparation of food; • CO2 pollution from the use of firewood; • Feeding Habits; • Women’s time away from the kitchen to devote to other activities; • Indigenous women’s participation and leadership in their organizations.

5.2 Specific Objectives

• Describe the frequency of use of the solar ovens and its appropriation, stratifying the groups of beneficiaries according to the age of the benefit from the beginning of the project to its current situation. • Determine the quantity and quality of reduction in the use of firewood and fossil fuel for the preparation of food, by the incorporation of solar ovens. • Identify the role and leadership of women in the promotion and sustainable management of natural resources in their territories; from their participation in the solar ovens project. • Describe if the use of solar ovens has improved the well-being and nutrition of families and especially of women and children. • Raise recommendations and proposals related to the use of solar energy for the cooking of food, exploring its viability and sustainability.

6.METHODOLOGY DEVELOPED FOR THE STUDY

The methodology that has been implemented to obtain data for the different variables have been the following: Survey, focus groups, interview, and bibliographic review.

Survey: jointly with all the partners 2 surveys have been designed: one directed or applied to families that already have solar cooking and the other families that are benefiting. The form contains closed and open questions referring to the different variables identified for the baseline study. This work has been done to a sample of 20% of the total beneficiary population of 317 families, therefore, the surveys have been applied to 56 families (43 old families and 13 new families), which have been selected at random.

Focus groups: the work of focus groups has been developed with 3 groups: one in the community of San Miguel, developed on November 16, 2018, another in San Ignacio de Mojos, carried out on November 20 and in the community of Nueva Betania on November 22, 41 people participated in these workshops (36 women and 5 men); We have worked in a very participatory way on women's leadership, distribution of roles in household tasks, participation of women, food habits of families and free time for women.

13

Photo Christian Aid

Interview: Based on question guide, interviews were conducted with leaders of the organizations, public authorities of the municipalities involved and technicians of the institutions.

Bibliographic review: During the process of carrying out the baseline, a bibliographic review was carried out, with the objective that the data be strengthened with the concepts and theories developed; but also consider, complement and refute existing research.

Table No 2: Planning of tools and methodology to collect information

Results Indicators Variables Information collection methodology

R1: The families own and By the end of year 2, at least 90% of the Use of the solar Survey use their solar kitchens families use the kitchens at least 3 times kitchen per week. en their daily life. per week.

By the end of year 2, at least 20% of men Uso del horno solar Survey use the solar ovens. según sexo y edad

By the end of year 2, 70% of the families Other uses of solar Survey

are innovating with solar ovens and using ovens. them for other ends besides cooking for the family.

14

R2. The usage and cost of By the end of year 2, 80% of the families Use of Wood and Survey fossil fuel (gaz) and wood have reduced the amount of Wood and fossil fuel by the 331 families living fossil fuels (gaz) used for cooking in at least differentiated by old in the 31 communities of 50% with respect to the baseline. and new families. the Bolivian Amazon has been reduced.

By the end of year 2, 80% of the families Gasto por uso de la Survey have reduced the amount of money spent leña y combustible on fossil fuel (gaz) and wood, in at least fósil diferenciados 50% with respect to the baseline. por familias antiguas y nuevas

By the end of year 2, 80% of the families Ahorro de tiempo Survey have saved 50% of the time dedicated to diferenciados por secure supplies of fossil fuel and wood with familias antiguas y respect to the baseline. nuevas

At the end of the Project, the sue of solar Amount of burnt Estimation from ovens is estimated in a reduction of X tons wood. DieterSeifert & D- of CO2 emitted. Neuoetting (2000), DieterSeifert (1998), Antonio Creus S. (2004) which point that burning 1 kg of wood emits 1,83 kg deCO2

People using solar ovens have reduced the Exposition to CO ------exposition to CO and OM 2.5 in at least and PM 50%.

R3: Historically excluded By the end of the Project, in at least 50% of Active participation Focal group women are recognised as the communities where women have of women main actors in the raised capacities, they are actively promotion and participating in community planning sustainable management processes and decisions on natural of their amazonic resources uses. resources. X% of women and X% of men perceive Perception of the Focal group psoitive changes (power relationships) in distribution of the the attitudes of men and families in the gender roles distribution of roles, with respect to a baseline.

By the end of the project, at least 30% of Women leadership Focal group empowered women are assuming leadership or representation roles at the community and supracommunity level in issues related to energy and natural resources management.

R4: The use of solar By the end of the Project, at least 80% of Feeding habits of Survey ovens has improved the the families, including children, have families. wellbeing of children. acquired new, healthier, feeding habits. Focal group

15

75% of women states that they count with Free time of women Survey more time out of the kitchen for other activities (i.e., free time, leadership, Focal group participation in decision-making proccesses, trade, etc.)

1 communication and promotion plans at Communications on Interviews to partner the national and international level, in tight solar ovens. institutions. collaboration with CA’s global partnerships (CEDLA, UNITAS; IA Spain, Big Shift, Global CookstovesForum).

Media coverage on the project and results. Media coverage Entrevista a instituciones socias

At least 2 local governments and 2 Public policies to Interview to partners indigenous territories have gained promote the solar institutions and local awareness and participate in the ovens. entities. promotion of solar kitchens and their benefits. Promotion of Interview to leaders steering of solar ovens.

R5: Solar ovens have By the end of the project, at least 1 alliance Climate resilience Interview to partners been positioned at the with an academic or technical institution to alliance local, national and generate knowledge and awareness about international level and local solutions to strength the resilience of within Christian Aid as a amazon communities that face climate viable and sustainable change, by using renewable energy. proposal to strength the resilience of vulnerable CA Bolivia Will use this Project to create ------families that can be multiple communications and spaces to replicated and scalated. share learning and experience with all the organisation to feed the debate on corporate policies and development of programs on renewable energy.

An academic paper Will present the Availability of Interview to partners economic opportunities (in terms of family studies and institutions Literature savings and opportunities for families to evidence. revision produce and commercialize.

Pioneer experiences implemented in the ------commercialization of solar ovens in urban nucleus.

A report – summary of experiences of the Availability of Revisión Bibliográfica use of solar ovens in the Amazon, findings, information of results, policies and programmes. previous experiences around solar kitchens in the Amazon.

16

7. RESULTS OF THE STUDY

Photo Christian Aid

The solar oven is one of the easiest methods to save energy and take advantage of what exists in nature, with the use of concentrated solar rays to heat the water or any other type of food, these initiatives have been created to decrease environmental pollution because they do not require fossil fuel and electricity, but also thanks to the solar oven the quality of life can be improved since they conserve the nutrients of the food; that is, in the end it is not only protecting the environment but also the living beings and their life systems. However, it is a technology that many people still do not use, most of the rural communities still use wood for cooking, however fossil fuels can be avoided with the use of solar cooking.

Solar ovens are artefacts that allow cooking food using the sun as an energy source. They are essentially heat traps that convert the solar radiation into heat energy. Its upper part is transparent to let in sunlight and has reflective panels (aluminium foil or mirror) that help capture more heat. The base in the interior and the container where it is cooked, is where the radiation is absorbed. It is due to the greenhouse effect that a rise in temperature occurs and the insulation of the system accumulates it, allowing temperatures of 100º C to be easily reached in the pot.

The solar ovens used in this project, have been introduced to the indigenous and peasant communities of the Municipalities of Rurrenabaque, San Buenaventura and San Ignacio de Mojos in 2015, in principle as a pilot or trial experience and as an alternative for food preparation in times of flood; seeing their results and the great acceptance of the population during the pilot phase, 245 more solar ovens were implemented up until the start of 2018, (these families are being called as "old families"); and currently a further 72 new solar ovens have been implemented in 2018/9; (these families have been termed as "new families"); making a total of 317 solar ovens implemented in 26 communities, 2 indigenous territories of 7 Municipalities in the Amazon.

17

The results that are presented below on: a) the frequency of use or use of solar ovens; b) use and cost of fossil fuel (gas) and firewood; c) role of women; d) welfare of the family, women and children; and e) acceptance and appropriation of solar ovens at the local, departmental and national levels.

The data differentiates between old families that already have solar ovens for 1-3 years and new families who have just acquired them and who have limited or no experience of using the oven. Although it is important to mention that all families who have solar ovens have received training and follow-up on its use and what meals to prepare.

The measurement variables that are presented have been extrapolated from the indicators of the project that is in progress and will be contrasted to the completion of the project

7.1 Use and frequency of use of the solar oven

7.1.1 Frequency of use The frequency of use of the solar oven in the space of a week among the families that already have solar oven is of an average of 3.10 times per week. However, while 42% of families use them 3 times a week, 33% use four times a week and 9% use more than 5 times a week. Seen graph N ° 1.

Figure N°1 Weekly frequency use(%)

100 100 80 42 60 33 40 16 9 20 0 2 3 4 5 Total

Series1

Source: Own elaboration based on data from the survey. 2018

On the other hand, in the focus groups, it has been seen that the families that have more time for solar cooking are the ones that are most frequently using it, as is the case of Doña Natividad from the community of Bermeo in the Municipality of San Ignacio de Moxos, who said "... it's been three years that I have the oven and its usefulness, I can say that it is very good for me as well as for my children and my husband, the oven makes us feel good when we have to prepare food and we are using it almost every day for the preparation of different types of food ... ".

The use of the solar oven is related to the solar rays, so when there is a lot of sun there is a higher probability of use, especially for the preparation of food. However, it has also been mentioned in the focus groups that on days when it is cloudy or rainy, it can be used as a thermal box, which requires that in principle the firewood be used to bring the food up to boiling point and subsequently placed in the solar oven to finish cooking, this reduces the use of fire wood and smoke, which is increased when the wood is wet. As Doña Juan Céspedes told us "... in the solar oven we do many things, even when there is no sun it can be used as a thermal box, as the food is cooked, you can make chicha, somó, tujuré, rice pudding, rice; Baked fish, for example, needs very strong sun o cook it properly. It would be

18 good to have a bigger solar oven or place it in one big pot to cook. The solar ovens we have now can only accommodate smaller pots, but we are a big family and sometimes the oven is just not big enough and there is not enough time to make two batches. Overnight we can leave the food to simmer and the next morning it is ready…"(San Miguel community focus group).

7.1.2 Ways that the Solar Oven is Used

As we have seen the frequency of use of the solar oven, now we will see what or what they are using the oven for. Apparently among the most common uses is for the preparation of food, for the dehydration of food, for the drying of the raw material to make handicrafts and for keeping the cooked heated. However, other uses are also given as we will see later.

Figure 2: For what purposes is the solar oven used

43

32 33

19 14 13 14 11 10 11 11 10 7 6

population interviewd population 5 5 3 2 2 2 2 3 0 0 0 0

Preparacion Secado de Artesania Otros Alimento, Total de alimento alimentos Arte, secado

Source: Own elaboration based on data from the survey. 2018 In the case of "old families" as can be seen in graph Nº2 what stands out most is the use of the kitchen for the food preparation almost always, followed by drying / dehydrating food on a regular basis. The oven is generally used very little for the drying of handicrafts by families involved in this activity, although there are some families that always used it for this purpose, whilst others almost never. This depends a lot on the economic activity to which the families in the communities dedicate themselves: in the communities where their main activity is agriculture, the use of solar cooking is more for the food preparation and drying / dehydration of food; while in communities that are mainly dedicated to female craft activities (as is the case of the Community of Bella Altura in the Municipality of San Buenaventura) the use of the oven is prioritised for this activity; "I dry the fibre of penga del majo in the solar oven, because I work making handicrafts, we make textiles with this material to take to sell to Rurrenabaque, we also toast chocolate and put the paste already ground by hand in the molds in the oven, then we package the chocolate with our own label and we sell it. The oven is very useful, we work faster "(Lucinda Ecuebari, Community of Bella Altura). But also, there are families who have are using it in other ways, for example making pastry, dehydrating vegetables and even to store food out of the way of rodents. "... I also dry the vegetables that I buy from the market. Since we live a long way away, we buy the vegetables, then we dry them in the kitchen and keep them in a glass jar and they last for several weeks and are stored as if it were fresh, well preserved; It is as if it had been chopped fresh. We are also promoters. We have gone out to other communities and we have taught others how to put the ovens to good use, it is not about leaving it there but rather to use it to cook under the rays of the sun.

19

Some say the ovens do not dry the vegetables, but how will they dry if they have covered everything? You have to leave them to let the steam out. I dry crafts, cook food, dry seeds, tables and other things ... "(Luz Mar Chao, community of Altamarani, Municipality of San Buenaventura).

In the case of new families, they have consulted about the use they would make when they have the solar oven; and as we are going to see in table Nº3, they think in a greater use of the kitchens for the preparation of food and secondly, use it as a dryer. They do not know its usefulness for the craft preparation.

In the case of new families, they have consulted about the use they would make when they have the solar oven; and as we are going to see in table Nº3, they first consider the solar oven for preparing food and secondly, to use it as a dryer. They do not know its usefulness for the craft preparation.

Figure Nº3 Intentions on solar kitchen usages

15

10 Siempre(4) 5 Regularmente(3) A veces(2) 0 Nunca(1) No, ocupa

Source: Survey data. 2018.

7.1.3 Use of the kitchen by family members

When the beneficiary families of the solar oven were consulted about who used the oven or who were involved in the preparation of food, the results obtained from the old families, in this particular case of the families that formed part of the pilot stage, mention that "... in the first place, the one that uses it is the mother, then the children, this always happens" (Natividad Matareco, Bermeo community). In the case of families that have solar ovens for ½ years now, as we can see in figure 4, 32% mention that only the mother uses it, 42% mention that both mother, father and children use it ; however, the frequency with which they use in the case of fathers and children is "sometimes"; in 16% the mother and children use it and 10% the mother and others, which refers to close relatives especially uncles, brothers and grandparents.

20

Figure Nº 4: Who uses the oven?

16%0% Madre 32% 10% Madre, padre e hijos Hijos y Madre Madre y otros 42%

Figure Nº6: Who would use the Figure Nº5 Who prepare the food kitchen?

14 12 8%0%17% 10 8 17% 6 4 2 58% 0

Madre y otros Madre, padre e hijos Padre Madre Hijos Otros Madre e hijos Madre

Fuente: Elaboración propia en base a datos de la encuesta. 2018.

The mother is still the main person in charge of preparing the food. However, in most families they have mentioned that both the father and the children are involved in the preparation of the food, this is due to the ease that exists with the solar oven, especially with the fathers, and for in the case of children there is much less risk of burning or having an accident than when cooking with firewood, where serious accidents often occur. "... now our husbands are involved in the kitchen, we let them cook and they are the ones who serve themselves , and they serve our children. In my case, as I am in a leadership role, I mostly use the solar oven with my daughter who is now 14 years old, but she has used since she was 12 years old, she prepares all kinds of food, she puts the food in before going to school and everything is ready at lunchtime, when we share the meal as a family; she has learned to make many things, practising every day, now she even makes cakes, fish – everything that we used to cook over firewood, now everything comes out of the solar oven delicious ... "(Petronila Ipamo, Director TIM-1, San Ignacio de Moxos November 2018)

In the case of new families, they were asked in the first instance. Who are the people in charge of food preparation? and then, in the case of having a solar oven in the future, who do you think would use it and how often? In the response to those who are responsible for the preparation of food, it is always the mother. The father and the children cook sometimes, and a few cases do it on a regular basis. Whereas if the family had solar oven 58% believe that the preparation of food in the solar oven would be the responsibility of women and children, 17% think that it would be mother, father and children,

21 as well as other 17% believe that it will be done by the mother and others (uncles, brothers and grandparents); and only 10% think that only the mother would be in charge of the kitchen. Again, in this case the tendency is that with the implementation of solar kitchens it is thought that fathers and children will become more involved in the preparation of food. Which, as we saw earlier in the old families, is true; we'll see if it's going to be like this with the data from the output line of this project.

7.1.4 Benefits of solar cooking

The general benefits of solar ovens are:

• Solar ovens are very suitable for families with few economic resources because the energy of the sun is free and inexhaustible. • Dependence on common fossil fuel (gas, oil, electricity, etc.) can be dispensed with. • There is no risk of fire, poisoning, leakage, etc. • Using solar ovens improves the quality of life since it saves hours of work searching for firewood. This time saved can be dedicated by women and children (they are the ones who tend to look for firewood) to other tasks or to their personal capacity building or education. • Solar ovens favour the environment, because they reduce deforestation due to less firewood needing to be used daily and the also reduce air contamination.

Figure Nº7 The valuation carried out by "old" families -as Assessment of the benefits by we can see in figure 7- of the benefits of solar families using the oven cooking: 11% 5% Poco 84% value solar ovens as between very good 42% Bueno and good, because they save them time, they 42% Muy Bueno benefit the environment, they benefit their health, they allow them to participate more in Regular the social life of their communities. Source: data from survey 2018 11% think that solar ovens are regular, because they still have problems using them and they require further training, which could be done by the promoters of the groups but is also indicative of lack of practice and management, which must be carried out, albeit with errors.

And finally, 5% express low satisfaction to the contribution of benefits of solar cooking.

In focus group discussion, women have expressed the benefits in a more personalized way drawing on their own experience:

Testimonies:

"The families that use solar ovens do not inhale the smoke, this encourages women and attracts their interest to acquire solar ovens. Solar ovens are also drawing interest from the municipal authorities as the case of Ixiamas, and San Buenaventura, which are now coordinating with Soluciones Practicas "(Gladys Ibaguari, President of CIMTA, the Indigenous Women’s Organisation of the Tacana Territory)

"... We women are the ones who suffer when we are cooking over firewood, the smoke affects our eyesight, women are losing their sight. Women are the ones who inhale the smoke and ruin our lungs. We are handling hot and cold water and we are the ones, we are the women who get sick, and when we get sick they do not take us to the doctor, rather they criticize us. That is why it is important that at

22 home we talk about these issues with our husbands. They have to be aware of what we are going through and to respect us. Faced with these difficulties, the solar oven is a really positive response.... "(Luz Mar Chao, community of Altamarani).

"... I am a leader, I have a meeting at 9 o'clock in the morning, so for lunch I will away, so I leave my eldest daughter in the morning with instructions about what to do with the solar oven when she return from her classes , then I go with peace of mind to my meeting because I know that when my children come home from school they will have lunch ready and warm to eat; before the solar oven, I had had to cook everything before leaving the house in the morning, this meant that I was often late for the meeting, I was preoccupied worrying about whether my children had something for lunch, or if they were just eating something cold. This meant that I could not concentrate of focus at the meetings, my mind was mind was wandering. However, now, with the soar oven I have greater peace of mind, greater wellbeing and this is very important for how well I exercise my leadership ..”. (Lucinda Ucuebari, community of Bella Altura).

"... solar ovens are a very important tool for women, because we can leave the food cooking and meanwhile we can get on with other activities such as going to the field where we cultivate crops, participate in meetings, go to school to check up on our children, talk with the neighbours and they even give us free time to rest; solar ovens are a real benefit to women ... "(Juana Bejarano, Bermeo Community).

According to the testimonies of the women themselves, the benefits they identify are multiple. The following is a summary of the possible benefits, developed based on the focus group discussions:

• The temperature in the solar oven is moderate, this helps not to lose nutrients which do not evaporate from the food. The foods maintain their nutritional values, taste, and aroma; that's why its flavour is still rich.

• Money is saved as the women no longer have to buy fuel and women are able to cook nutritious meals such as legumes and other recipes that require hours to cook, as is the case of somó.

• Fire smoke irritates the lungs and eyes causing serious illnesses, the solar oven is smoke-free, therefore, much better for health.

• Fire in the kitchen is dangerous especially for children who can very quickly get into trouble, causing damage to homes and farms because of the risk of fire.

• Women and children must walk a lot to collect firewood for cooking. These walks deep into theforest are risky, often exposing them to danger of accidents, injury and attacks by wild animals; solar cooking reduces these risks and allows free time for other activities.

23

• The solar oven can be used to cook food or to pasteurize water especially during an emergency when other sources of fuel are not available, for example in the case of floods.

• Money is saved from the purchase of fuel, which can be used for food, education, health, etc ...

• The pots used in the solar oven are easy to clean, a very important factor for people who have to walk miles to get water.

• The solar oven can be used in a portable way,

In the case of the "new" families according to Graphic no.8, 31% of the families surveyed believe that the kitchens benefit them in a very positively, and 46% between little and regular, the answer is logical, because they are just starting to use the solar oven.

This data is very important because it becomes the starting point of the project.

Gráfico Nº8 New families opinion about benefits of soalr ovens Poco Bueno Muy Poco Regular

8% 15%

46% 31%

Source: Own elaboration based on data from the survey, 2018.

7.2 Use and cost of fossil fuel (gas) and firewood

Firewood is most traditional fuel used for food preparation, and even today is the most widely used because it is affordable and accessible for indigenous and peasant communities. Undoubtedly, also according to the experiences shared by communities participating in this study, firewood also adds good flavour to meals.

On the other hand, firewood is also synonymous with poverty, deforestation and environmental pollution and health risk. Studies have proven that the use of firewood is detrimental especially to the health of the women who, more often than not take charge of most fo the food preparation. The smoke from the firewood causes damage mainly in their respiratory system, which can eventually cause death.

Securing access to alternative fuels, such as gas, in indigenous and peasant communities in the department of Beni and north of La Paz is very difficult. Although some may use it, the cost is still prohibitive to the majority, due to the flooding of roads mainly in rainy season, which hikes up the cost with each gas bottle costing up to 100 bolivianos (approx. GBP10). For example, in the community of Altagracia in the municiplaity of Baures, we can see how the use of the solar oven has resulted in a direct reduction of other fossil fuels being used by the beneficiaries.

24

7.2.1 Amount of firewood and gas used by families

The first findings of the study show that most of the families (96%) surveyed continue to use firewood in different proportions and quantities. Only 4% do not use firewood for food preparation. In this case they use another source of energy such as gas or solar energy. As we can see in Graph Nº9, 62.96% of families use gas and 59.26% use gas and firewood to prepare their food, in this case the data is of the total of the families that have been surveyed, that is to say no distinction has been made between old and new families, in the sense that the data is simply recording what source of energy they are using. In the course of the project, we expect to see a decrease in the use of fossil fuels as solar ovens are increasing used.

Gráfico Nº 9 Use of fuel %

96.30 100 100.00

80.00 62.96 59.26 60.00 37.04 40.00

20.00 3.70 0.00 Uso de leña Uso gas Gas y Leña Total

si no

Source: Own elaboration based on data from the survey, 2018.

7.2.2 Obtaining firewood

88.37% families collect firewood in their fields or Gráfico Nº 10 Obtaining firewood % in the forest, that is, their territory, which means that it does not have an economic cost that the si no family must assume, however, as we will see later firewood collection and transporting it 88.37 88.37 requires considerable time and physical effort.

Only 6.98% of families buy firewood at an average price of 19.50 bolivianos for a bundle (el 19.50 4.65 6.98 jase).

Recolecta leña Compra Costo del Jase

Source: Own graph based on data from the survey, 2018.

25

To collect firewood, the families usually set out from their homes and travel on average 1.17 km spending an average of 1.36 hours to collect firewood on average 2, 35 times a week. 95, 34% of families collect firewood in their own community or in their territory and 4.66% also buy firewood in the community. See table No. 3.

Table Nº3: Family Firewood Collection

Firewood Collection Average

Distance Km 1,17

Time (hours) 1,36

How many times a week 2,35

Collected within the community % 95,34

Purchased within the community % 4,66

7.2.3 Quantity and price of fuel used

Graphic Nº11 As we saw in the previous chapter, families almost Quantity and cost of fuel( Firewood always use firewood as a source of energy, especially and Gas) for food preparation; in this case, reduction of firewood has been correlated with the incorporation Cantidad de combustible usada Sin cocina of the solar ovens, that is to say, although families still Cantidad de combustible usada Con Cocina use firewood, the use of firewood been greatly reduced. 82.88 The families without solar ovens use 52.98 kilos of firewood each week, which is equivalent to 5.3 52.98 bundles. Families that have solar ovens have reduced 41.44 their use of firewood to 23.47 kilos per week, that is to 2.4 bundles. Each week, this means that the use of 23.47 firewood for families with solar ovens has been reduced by 55%. Over the course of a year, these figures would result in the 317 families that have solar ovens reducing their used of firewood by Leña jase Gas Bs x 1,587,697 kilos of firewood each year. x semana mes However, in the case of new families the average use of firewood per week is currently 9.3 bundles of firewood, which represents 4 more bundles than that being used by the old families that have being using the solar ovens over time. However, it is important to note that this data may not be accurate because when the investigators asked the old families how

26 much firewood they used each week before they had the solar ovens, they were asking them to remember back one, two and even up to three years ago. In the focus groups, most people interviewed mentioned that they have halved the use of firewood. It is necessary to understand that the families are not carrying out the measure, but rather this data is based on memory, but the quantitative and qualitative data coincide in that yes, the use of firewood has been effectively halved. As Mrs. Roxana Añez of the Altamarani community told us "... before I had to come home every day loaded with my bundle of wood, and that lasted for lunch and for dinner, then I had to go out again. Now my bundle lasts 2 days longer "(Focus group, community of San Miguel).

With regards to the purchase of gas each month and how much was invested, when families did not have solar ovens, the average investment per family was 82.88 Bolivianos per month (994.56 Bs per year). Now for families with solar ovens, the average family spends 41.44 bolivianos a month in the purchase of gas which represents a saving of 41.44 Bs per month and 497.28 bs over the course of a year. That is, there is a 50% reduction in spending. "... beforehand, each month I had to buy gas two or three times, especially in the rainy season we had no alternative but to use the gas stove because with the rain the wood is wet and it is difficult to burn, there is a lot of smoke, but now with the solar oven we have reduced the use of gas. We still use the gas to bring the water to the boil and then transfer the pan to the solar oven so that it can finish cooking, this is possible even on rainy days, it cooks really well". (Claudia Escalante, community of Estrella de Belén).

7.2.4 Time required for the collection and preparation of firewood and the purchase of gas.

Christian Aid

The practice of collecting and carrying firewood, as the most accessible, economic fuel that allows families to prepare food, provide heat among other uses, has been part of many indigenous and peasant cultures since the time of their ancestors. Obtaining firewood is not an easy task, most families

27 take advantage of the wood that is available after preparing and cleaning their fields (cultivation land), which can be very close or very far from their homes. How firewood collection takes places depends on the decisions of each family, in some instances it is the task of the fathers and the sons, but in many cases, it is carried out by the women, who may or may not count on the help of their children.

To gather wood, tools such as an axe and a machete are required. Families also have identified trees or species that last longer and are not consumed quickly with fire, they call it “fine wood”, on the other hand, however, a pre-requisite condition is that the tree or shrub must to be used as firewood, is that it is part of a dead plant or is in a dry state. Securing firewood involves going to find it, gather it, and transport it back to the home from the place where it was found. If the wood consists of thick trunks, it must be cut into smaller pieces with the help of a axe to make it ready to be used in the kitchen as fuel. In short, it is a task that needs time and dedication by some of the family members. But as we said before, the use of solar ovens has facilitated and reduced the workload "Before having the solar ovens we spent twice as much time to go to look for the wood, the solar ovens have lightened the burden.". Héctor Vejarano and Natividad Matareco ", October 2018.

Next, we present the time, distance they travel and the times per week that they have to do this task of preparing the firewood as fuel for cooking.

The families surveyed report that the distances for firewood collection is between 4km to 0.2 km. In Graph No. 12 we can see that the average is 1.17 km. As for the time it takes, families mention that they take an average time of 1.36 hours to collect firewood, . With a minimum of families that take between 4 to 0.015 hours.

Most families go twice a week to stock up on firewood, since most of them collect firewood in their community and the minimum that they buy in the same way comes from the same community.

All mention that the benefit of solar ovens has reduced by 50% all these activities that must be done in terms of the collection of firewood.

In the case of new families, who are just beginning 2018 as beneficiaries of solar ovens, in graph No13 we can see that the collection distance of firewood is half a kilometer that most families travel, however, there are a minimum of families that travel a maximum of one kilometer and another minimum that travels 0.015 kilometers to obtain firewood. Regarding the frequency that families must collect firewood, they do it twice a week. On the other hand, the percentage of families that collect firewood is 95% of the families surveyed and 5% is expressed in the same graph. that does not collect, but purchases.

The families surveyed report that the distances for the collection of firewood a minimum percentage takes between 4 to 0.2 km.

7.2.5 Access and purchase of Gas

In the indigenous and peasant communities in the area of project intervention, access to fuel such as gas is only recent in the past decade or so. Due to frequent flooding of the roads, gas is expensive for families that depend on an subsistence economy due to the fact that gas is only sold in the urban centers, and added to the high cost if the added difficulty of transporting it back to their communities.

Government sponsored emergency support programs for families affected by the floods have motivated gas cooking and the use of gas bottles. However, despite distribution of gas ovens and gas bottles, not all families have access to Gas.

28

In this sense the graph Nº14, shows us the use of gas and the obtaining by the families, where 55% of the old families, use Gas; while in terms of new families, 69.2 uses Gas. Most or more than 50% buy Gas in their community.

Gráfico Nº14 Octencion del Gas (%)

F antiguas F Nuevas

69.2 69.2 55.81 53.5 44.2 38.5 30.8 34.9

Utiliza gas No utiliza Compra en la Centro Urbano comunidad

7.2.6 Reduction of Carbon Dioxide (CO2)

According to DieterSeifert and D-Neuoetting (2000), DieterSeifert (1998), Antonio Creus S. (2004) it is estimated that the combustion of one kilogram of firewood emits 1.83 kg of CO2. Using this reference, the data on the reduction in CO2 of the 245 families that already use the solar oven, in tons per year, has been extracted as can be seen in the following table.

Table 4: CO2 reduction in Tn/year in 245 families

Without Variable kitchen With kitchen

Burnt Wood (in Kg) 1557612,00 690018,00

CO2 emissions in Kg 2850429,96 1262732,94

Wood ( Tn) 1557,61 690,02

CO2 emissions (Tn) 2850,43 1262,73

CO2 reduction (Tn)/year 1.587,70

Therefore, it can be said that the contribution in the reduction made by the families that have solar ovens is of 1,587.70 Tonnes of Carbon Dioxide per year, in other words, there is a reduction in the contamination by fossil fuels in a 55.7%. This figure will surely be higher when the new families start to use solar cooking.

7.3 Participation and prominence of Women

In Bolivia, where more than 40 percent of the population identifies as indigenous or Afro-descendant, according to the 2012 National Population and Housing Census, indigenous women face a greater risk of being excluded. In addition, according to a National Survey on Discrimination and Social Exclusion

29 from the Perception of Women Report in 2014, all women feel discriminated against in different aspects of their lives, with indigenous women especially being the most affected.

According to Christian Aid`s partner Peasant Research and Promotion Centre (CIPCA-2009) in a study undertaken around the power relations between men and women, they presented the following findings:

• In the reproductive field, women assume most of the responsibility, control of the body and sexuality of women, naturalization of that space. They are victims of physical and psychological violence

• In the productive field; there is little recognition of the economic contribution of the women throughout the productive agricultural cycle for examples - preparation of soils, sowing, harvesting etc. Women participate in almost all the same activities as men, but their contribution is not recognized as productive work.

• In the Community / political participation field: the role of women's participation is undervalued. In the organic community structures women face a constant struggle to participate effective and be autonomous.

Photo Christian Aid

Some aspects that have been changing in a positive way for women:

• It seems that women do have access to and control of most resources, such as: land, tools, the benefits of both agricultural and livestock products, although their still lack autonomous decision- making power about how they are managed.

• Women recognize that there has been a change in certain roles over time, for example they mentioned that before their parents did not let their daughters attend school, but today both their sons and daughters have access to education. They also made it known that now violence against women has diminished somewhat because now women have greater awareness about their rights, how to exercise them and how to denounce cases of abuse.

• Women manage the economic resources of the family. In many cases they decide together with their partner how resources are invested and managed.

However, while women are aware of the progress made thanks to their struggle, they also recognize that there is still a long way to go before a more just and equitable society is achieved. Womens` discussions, training and proposals are focused on the need for greater empowerment of women. Also, they recognize that to bring about of changes in power relations, they need to engage with men and, above all, to educate their children, so that the next generations, grow up with other values and principles.

30

7.3.1 Perception of positive changes in power relations.

Based on the discussions of the focus group workshops, women have seen the progress and difficulties that exist in terms of their participation:

They consider that, in decision making spaces, women are more active in recent years, mainly those women who hold leadership positions. Women now have greater participation in community meetings and also at the municipal level. As a concrete result of ore effective and greater participation, women’s proposals are now being integrated into the annual municipal planning and, women are increasingly holding positions at community level. No longer are women limited to assume the traditional roles previously reserved for women by men such as Gender and Finance secretariat; but, now thanks to their ongoing struggle and commitment, they are assuming very strategic positions for example the Secretariats of Land, Territory and Natural Resources, and in some cases they are appointed the main authority “Corregidores” of their mixed (men and women) community organisations.

However, this greater participation and representation, does not come without great sacrifice. Women are assuming these new roles in addition to other tasks, assumed principally by women in which most men have still not managed to take on board. Many women believe that it is simply down to a matter of choice, being willing to assume responsibility and ensuring that their voices are heard which is in itself an indication of the raised self-esteem and self-worth held by these women leaders…

Photo 10 UNITAS

"... Women are very afraid assuming leadership, because they do not know how to cope, However, they are gradually overcoming this fear as they gain experience and we learn on the job we see that it is not so hard. We must believe in ourselves..."(Isidora Apuri, Community Villa Alcira). We can see progress in women assuming leadership positions in testimonies such as the following.... “ now women are participating, we are being taken into account, we encourage each other to put ourselves in situations where we have to deal with the authorities of the municipality for example. We are managing projects now, we are summoned to meetings of our community organization, and we are more organized than before. "Solar ovens are of great benefit to the organization and for the women living in these communities. We are sad because we want women in all the other communities to benefit too, we

31 hope that the project can be expanded, that is why we are here." Petronila Ipamo, leader of the Multiethnic Indigenous Territory, TIM-1).

Women are assuming executive leadership roles, building on the trust deposited in them by their communities, for example in the Multiethnic Indigenous Territory, TIM-1 that is home to 19 communities, 9 of these have chosen woman as their maximum authorities. It is heartening that over 50% of women assume leadership in a territory where only a few years ago only men held positions of authority. These achievements are thanks to the ongoing struggle of women to raise awareness and reflect about their rights and their role in the development of their territory. They represent a the first tendencies of shits of power in community based organisations. The solar oven project has enabled a space for women to come together to share and to develop and strengthen leadership skills. It builds on sharing around reproductive tasks and goes beyond this to provide opportunities to move beyond their traditional roles to consider their contribution and leadership in productive and political processes. It is a space where women feel comfortable and are able to develop and support one another in a collective capacity building.

Women are developing a new leaderships style with double resposnabilities because they have to find a balance between the tasks of the organisation with the demands of the family such as child care, preparing meals, washing clothes among others. The solar ovens have been a great help to many women leaders, enabling greater compatibility between these demands and in a context where it is often to achieve a balance between public and domestic roles “…I am a leader. I have meetings from nine o’ clock in the morning which means that I can’t be at home to cook lunch, so I delegate to my eldest daughter to use the solar oven when she comes home from classes at midday. So I can go to my meeting without worrying because when my kids come hoem from classes the food is all cooked and warm and ready to eat. In the past I would have to cook everything before I left the house in the morning. I would arrive late to the meetings and worried that my kids would be perhaps eating just cold food – this meant that I culd not fully concentrate in the meetings, my mind would wander. But now with the solar oven I am much more relaxed and this makes me a better leader,” (LucindaUcuebari).

"I have been a leader and during this time I have had many activities and tasks to perform, for example one day I had to pick up a delegation of people from Rurrenabaque, so in the morning I left everything ready in the solar oven and asked a neighbour to move it every once in a while to catch the sun beams, then I went to Rurenabaque to pick up my visitors, and on the way back (half a day) we arrived and there was the food already to be served (a baked fish). If I did not have the solar oven that would not have been possible, I would have had to have everything read and cooked before leaving the house which would have meant waking up very early. The solar ovens make life easier for leaders.” (Juan Céspedes, Community Villa Alcira).

Within the three focus group discussions, a key issue for reflection was about how this project benefits women in leadership positions; all participants mentioned that the solar ovens enable their families – especially their children- to better understand why and how the women were participating and strengthening their skills to participate more actively in decision making processes. All this has been expressed with testimonies, role plays and work groups that can be read in the annexes.

Therefore, women are encouraging each other, overcoming their fear. As one of them said "We may not have many years of schooling, but we are not mute".

32

7.3.2 Equitable distribution of gender roles

Regarding the equitable distribution of roles, there is still way to go, a minimum percentage of the female leaders receive the support of their spouses to exercise their positions, while a majority has assume a double burden as leader whilst still assuming the main share of domestic tasks at home.

"Women feel guilty about our children, it’s difficult to leave them alone, often we do not have anyone to take care of them. We are really worried about our children. We feel torn between our children and also our own desire to learn. That’s what I was suffering but the workshops have helped me to deal with these situations. My husband, when he was a leader, I supported him a lot, but when it was my time to assume leadership, he did not support me in the same way, maybe, my husband doubted that I was capable of assuming this role. Despite this, I assumed the leadership and I told him, I may not know how to write but I can exercise this role. I have shown him that it is possible, and now he supports me. We have to break with the silence, we must speak out for things as they should be ... "(Luzmar Chao, Comunidad Altamarni).

Gráfico N°15 The positive changes to strengthen the How domestic task are distributed int he family (%) participation of women, include the fact that spouses are providing not only more moral support but also with the 1% reproductive chores in the house. "My

23% Madre husband and my daughter are the ones Hijas who support me to exercise my role as a 52% 9% Hijos leader. We have come to live in the Padre 15% subcentral (bigger town where the Otros parientes Territorial organisation meets) so that I can exercise my leadership. My husband cooks, as does my daughter, if not, I could not exercise the position "(Sara Jiménez, March 2018).

Solar cooking, women say, is an incentive, it is something of a novelty for men and they are showing more interest in food preparation now. According to graph N ° 15, in response to the question Who is carrying out the productive and reproductive tasks of a total of 26 activities that were identified and / or selected. The results show that 52% of these activities are being done by women; 23% by the husband, 15% by daughters 15% and 9% by children. Therefore, women continue to undertake the greatest number of activities, especially reproductive ones, but also the data shows us that the division of labour that places more reproductive resposnabilities on women and girls starts at childhood. It is a topic of discussion within homes.

33

In this case, the data is not disaggregated between the old and new families because there are daily tasks are undertaken in all homes, with or without the solar ovens. Although all the members of the family participate in household chores, most of them falls on the woman.

Deepening the analysis, a little more, Graph N ° 16 shows us in which reproductive tasks men are participating more in the case of families that have solar ovens.

The % of each variable represents the number of men involved in the main household tasks related to the preparation of food. We see that 51% are engaged in looking for firewood, 19% of men feed their children; 5% serves food to the family (something that was not done a decade ago, because of the prevalence of the patriarchal system with the prevalence of machismo); 7% light the fire; and 16% bring water for cooking. So, we can say that there is progress in male participation in reproductive roles, however, it is not we are far from achieving equitable distribution of reproductive roles.

In the case of new families, we can see in figure N ° 17 the percentage in the distribution of tasks.

Gráfico N°17: Tasks related to food preparation en %

100 100 80 60 38 23 40 15 8 20 0

0 Buscar leña Dar de Servir la Encender Traer Agua Total comer a comida fuego hijos

Nuevos

Source: Base don own data collected in surveys 2018

On the other hand, it has been asked who of the members of the family are responsible for the preparation of the food. Combining data and survey results from both new and old families, the information we have is that 32% of the families interviewed mention that the mother is primarily responsibility, in second place, with 18% is a combination of family members, the mother, the father and children who take up this task at different times. The data illustrating who prepares the food and the frequency can be seen in graph N ° 18.

34

Source: Questionnaires 2019

In grpahics 19 and 20, we have disaggregated the information, by sample, for the old families that already have solar ovens, and the new families who have only recently acquired the solar ovens. Gráfico N° 19 Made e hijos Grafico N°20 Madre e hijos Who prepares the emals in old Madre,hijos y Who prepares the meals in new families families? padre a veces Madre,hijos y Padre padre a veces Padre Madre 2% 0% 0% 2% 0% 9% 9% Madre Madre y padre a 15% 23% 12% veces 15% 0% Madre y padre 35% Madre y otros 14% 16% 31% a veces Madre y otros 14% Madre,padre e hijos Madre,padre e No hay hijos 3% respuesta Hijo y Madre

In graphic 19, the 35% of the families (old families) who have had solar ovens for a while responded that it is the mother and children who are responsible and sometimes the father helps out too. The time used in the preparation of these foods is 2 hours, but what they value is that is it not necessary to be standing over the food as it cooks all this time once the food is placed in the solar kitchen. "I can start to cook at 8 in the morning and go to work in the fields or clean the house or wash clothes. I can, even rest, watch TV" (Visney Taraune Flores, Eduardo Avaroa, Municipality of San Javier)

In the case of new families, it can be observed that food preparation falls mainly on the mother with 31%, followed by mother and children. "The time they use to cook is 2 hours, but it requires continuous attention, if not you will burn lunch or whatever it is that you are preparing", (Rufina Guagama de Santa Rita).

Comparing the results, between old families and new families, it shows us that solar cooking can be an incentive for other household members, to assume this task and relieve the workload of the women. While in new families only in 8% do the activity of childcare.

35

In this sense, there is also significant progress, for example, when compared to what was said in similar studies undertaken by CIPCA a decade ago: "I (man) do the heavy work and she stays in the house, to do her chores and to take care of the children. “And the women said "Women stay in the house and have to cook, wash, take care of the children, and if we go out to some event we have to carry the younger children and a woman needs to rests the husband tells her that it is lazy."(CIPCA: 2009)

Now these results show us the beginnings of change in this regard, even if the number of men who initiate this process does not exceed 25%.

Photo Bolivian Climate Change Platform

7.3.3 Women's Leadership

Women's leadership is a growing factor, because not only are women assuming leadership positions, but they are also leading projects, training, exchanging experiences and fighting for what they believe benefits their community. The focus groups corroborate that the solar oven project helps to raise women’s self-esteem and strengthens personal growth and leadership skills,

Women make their demands known in the workshops, with the purpose of contributing to move forward with what they believe benefits them.

"We have made a map to show you our community, it is the Altamarani community, there is the Sugar Cane Processing Plant, there is our community meeting room, the school, the stocks, our diesel engine. You may be asking why do we do not have trees, this is as a result of the sugar processing plan which as deforested our land, and in that sense we have been deceived by our leaders" Altamarani (Luzmar Chao and Roxana Añez, municipality of San Buenaventura) . On the other hand, in the Southern Amazon region we are always sharing with our peers. I invite them to prepare food in the solar oven to test out new things, to learn as a way of encouraging them to use the solar oven to know its benefits.” (Natividad Matareco, Bermeo community, November 2018).

36

Solar ovens encourage women's unity in their communities, such as in the Community of New Bethania, women meet once a week to share their recipes and discuss community matters. (Testimonios, report of the solar kitchens project, April 2018).

However, women as well as acknowledging their progress, also recognize their ongoing difficulties. The focus groups created a space for women to voice their proposals for women, which are presented in the following summary table.

Table N 5: Difficulties and proposals for strengthening women

Dificulties Proposals to strengthen women's participation ✓ Lack of knowledge about charges. ✓ Cheer up, experience teaches you to ✓ As a mother, there's nowhere to leave deal with the situation of being able to do the children. This makes us feel bad, it things raises concern ✓ Conversation, family dialogue ✓ The language of workshops is ✓ If it is possible to direct without knowing sometimes complicated how to read and write ✓ Husbands sometimes don't support, ✓ You have to say things, insist, that's how they don't believe in our ability. recognition is achieved. ✓ Women don't have years of school (We ✓ You have to prove with facts that you can't read or write) achieve trust. ✓ Sometimes both public and private ✓ That support institutions manage other institutions do not give us importance projects. To encourage women (example ✓ They want the boys to do things the way sheep project), when there are projects they want, they don't let them do the women are encouraged, you have to make way they want them keep their spirits without project. ✓ Encouraging husbands to cheer on their ✓ There are women's organizations at the wives communal level and it supports the ✓ Training for the new generations (men parent organization (there are 10 and women) see the importance of the kitchens in the community) organization. ✓ Women's organizations see the need for ✓ See how to integrate young people, so the community, we are forming. There is they can strengthen the community and better women's participation, little by don't go to town. little ✓ We have to go out and train, meet more ✓ Women are cheering, losing their fear. often. We don't have years of schooling, but ✓ Promoting unity "we're not mute." The organization ✓ We need the support of an institution helps women's participation. ✓ Projects should be made that benefit ✓ Women's organization needs to be women in embroidered fabric, paint, also strengthened at the communal level masitas and at the territorial level, the latter ✓ What are we going to do when our has more difficulties. kitchens don't work anymore? How is it ✓ Communities are being strengthened. manufactured, can we do? ✓ In the communities there are women's ✓ When the kitchen is already in disrepair organizations, but it is not exercised, or several years old, we must already think there is machismo in the communities, about building, if it cannot be in installments but progress is being made in and acquire parts. participation that can be seen in Training in construction should be tested organic meetings. ✓ It is strengthened from women's leadership and when they go to

37

another level, the organization of women at the communal level is weakened. ✓ Women don't give the time ✓ Husbands oppose ✓ Women are not capable ✓ The kitchen is small you can't do two things Maintenance and repair as we will? As for the kitchens, it's testing, otherwise it's not possible to know Source: Own elaboration based on focus group information.

7.3.4 Representation of women

Photo Christian Aid

Women are gaining recognition before local governments mainly at the municipal level. The voice of the woman is being heard and their demands are being taken into account, as mentioned in the following testimony. "We are a from San José de uchuquiamonas, the women are participating although with not without difficulties because the men do not allow them to work, now we are fighting for gender equity. Now the nomination of representatives either in the community organization or for the public positions have to be under the principle of gender equality, that is why there is greater participation of women in different spaces. Women also have proposals in productive areas, we want to raise pigs, plant cocoa and coffee in the plots where you can. For this we require materials and capital. " (Petra Paripariamo, Secretary of Land and Territory of CMILAP, San José Chupiamonas)

38

Women are aware of their progress, however, they also know that there is still a long way to go to achieve development with equity and equality of opportunities. As mentioned by a municipal authority. "The truth is that recently women are very active, thanks to the laws, such as law 348, 346 and that local government should support entrepreneurship led by women, we must give women a hand. Women play a vital role in society, they are the fundamental pillar of support in their homes and also in in institutions as they can hold public office. It is not to belittle anyone, but it can be said that women not only have 5 senses, we have the sixth sense, and a different kind of vision and another approach. We put our soul, life and heart into to our work, we are more careful, more meticulous and detailed and I also can tell you, we are a little more organized. Where women are present, the results are evident. Currently there are no programs aimed at women, but there are projects in which the municipality is collaborating with economic resources and allocation pf public funds in the annual operational plan. They is a handicraft project which the women have inserted in the participatory planning process of the municipality "(Marioly Suarez Justiniano Councilor of the Municipality of San Ignacio de Mojos)

The Director of Economic Development of the Municipality of Rurrenabaque, Guillermo Ortega, comments that: "In the case of women, for example in the community of Real Beni, we are supporting with solar cooling for refrigeration of fish and a fish farming project. In other communities, we seek to strengthen the organization of women, at the same time with gender unity and the exercise of their rights: Sewing projects are projects demanded by the women and the municipality is prioritizing this, looking for funding to support them."

In the opinion of Petronila Ipamo, leader of the Multiethnic Indigenous Territory, TIM "now women participate, we are taken into account, we encourage ourselves to deal with situations with the municipal authorities for example, we already manage projects, we are called to meetings of our organization, we are more organized than before ... "

All the testimonies gathered show us the protagonism of the women leaders, who day after day struggle to make their voices heard with demands to continue advancing with their proposals and projects. The solar oven projects has enabled them to meet as women and in that space they have analysed and developed proposals, in other words, the project has contributed to generate a meeting space for women.

7.4 Welfare of families; Women, Boys and Girls

7.4.1 Level of satisfaction of families with solar ovens The well-being explored in this study is the relationship of the family with the solar kitchen; that is to say how the family feels about the solar oven and how they are using it and the degree of satisfaction. The results we can see in the following chart No 21.

39

Grafico N°21 Level of satisfaction of families in old families % 100 100 67 53 47 50 26 30 23 16 14 9 2 - 0 0 0 2 2 2 5 -

Madre Padre Hijos y otros Total

Source: Own elaboration in survey database, 2018.

Women who already have a solar kitchen, are very satisfied in 67% and satisfied 26% and in a very small percentage 2% is indifferent. This shows, that the vast majority of women are very happy with the solar ovens, this is because of the benefits they themselves have identified, which we have already mentioned above. While in the case of men they show that 53% feel satisfied and 23% feel therefore, there is also a lot of satisfaction from the fathers as well. In the case of children 47% feel very satisfied, 30% say they are satisfied, because it saves time, it is easy to handle and the food comes out very delicious "I really like the nice food that my mum makes in the solar oven, it comes out very delicious..." (Girl ,community of Bella Selva). Also, many families are making pastries in the solar ovens which the children and young people especially enjoy.

In the case of new families many of whom are still to start using the ovens, the study wondered how much satisfaction family members would have when they have the solar oven, the results are as follows: women show 68% that they will be satisfied, men at 54% and children they have said they would be more satisfied at 85%.

Grafico N°22 Level of satisfaction in new families % 100 85 100 69 80 54 60 40 23 8 8 8 8 15 8 15 20 ------

Madre Padre Hijos y otros Total

Source: Own elaboration in survey database, 2018.

40

7.4.2 Family food habits

In terms of eating habits, local diet draws on mostly local production, food that is produced in their fields or that has been harvested and hunted in their territory. The main products that are planted are cassava, plantain, rice, corn, in some cases bean, also some vegetables such as leaf onion, lemon grass, oregano, chili, citrus, papaya, banana and wild fruits. Protein is mainly obtained from the meat of animals such as chickens and ducks. Hunting and fishing are practiced, the latter mainly in those communities that live close to the rivers. These products are the basis of feeding families.

The diet is very rich in carbohydrates, vitamins, with reduced protein, which is in the animal protein that is obtained in the area, but this also depends on the seasons, for example, in times of flood there is a great shortage of food, especially those products related to hunting or fishing.

With the preparation of food in the solar oven, water is saved and because food is not fried in the preparation it also saves the use of oils, which means that the family is consuming a healthier diet.

The project is also helping to recuperate and increase the consumption of traditional and very nutritious foods that had been in decline due to the fact that they required high consumption of firewood and exposure of to smoke and high temperatures due to the proximity to the fire. For example corn-based meals, such as chicha and somo are now eaten more frequently because it is much easier to prepare them in the solar ovens prepare it in the solar kitchen. As Esther Guarayuco says, "now we eat somo more often than before because it is not easy to cook on a firewood stove nor on gas because it would be finished quickly, and it is expensive ... ".

Table No.6 presents a systematization of the main food products for Amazonian families in the area of project intervention:

Table 6: Products that are part of the family's food diet

Production Products Varieties and sub-products Observations system element

Agroforest Rice Rice varieties: Black rice, Golden grain Note that it is part of systems rice, Straw rice, Black rice. habits of this Rice straw, production system. Peeled tacú rice Economic and food Others. strategy of families Corn Varieties: SOft corn, Harn corn, (diversity, Perlita corn. Dry grains. temporality and stratification). Flour Corn Chicha Sumó Tujuré Yuca Branches and fresh yuca varieties Starch Chivé Banana Banana varieties: racimes, Banana flour (chuño)

41

Chipilo Pazoca Chipilo flour Vinegar Guineo Fresh fruit: different varieties in racimes Papaya Unripe fruits for salads Ripe fruits for consumption Marmalade Others Cocoa Chocolate pastries Artisan pastries Roasted grain of chocolate Dry grains Cofee Fresh fruits Dry grains Café molido Citrics Fresh : Mandarine, Oranges, toronja, lemons, lemon, limes, Conserved fruits Mango Conserved and fresh

Tamarindo Fruits Ready to sell fruits Sugarcane Fresh sugarcanes varieties. Empanizado Sugarcane honey Jelly Tablilla Vegetables Jocos and zapallos Onion leaves Local varieties onion Local varieties tomato Origan mint Paja cedrón Pata de Anta Ajipa Aji Papa del Aíre Natural Collected Wood tools resources products Seeds Wood Drugs Uña de gato Crust de cuchi y otros Subsistence Charque. fishing and Fresh meat hunting Fish Egg

42

Subsistence Domestic Eggs farming birds Hen Duck

Others Chancho (pig). Sheeops for wool Source: Own elaboration based on testimonies and observation, 2011 to 2018.

Families have reciprocal and solidarity practices that help improve their food product needs; among them is the exchange or barter. While most families produce the most products for their food, there are also foods that are not produced in the area and the family necessarily has to buy them, below is a list of the main products that Buy:

Table No7: Top Products They Buy

Bought products Observations Flour Potatoes and Animal fat carrots are Salt not always Sugar present Pasta Spices Potato Carrot Oil Source: Own elaboration based on testimonies, December 2018.

7.4.2 Uses and benefits of solar cooking in terms of food preparation

From the workshops undertaken with focus groups and the survey results below, we present the main uses, which are given to solar ovens and the benefits from what is prepared or transformed:

Table No8. Type of use and benefits in food

Using the solar kitchen Benefit in food Observations

When used as an oven Cook meats in the oven more often and This activity was very limited, within reach of the family. taste baked meats only on Makes cakes and breads birthdays. Now they enjoy it more often When used as a drier or Vegetable dryer like onions. all families know how to do but dehydrator Fruits like papaya, winch, axe chair, it's something they've asked to banana chuño. be trained. Chocolate roaster. Fiber dryer, bark and seeds for crafts. When used for storage It is used to store food that is not fried Rice, cheese for example. to avoid rodent animals.

43

When used as a termal Families place hard meats for softening benefit from cooking harder, box and products such as corn for making concentrated-tasting meats. beverages. It strengthens the consumption In addition to slow cooking food of sound in the family, To keep the food warm. something that was not done very often by When used to pasturise Water When people do not have drinking water, they put water in the solar kitchen to pasteurize; and have water available to drink in a guaranteed way. Source: own elaboration, December 2018.

Families eat breakfast, lunch and dinner, snacking very rarely. When it's fruit season they enjoy that produce and harvest from the forest. Therefore, the use of solar ovens is also related to the production cycle, for example, in fruit seasons they are used as a fruit dehydrator. But the taste you get depends a lot on the combination of foods.

7.4.3 Women's leisure time

Photo 13 Christian Aid

One of the greatest benefits of solar ovens for families but for women – as we have seen above, are the changes taking place in the roles assigned to food preparation. Women have saved more than 50% time in preparing meals, i.e. before the solar kitchen women spent 4 to 5 hours a day cooking, whilst today, on average, they spend 2.3 hours a day. So, this is very important as Magda Catoreceno from CA Partner Inti Illimania said "... today women have time to think, to analyze, to propose and to debate, in

44 the time saved by solar cooking, it gives them the possibility of thinking and from there to consider the struggle and the denunciation of patriarchy and machismo."(Magda Catorceno, Inti Illimani, January 2019). Also, as we will see in the following chart 87% of the extra saved time is used by women to rest, an opportunity that years ago was impossible for women because of the multiple workloads that they were charged with, but now they do have leisure time which they can dedicate to thinking, watching TV or doing whatever pleases them.

With the sample in focus groups and testimonies, people tell us that time saving allows them, for example, to watch TV, accompany their partners to the fields to cultivate, to participate more effectively in community meetings, whilst others can study, make handicrafts and sew clothes for their children, etc...

Table No 8. Rest time

Do Women atke a Rest in the day? %

Rest 87

No rest 13

Total 100

Source: Own elaboration, December 2018.

7.5 Positioning of Solar Ovens

The solar ovens project has been implemented in the Bolivia Amazon from 2015-present day extending to support and respond to the growing demand of families across the region. However, due to the cost, it is not possible to reach a greater number of families and respond to the demands of the territorial organisations. Therefore, from the outset, the project has shared and disseminated results and learning from the project about solar technology and its benefits mainly local authorities. During development of this study, leaders and authorities were interviewed to see how the Municipal Authorities are supporting or valuing the project, as well as the leadership of the territorial organizations.

For this study, 4 of the 7 municipalities covered by the project have been prioritized: San Ignacio de Mojos, San Andrés which are part of the area covered by CA partner CIPCA coverage and, on the other hand, the municipalities of Rurrenabaque and San Buenaventura that are part of the coverage of Soluciones Practicas .

45

7.5.1 Public policies at the local level on the use of solar cooking

It is undoubtedly necessary and urgent to strengthen effective public policies that contribute to the environment and natural resource management, while at the same time mitigating against the adverse effects of climate change.

Interviews were held with the Heads of the Risk Management Unit, Productive Development and in some cases with councillors and the mayor. Regarding the public policies on solar ovens and / or the use of alternative energies, the following information was secured:

In the municipality of San Ignacio de Mojos, the Honorable Marioly Suarez Justiniano was interviewed. He was unaware of policies on renewable energies nor does his council have any specific project in this area, however, he manifested that he was open to coordination in this area because he found it interesting and that he recognises that technology of solar ovens brings benefits, especially for families affected by floods, solar ovens would enable them to prepare food and save money spent on gas for cooking. Regarding policies on the energy issue, he mentioned the following; "On energy issue, I have no knowledge, we have no current project but I think with coordination we can start something.”

He commented that by chance he found out about the solar ovens in the subcentral offices of the indigenous territorial organisations of TIM and TIM, that he thought it would be good to create a space to make it known across the municipality so that more people can find out about the benefits. This would allow a greater opening for working agreement with the municiplaity and contribute to the sustainability of the project.

Photo Inti Illimani

In the municipality of San Andrés, also located in the southern Amazon, 4 interviews were conducted, including with Mayor Wison Lacoa, who mentioned scarcely knowing the project, but from what little he knew it seemed interesting, beneficial to families and the environment. "Something the municipality is doing on the subject of climate change is to support agroforestry and reforestation nurseries. On the other hand, as a municipality we do not have a policy to support women, but we do have agreements signed with NGOs, in this case with CIPCA, Samaritan Purse. We have an Office for the Defence of Women that deals with cases of psychological and physical abuse and also the municiplaity gives talks to raise awareness of women's rights. In terms of energy policy issues, we do not have anything as a municipality. " Finally, he expressed the need to be able to coordinate with NGOs and receive support him develop public policies regarding renewable energies and support for women.

The municipal councillor also in the municipality of San Andrés, Roxana Iva, who comes from the Bella Selva community, which is one of the beneficiaries of the project, expressed the satisfaction of having

46 a solar oven that has contributed to their well-being, therefore, according to her, it is necessary that other women benefit and that the municipal executive council may be willing to form agreements and invest resources for this project. Engineer Juan Salvatierra, responsible for projects, and Raquel Sosa, responsible for the SLIM (Municipal Integral Legal Service for Women), were also interviewed and they mentioned the positive results of the project for the families of the municipality, requesting a greater socialization of the solar ovens and their results.

The Director of Economic Development of the Municipality of Rurrenabaque, Guillermo Ortega, expressed his knowledge of the solar ovens project and work is carried out in a coordinated way with the Soluciones Practicas. Also, he said how interesting it would be for the ovens to be manufactured locally and perhaps at a lower the cost to increase access to a greater number of families. Currently the municipality is implementing risk management actions and projects aimed at women as a priority.

Energy policy is something that tends to develop over time in the municipality, but first we are seeing the initial experience with the project you are carrying out.

"In the case of women, for example in the community of Real Beni, we are supporting with solar cooling for refrigeration of fish and a fish farming project. In other communities, we seek to strengthen the organization of women, at the same time with gender unity and the exercise of their rights: Sewing projects are projects demanded by the women and the municipality is prioritizing this, looking for funding to support them. On the issue of energy policies, the municipality is prioritizing them, for example the refrigeration programme and another interesting initiative are the wells with submersible pumps using energy from solar panels for water supply in communities, it is planned to extend this to 6 communities "

Photo Inti Illimani

In the municipality of San Buenaventura in the department of La Paz, Gonzalo Oliver, Vice President of the Municipal Council, was interviewed. He expresses that the solar ovens project is developed in a coordinated manner with the institution of Soluciones Practicas. The municiplaity is very clear about the benefits for families using solar ovens. "With the solar ovens, the indigenous communities have been the beneficiaries, said solar ovens have been provided by Soluciones Practicas. We have been

47

able to see that the ovens are actually being used, for example in San José de Chuquiamonas they are preparing food with the use of solar energy, in the community of Tres Hermanos the same. We think that this support is excellent. Some community members of Altamarani told us that in the morning before going to work that they left their food ready to cook in the solar oven, they went to work and when they returned they were ready to serve the food, so it helps the families a lot, enabling them to can carry out their work in a calm way. The families recognize that it is a very interesting way to support them".

As we can see, in almost all municipalities, the authorities have knowledge, some more than others, about the results and the benefits of the solar ovens. There is a need to expand and raise more awareness across the municipalities, but with this comes a commitment to provide resources so that the benefit reaches a greater number of families.

Regarding the opinion of the Indigenous and Peasant leaders, as strategic allies for the project. The Central Organisation of Ethnic Peoples of Beni, the Mojeño Ignaciano TIMI Indigenous Territory and the Multiethnic TIM Indigenous Territory, which have also benefited from the project, state that they are happy with the benefits achieved, especially for women. Petronila Ipamo, Secretary of Health and Education of the TIM territory, said: "Solar ovens are of great benefit to the organization and for the women living in these communities. We are sad because we want women in all the other communities to benefit too, we hope that the project can be expanded, that is why we are here."

In the municipality of San Andrés, leaders such as Evania Malue, from the community of Nueva Betania, mentions that the project benefits families; women are more united, and that the authorities know about the project because they have informed them.

In the municipality of San Buenaventura we interviewed Gladys Ibaguari Tenedo, President of the Indigenous Council of Tacana Women (CIMTA), and works in close coordination with the institution of Soluciones Practicas. Gladys has good knowledge of the use of solar ovens in her territory and the benefits, as she states in the following testimony:

"The biggest benefit is that the solar ovens shorten the time to prepare meals, and really it is very easy to use, not only fast Photo Inti illimani 1 foods but also traditional foods. Solar ovens are also being used for the drying of seeds for handicrafts. Up until now communities that have benefitted most are also the most vulnerable. As an organization we have made several requests to implement the project for the communities located near the road. I think in a few weeks we will reach an agreement with the Municipality of Ixiamas to implement more solar ovens in this sector, because it is a very interesting alternative to combat climate change ".

Petra Paripariamo (San José Chupiamonas also of the municipality of San Buenaventura), is the Secretary of Land and Territory of CMILAP the Indigneous Womens Organisation of the Department of La Paz. She expressed her satisfaction with the solar ovens and also made a request, that all the women

48 in the region should benefit and for that reason as an organisation they are willing to continue strengthening alliances with the project.

"The two solar ovens, which we have are being used constantly on a rotating basis, that is to say that every three days it passes from one family to another family. Each family is instructed to write down and record everything, what they are cooking, if they liked what they cooked or not etc. This is progressing little by little, but women are very happy with solar cooking. We have proposed as a women's organization that each family has its solar oven, I hope that this is possible because two ovens are not enough ... ".

The level of general awareness about solar ovens and their appropriation in the region is good as a consequence of their positive results with beneficiary families and the next stage is to explore how this project can be expanded and sustained.

7.5.2 Media coverage

The solar ovens project in the Amazon have attracted media coverage at local and departmental levels for example in the national press: Página Siete, La Razón, ANF, Los Tiempos; on national TV (ATB) and local TV channels (e.g Moxos TV); as well as on diverse radios. There have also been articles and information disseminated on various websites and social networks of the partner institutions involved in implementation. In addition, the project been disseminated in the public events and productive fairs with municipal and departmental stakeholders. The media are open to disseminate experiences that contain technological innovations.

7.5.3 Institutional alliances

For now, there are partnerships with local municipal governments of San Buenaventura, Rurrenabaque, San Ignacio de Moxos, San Andres, San Javier and Baures, although not specifically for the project, but alliances and working agreement with partner institutions. However, there is a predisposition for specific agreements to strengthen the project.

49

8. CONCLUSIONS

Bearing in mind that the main objective of this document is to "determine in a quantitative and qualitative way the initial situation and progress of the families living in the Bolivian Amazon on the use of: solar ovens; use of firewood; fuel expenses, time dedicated to the preparation of food; CO2 pollution from the use of firewood; feeding habits; Photo Inti Illimani women’s time away from the kitchen to devote to other activities; and participation and leadership of indigenous women in their organizations. " we can conclude the following:

- The beneficiary families have appropriated the benefits of the project on a daily basis, due to its novelty and the benefits especially for women for example, giving them extra fee time to create spaces for dialogue and exchange of experience between women in the communities. As a result, in each community where there are solar ovens present you can also find organizations of women with solar ovens, formal or informal, who meet frequently and with a lot of responsibility and commitment.

- The project is implemented in vulnerable communities of the Amazon, where the presence of the State is recent and characterised by extractive development policies for example mega projects of hydroelectric, road building and the advancing agroindustry frontier, which is affecting and impacting the territories and livelihoods of indigenous families. This project is being implemented during times of constant struggle and resistance as these communities fight to defend their territory and ways of life.

- Despite the plans of the Bolivian government to build hydroelectric plants in the Amazon region, there is a lack of access to energy for families living in forest communities. Renewable energies present a viable alternative to sustainable energy as opposed to the negative environmental and social impact, for example, of the planned hydroelectric dam in the area of this project which could displace thousands of families and flood an area the size of England. The hydroelectric dam is not a viable response to the scarcity of energy, but rather the solution lies in in generating alternative energies, to enable families and homes to achieve energy sovereignty. The solar ovens are a step in the right direction to achieving this.

- The original idea of the project was for food preparation, however, the ovens are being used for multiple purposes, for example to dry raw materials for the manufacture of handicrafts, or to dehydrate vegetables and fruits, or to dry and pasteurise cocoa, and to pasteurize drinking water that is fundamental for the health especially of children.

50

- The multiple use of solar ovens has also them to be used by almost all family members except for the smallest members of the household. Therefore, the solar kitchen is allowing men to start cooking for the family, which in a very practical way is leading to sharing reproductive roles in the house.

- 84% of families use solar cooking more than three times a week, especially for the preparation of food. This frequency is growing according to how long the oven has been installed with each family, that is to say, those families that have had the oven for more time use if more frequently than the families that have it recently. This means that the use and frequency is related to the time and the verification of benefits by the families.

- The use of firewood has been reduced by an average of 50%, that is, families use half of the wood they used when they did not have a solar oven. This has other consequences in the reduction of time spent in the collection of the firewood and in the time used for the transportation and in some cases the cost spent in purchasing or contracting fuel. This extra time saved is dedicated to other activities. In this case, the reduction of time is mainly for parents and children -who are mostly responsible for the collection of firewood.

- Families that used gas for the preparation of their food have reduced by 50% the economic resources allocated for the purchase of this fuel.

- The benefits of solar cooking are multiple: comfort, cleanliness, improved taste of food, cooking of food, uniform drying of products; but above all, the reduction of the time that women spend, for food preparation is valued, enabling them to do other things, to have time to think and reflect, and to rest.

- The solar oven has given satisfaction to the families that have benefited. In the case of women 93% of the women interviewed are between satisfied and very satisfied, 73% percent of men and 77% of children are between satisfied and very satisfied.

- The contribution to the reduction of emissions of Carbon Dioxide due to the reduction in the use of firewood is 1,587.70 tons per year.

- The participation and leadership of women is increasingly strengthened, because the meeting spaces for the project have enabled capacity building and training for women, enabling them to more effectively participate in decision-making spaces.

- The willingness of the local government authorities to replicate the project in those communities where the project has not been executed, leaving the possibility of converting this project into a public policy.

51

IX. RECOMMENDATIONS

Photo Christian Aid

With the objective of continuing to improve joint work and achieve the expected results and generate positive impacts, the following recommendations are given:

5. Provide a more structured follow-up to families that have solar ovens, because the current initiatives developed are based on praxis and trial and error, but they would be strengthened with more technical support. 6. Raise awareness within territorial and community-based organizations the results of the project in terms of reducing the use of firewood, the emission of carbon dioxide and time for the food preparation, in order to strengthen public advocacy and policy influencing; in addition to raising the profile of the contribution being made by indigenous communities to the reduction of the effects of climate change. 7. Coordination with research centers to deepen and expand evidence base around the benefits and impacts of solar ovens with data; for example, on the nutritional quality of food prepared in the ovens; on the effects of solar ovens on gender roles and on the self-esteem and well- being of women and family. 8. Based on the data and research, develop a communication strategy for public advocacy in civil society which highlights the contribution in mitigating the effects of climate change on the part of indigenous women in the Bolivian Amazon. 9. Continue generating more alliances and synergies with public and private entities at the local, national and international levels. 10. Further deepen the proposal of solar ovens that are an alternative for climate resilience, climate justice and a start for the energy sovereignty of households in the Amazon. 11. Develop a strategy to increase involvement of the local municipalities in the project, to strengthen it, for the benefit of the indigenous and peasant communities.

52

12. Contribute as support and technical institutions in the development of public policies favourable to the use of renewable energy. 13. Make the results of the project visible and disseminate nationally and internationally, the contributions of solar ovens in the Amazon to the reduction of carbon emissions.

BIBLIOGRPHY

o Porto-Gonçarves, Carlos Walter Amazonía: encrucijada civilizadora. Tensiones territoriales en curso. CIDES- UMSA, 2018. o Juan Fernando Reyes Mónica Ampara Harbas “La Amazonía Boliviana y los Objetivos de Desarrollo del Milenio”, ARA-AVINA 2010. o RAISG. 2009. Amazonía 2009. Áreas protegidas, Territorios indígenas. www.raisg.socioambiental.org o Brienen, R. 2011. Informe muestreo de Parcelas Permanentes de Muestreo o en la Concesión de MABET (Pando, Bolivia) en 2010. RAINFOR. Universidad de Leeds, MABET, IBIF. o Soliz, Tito Lorenzo, coord. Lecciones y desafíos que dejaron las inundaciones de 2014 en la Amazonía boliviana. La Paz: Centro de Investigación y Promoción del Campesinado, 2015. o Coordinadora de la Mujer, Participación Política de las mujeres en el Estado. Instituto Internacional para la Democracia y la Asistencia Electoral (IDEA Internacional). La Paz, octubre de 2015. o Novillo, Mónica. Paso a paso Así lo hicimos. Avances y desafíos en la participación Política de las Mujeres. La Paz: IDEA Internacional y Coordinadora de la Mujer. 2011. o Fernández A. Empoderamiento de las mujeres en el ámbito político, social, y productivo al interior de las Organizaciones indígenas y campesinas (Estudios de caso en cuatro municipios de la Amazonía Sur del departamento del Beni), CIPCA. 2015.. o María Ángela Sotelo, Diagnostico Regional de Genero, CIPCA Beni, aportar a la re- orientación de las actividades de CIPCA en las comunidades con las que trabaja. CIPCA, 2009

Páginas web visitadas:

Encuesta Nacional de Discriminación y Exclusión Social desde la Percepción de las Mujeres de Bolivia En http://www.coordinadoradelamujer.org.bo/observatorio/index.php/indicadores (visitada el 22 de enero del 2018)

ANEXOS available in Spanish on sharepoint

A) Survey form B) Focus Group Form C) Interview guide form D) Data table E) Interview transcript F) Transcript transcripts

53

54