Lesotho Meteorological Services Ministry of Natural Resources ADAPTATION TO CLIMATE CHANGE TECHNOLOGY NEEDS IN LESOTHO Energy and Land Use Change and Forestry TABLE OF CONTENTS PREFACE i LIST OF ACRONYMS ii LIST OF PEOPLE INTERVIEWED iii I. BACKGROUND 1 Socio-economic conditions 1 National development objectives 1 Poverty alleviation 1 Employment creation 1 Social integration 2 Conservation of the land base 2 The future path of development 4 The role of science and technology in development 4 Agro-climatic conditions 5 Climate change scenarios 5 The draft technology development policy 6 International and regional perspectives 7 II. NATIONAL EXPERIENCES 10 Introduction 10 Agricultural research 10 Appropriate technology research 11 Labour-intensive construction 12 Rural water supplies 13 The rural sanitation programme 13 Low-cost housing development 14 Other initiatives 14 Technology registration 15 Technology transfer mechanisms 15 Shows, fairs and exhibitions 15 Extension services 15 Radio and other services 16 III. TECHNOLOGY, EDUCATION AND TRAINING 17 Introduction 17 Current education and training policies 17 Curriculum development 18 School programmes 20 Technical and vocational training 21 University and other tertiary training 22 Other related initiatives 23 Industrial training and support 23 Small contractor training 24 Skills training 24 Trades testing 24 IV. TECHNOLOGY NEEDS IN THE ENERGY SECTOR 26 Introduction 26 Challenging issues 28 Sector Institutions 29 Overall policies and strategies 30 Options for Technology Transfer in the Sector 32 Renewable energy technologies 32 Hydro-power development 33 Solar photovoltaic technologies 34 Solar thermal technologies 34 Wind energy 35 Biogas technology 35 Energy Conservation 36 Energy efficiency/conservation in the residential sector 36 Energy efficiency/conservation in commerce and industry 36 Energy efficiency/conservation in the transport sector 37 Energy efficiency/conservation in government buildings 37 Passive solar design in buildings 37 Energy efficient cooking devices/stoves 37 Energy auditing 38 V. TECHNOLOGY NEEDS IN THE LAND-USE CHANGE AND FORESTRY SECTOR 39 Introduction 39 Agriculture 40 Rangelands 41 Biodiversity 41 Forestry production 42 The institutional framework 42 The policy and legal framework 43 Options for technology transfer 45 Donga (gully) reclamation 45 Windbreaks 46 Inter-cropped orchards 46 Silvo-pastoral systems 46 Establishment of fodder banks 47 Tree fallows 47 Alley cropping 47 Live fences 48 Trees and shrubs along roads 48 Trees and shrubs around houses and in public places 48 Woodlots 48 Barriers to the implementation of technology options 49 VI. CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS 50 The overview 50 Science and technology policy 50 National Experiences 51 Technology, education and training 52 Technology Needs in the Energy Sector 53 Land use change and forestry 54 REFERENCES 56 PREFACE As part of the measures to mitigate the adverse effects of climate change, the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), calls for all practicable steps to be taken to promote, facilitate and finance, as appropriate, the transfer of, or access to, environmentally sound technologies and know-how to developing countries to enable them to implement the provisions of the convention. This need to forge scientific and technological breakthroughs is more pronounced in countries that are considered very vulnerable to the adverse effects of climate change, Lesotho being one of such cases. Although the country has embarked on the identification, assessment and development of technologies that promote sustainable development without contributing significantly to greenhouse gas emissions, the barriers to the transfer of these environmentally sound technologies (ESTs) has been found to be insurmountable in some sectors of the economy. Lesotho is not alone in facing the challenges that are posed by barriers to technological transfer. The problem of lack of technological innovation and development is common throughout the developing world. The current exercise that aimed at assessing the country’s adaptation technological needs, particularly in the energy and land use change and forestry sectors, attempted to unravel some of these barriers. The two sectors in which detailed assessments of technological needs were made were found to be emitting the highest amount of greenhouse gases in Lesotho’s First National Communication to the Conference of the Parties to the UNFCCC in April 2000. This report is in 6 chapters: chapter 1 attempts to summarise the country’s development objectives and conditions that compel Lesotho to embark on technology development initiatives; chapter 2 summarises national experiences with technology development in various sectors; chapter 3 makes an in-depth analysis of the role of education and training in technology development; chapters 4 and 5 attempt to assess technology needs respectively in the energy and land use change and forestry sectors; and chapter 6 presents conclusions and recommendations to be drawn from each of the areas of assessment. It is hoped that the current report will not only provoke debate around challenges facing the transfer of technology in various sectors of the Lesotho economy, but also pave the path for future interventions. Many thanks go to all those who facilitated the compilation of this report. Tseliso Sekoli Director Lesotho Meteorological Services LIST OF ACRONYMS ADB African Development Bank ACTS African Centre for Technology Studies AGOA African Growth Opportunities Act ARD Agricultural Research Division ARIPO African Regional Intellectual Property Organization ATPS African Technology Policy Studies ATS Appropriate Technology Section BEDCO Basotho Enterprises Development Corporation COSC Cambridge Overseas School Certificate CWS Civil Works Section DRR Department of Rural Roads DRWS Department of Rural Water Supplies DST Department of Science and Technology DOE Department of Energy ESDP Education Sector development Project EU European Union GCM Global Circulation Models GHG Green House Gas GMO Genetically Modified Organisms GTZ German Technical Organization IPCC Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change IST Institute of Science and Technology IT Information Technology JC Junior Certificate LCU Labour Construction Unit LEC Lesotho Electricity Corporation LEHCoop Lesotho Housing Cooperative LHDA Lesotho Highlands Development Authority LHLDC Lesotho Housing and Land Development Corporation LMA Lesotho Manufacturers Association LMS Lesotho Meteorological Services LNDC Lesotho National Development Corporation LSPP Department of Lands, Surveys and Physical Planning LP Liquid Petroleum LUPD Land Use Planning Division MADF Machobane Development Foundation MAO Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security MCC Maseru City Council MFS Machobane Farming System NCDC National Curriculum Development Centre NES National Environmental Secretariat NGO Non-Governmental Organization NUL National University of Lesotho ODA Overseas Development Administrarion PSLC Primary School Leaving Certificate PV Photovoltaic RET Renewable Energy Technologies Project RSA Republic of South Africa SADC Southern African Development Community SAPP Southern African Power Pool TV Television TVED Technical and Vocational Education Department UNFCCC United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change UNFP United Nations Fund for Population VIP Ventilated Improved Pit Latrine WASA Water and Sewerage Authority WIPO World Intellectual Property Organization LIST OF PEOPLE INTERVIEWED Lekola Matlejane Director, National Curriculum Development Centre Malefetsane Nketekete Subject Specialist - Commercial, National Curriculum Development Centre Dennis Phakisi Chief Engineer, Appropriate Technology Section Kopano Tsenoli Senior Design Engineer, Appropriate Technology Section Manthabiseng Shale Training Manager, National Manpower Development Secretariat Maseqhobela Williams Ag Director, Department of Science and Technology Thato Bolila Research Assistant, Science and Technology Department Tsepang Linko Planning Officer, Department of Rural Roads Mohau Khanyape Assistant Director (Curriculum Development) Department of Technical and Vocational Education Thabang Pulumo Assistant Director (Secondary and Pre-vocational Studies) Department of Technical and Vocational Education Motlatsi Maepe Assistant Director (Post-Secondary Studies) Department of Technical and Vocational Education Serame Melao Assistant Director (Industrial Studies) Department of Technical and Vocational Education Motlatsi Ramakatane Contracts Manager, Education Facilities Unit Satchy Sivan Technical Advisor, Education Facilities Unit Mampoi Taoana Deputy Registrar General, Ministry of Law and Constitutional Affairs K. J. Stark Chief Technical Advisor, Environmental Education, National Curriculum Development Centre Mamotena Mpeta Subject Specialist (Science), National Curriculum Development Centre Teboho Khalieli Subject Specialist (Science), National Curriculum Development Centre Moraka Hoohlo Director, Lerotholi Polytechnic M. Kolotsoana Deputy Director, Lerotholi Polytechnic Liteboho Mofubetsoana Chief research Officer, Agricultural Research Department Tlelima Motaung Transmission Supervisor, Telecom Lesotho Elias Sekaleli Acting Director, Forestry Department Christopher Kellner Coordinator, German Development Service I BACKGROUND Socio-economic conditions Lesotho comprises a tiny landlocked country that occupies 30,588km2 which is inhabited by an almost homogeneous ethnic group.