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Packard PCIA Support Forum - n/a Environment: Forestry, Energy & Environmental Services Uganda 2009 - 2009 Packard Foundation |
Supporting PCIA Forum Attendees
RATIONALEOver 2.5 billion people, mostly poor in the developing countries, depend on biomass sources to meet their household energy requirements. Burning of biomass in poorly ventilated kitchens creates indoor air pollution due to high concentrations of carbon monoxide, particulate matter and other pollutants. Women and children are most vulnerable to exposure from indoor air pollution, which is very closely associated with acute respiratory infections and is estimated to cause around 1.6 million deaths annually. In much of the developing world, women and children also bear the bulk of the burden of gathering fuelwood and other biomass (e.g. dung, crop waste). Improved fuels, technologies, and cooking practices can reduce respiratory illnesses, headaches and eye infections from smoke exposure; opportunity costs due to time spent collecting fuel; pressures on scarce fuel resources; neck and back injuries and other risks from fuel collection; and expenditures where fuel is purchased.
OBJECTIVES
The PCIA is currently comprised of over 250 Partners from Asia, Africa and the Americas, including local NGOs, research institutions, universities, private sector, government agencies and bilateral and multilateral agencies. Through support of the PCIA, including through the biennial PCIA Forums, Winrock seeks to build awareness and capacity of each of these organizations, thereby improving their commitment and ability to implement effective household energy interventions that succeed in reducing associated health and socio-economic impacts to the vulnerable populations mentioned above.
ACTIVITIES
Packard funds will support airfare scholarships for selected PCIA Forum participants.