TED-Technologies for Economic Development

Portfolio
TED – a Lesotho based NGO registered in 2004 - is integrated into national and international networks on renewable energies, sustainable sanitation, and climate protection through biodiversity conservation and avoidance of land degradation.

• Since 2005 TED has contributed to international knowledge-sharing through consultancy work and lectures at national and international universities and summer academies.
• Since 2006 TED has cooperated with BORDA (Bremen Overseas Research and Development Organization), a Germany-based NGO dealing with Decentralized Wastewater Treatment Systems (DEWATS).
• Since 2007 TED has coordinated the activities of the Programme for Basic Energy Conservation (ProBEC) that works under the chairmanship of the Department of Energy of the Ministry of Natural Resources disseminating Biomass Energy Conserving Technologies.
• In 2010 TED was appointed as the Coordinator of Lesotho WASH United 2010 Campaign  which uses sport and celebrities to promote sanitation, hand washing with soap and water and sanitation as a human right.

1. Biogas Technology/DEWATS: Decentralized anaerobic wastewater treatment technology, introduced by TED in partnership with BORDA, has multiple benefits such as (1) sanitizing wastewater on the compound and making it fit for irrigation (hosted by a German NGO Brot für die Welt) turning organic matter into cooking gas (www.probec.org) encouraging home gardening and reducing methane emissions from unsealed so-called septic tanks, pit and VIP latrines and open defecation.  By installing digesters for decentralized wastewater treatment and biogas production this reliable technology tackles many of the most pressing problems faced by the people of Lesotho such as health, food, water, energy, environment and employment as well as quality of life.  TED staff and trainees (who later set up their own businesses) have constructed over 300 household biogas digesters.  The fast growing demand proves the capacity of TED, supported by BORDA, to convey the right message to the right people.  By reusing pumice stones from local textile factories TED also reduces waste dumped on Maseru’s Tikoe dumpsite thus saving natural gravel from hills and rivers.  In 2007, only its third year of Biogas Digester construction, TED was awarded a UK£1,000 Ashden Award to reuse waste (pumice stone) from textile factories.  Levi Strauss contributed US$22 208.01 to TED in 2010 to train more masons.

2. Energy Saving Technologies: Wood saving stoves In 2007 TED started working under a 7-year agreement, brokered by the Programme for Basic Energy Conservation (ProBEC) and Climate Care Trust Ltd, to roll out an efficient wood stove project of building 500 improved institutional stoves in alliance with the World Food Programme.  The initiative aims to minimize wood fuel gas emissions thereby earning finance on the international carbon trading market.  Pioneer Carbon Ltd (PCL), a UK-registered private-sector company, handles the carbon verification process and ensures the procedures for obtaining carbon credits.  The programme is chaired by the Ministry of Natural Resources, Department of Energy.  This project has won the CLARION AWARD 2009 . (2) Heat Retaining Devices:  As ProBEC coordinator in Lesotho, TED promotes Da Planet Recycling Shop’s product “Wonder Bag” (Sephehisi sa Mohlolo), a pumpkin shaped device for finalizing cooking by simply conserving heat already contained in food.

3. Ecological Sanitation: In water scarce areas TED promotes the installation of improved dry toilets that separate urine and excreta.  After a sanitizing composting process the household can make use of the plant nutrients contained thereby improving soil structure and fertility.

4. Technical Training & Advisory: TED conducts training for craftsmen in different sectors of its portfolio in order to disseminate its fine-tuned technological knowledge.

5. Education & Awareness Raising on Hygiene and Environment: In addition to technologies, TED’s work focuses on Awareness Raising and Education on Hygiene and Environment:  TED (1) coordinates WASH United Campaign(2) cooperates with the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, Division of Environmental Health, at central and district level and (3) works together with Lesotho-based NGOs, the Ministry of Natural Resources, and the Ministry of Forestry in land degradation, fuel wood saving, afforestation and the Renewable Energy-Based Rural Electrification project, funded by UNDP, which is aimed at removing barriers to the adoption of renewable energy technologies

6. Consultancy; In all TED’s portfolio sectors, consultancy work is carried out in cooperation with, and on behalf of, local, national and international organizations, institutions and enterprises in Europe, Africa, Asia, North- and South America,. This involves applying participatory approaches, intercultural communication and management as well as interactive training and consultancy methods.
   
   

 TED Team