FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE VISIT e4sv.org In September 2017, the Low Carbon Energy for Development Network (LCEDN) held its annual conference on the topic of "Equity and Energy Justice" at Durham University, UK. As a follow-up to this conference, we held two webinars to share highlights from the conference. The first webinar focussed on energy justice. This month, we examined a second theme from the conference, and focused on questions of how academic research can best have impact at the grassroots of energy access and productive use, how that "knowledge gap" can be closed, and what some of the most effective solutions might be for ensuring that research can be applied effectively and equitably. The speakers included Practical Action's Sarah Begg, who has been leading a participatory learning study with LCEDN looking at how academic research impacts the grassroots. She will be joined by her colleague from Practical Action's Bangladesh office, Iffat Khan, who will present some of the specific outcomes and experiences of the study in Bangladesh. Finally, the Smart Villages Initiative will share the global perspectives they have been able to gather on bridging academic research and making it relevant to energy access practitioners, entrepreneurs, and rural communities. Sarah Begg, Global Knowledge and Learning Officer, Practical Action Iffat Khan, Knowledge and Business Development Specialist, Practical Action Bangladesh Dr Bernie Jones, Co-Leader, Smart Villages Initiative More more information, please visit e4sv.org

1. Closing the knowledge gap: Developing
a guideline for Solar Waste Disposal in
Bangladesh
Iffat Khan
Practical Action

2. The key issue
 It is evident that knowledge is available
 May not be in a user-friendly format
 It is important to consider the needs of
the users of research i.e. practitioners,
communities
 We want to understand how best to
communicate to the users
 We want to ensure that the knowledge
leaves an impact in people’s lives

3. We wanted to identify,
 What are the challenges that stakeholders are
facing in relation to energy access to
knowledge?
 What are the key knowledge gaps within the
energy access space?

4. We brought together,
– Government agencies: Energy and Power
Research Council (EPRC), Sustainable and
Renewable Energy Development Authority
(SREDA), Infrastructure Development Company
Limited (IDCOL)
– Practitioners/ Private organisations: Grameen
Shakti, Rahimafrooz etc.
– Academicians and researchers: Dhaka
University Institute of Energy, Bangladesh Center
for Scientific and industrial Research (BCSIR),
Bangladesh University of Engineering and
Technology (BUET),

5. We found key challenges to
be,
 Research – limited, high tech, journal
 Social, environmental, business model remains
less attentive
 National data – compilation, archiving and updating
 Big gaps – researchers Vs practitioners

6. Key knowledge gaps in the
energy sector
1. Implementation and disposal of renewable energy
technologies
2. Business and financial models for renewable
energy technologies
3. Influencing policy – national coordination

7. 1. We are working on the
“Disposal of RET” guideline
 Specifically applicable for solar
 Battery, panels, Compact Fluorescent Light (CFL)
bulbs, and other appliances needs to be disposed
properly in order to save the environment and protect
public health.
 National guideline for government officials

8. The current scenario

9. Methodology

10. Our takeaways (so far..)
 early communication has been made
with the stakeholders for whom the
guideline is being prepared
 It is good opportunity to gather learning
on how it has worked
 It can build pathways for reshaping how
research is conducted

11. Thank you
Iffat.khan@practicalaction.org.bd
Specialist – Knowledge Management
Practical Action Bangladesh