On the 10-11 March 2009, SNV Netherlands Development Organisation (SNV) organised in Bangkok, Thailand, the SNV-Partners-Clients Workshop on "Biofuel Development in the Asian Region". The workshop represented an excellent opportunity for participants to exchange information and create a common approach for a sustainable pro poor biofuel development in the Asian Region.

Within the corporate WWF-SNV partnership, an activity on Bioenergy for Sustainable Rural Development was implemented in 2008 with projects in Honduras, Peru and the Asia region. The objective of this joint activity was to develop strategies and options for the development of environmentally sustainable and socially equitable bio-energy production as a contribution towards both poverty reduction in rural communities and to climate change mitigation. In Asia a desk study was carried out for the Mekong and Nepal of which the results were presented at this workshop. Simultaneously field activities were started up by SNV-Vietnam using the Inclusive Business model. 

The objective of the workshop was to create a common approach for a sustainable biofuel development in the Asian Region. 30 participants from the public and private sector, research institutes, NGOs, FAO, WWF and IISDpartners (FAO, WWF,…) and SNV-advisers from Vietnam, Laos, Nepal,  the Asia region, East and Southern Africa and Latin America were invited for two days to analyse the results of the regional study, share information and to consolidate approaches at country and regional level.

The good mix of participants generated different view pointsviewpoints and vivid discussions and exchange on the topic. The private sector learned about sustainability standards, but needs to know how they can be applied as guidelines are still lacking, while the oil biofuel market price at farmer level was a continues point of discussion.
The workshop paved the way for a more coordinated approach in the biofuel sector at country level and among countries in the Asia Region, for which the following steps were defined:
•  Public sector attendees report to their hierarchy to present the main results of the workshop (Action: Relevant government representatives);
•  Private sector, aware of IB and RSB principles, tries to include the concepts in their business plan and keep contact with SNV for further discussions on these issues (Action: Enterprises at the event);
•  SNV reformulates the Biofuel Framework for the Asian Region taking remarks and suggestions of participants during the workshop (Action: SNV Vietnam);
•  Stakeholders meet at country level to discuss upon the elaborated action plan developed during the workshop (Action: Called upon responsible institutions or stakeholders in the country, SNV could play a role but action by local actors should be preferable);
•  SNV supports public and private sector initiatives following the main intervention axes described during the workshop;
•  SNV gets closely involved in RSB discussion, e.g. by attending the RSB South-East Asia Stakeholder Consultation in March;
•  SNV engages in global biofuel approach with Asia, Latin America and Africa to develop a common approach among continent;
•  SNV seeks for partnership in the region with other international organisations active in the same sector.

The workshop provided a good opportunity to reflect on SNV’s future involvement in the biofuels sector and formulate a SNV biofuels strategy for 2009 that would allow developing a biofuels sector strategy for the 2010-2012 strategy cycle.
SNV’s focus in the biofuel sector will be on:
 • Creating sustainable income and employment for poor people through the production of biofuel feedstock.
 • Increasing access to energy for poor households by increasing national energy securities.
 • Support national and local governments to create an environment for a sustainable bio-fuel sector which does not affect national and regional food security.

To achieve this 5 intervention axis were identified:
Axis 1 – Supporting production at community level
Axis 2 – Applying the Inclusive Business model and the biofuel production
Axis 3 – Supporting sustainable National Biofuel Policies
Axis 4 – Developing global, regional and national knowledge
Axis 5 - Promoting sustainable Biofuel standards

The biofuel strategy will be further worked out by a core team in which the three continents are represented and lead by SNV-Asia.

For further information, please contact Rob Ukkerman, regional Network Leader Forest Products Asia, rukkerman@snvworld.org

For more information about Developing Sustainable Pro-Poor Biofuels, please read the Biofuel Booklet.