Development Aspects Impressum Editors

Challenges and key lessons learned

There are a variety of barriers and prerequisites when implementing a cooperation project for knowledge or technology transfer with a local government, as in this case. However, the project confirmed that involving local governments and building their capacities and ownership of such projects is a key factor for the sustainability of locally-led investments in greening municipalities. The project also managed to avoid a series of typical barriers stalling the transfer of greener technologies for communities in developing countries, such as financing and private sector partner- ships. As such, the project especially showcases what can be done with two key success factors in place: (i) committed financing; and (ii) a regional private sector partner as a committed provider of the targeted technology for transfer.

Financing for this four-year project was guaranteed upon selection of the beneficiary cities. Through a multilateral partnership, costs for the project were shared, but shouldered mainly by the Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation, and by UNITAR, with the local governments and Premier Products contributing in-kind costs as well. Without these committed funding sources, the feasibility of Eco- Tank transfer to any of these cities remains uncertain. However, once transferred, local governments such as San Fernando and others have shown financial com- mitment to replicate the project and procure Eco-Tanks for other city locations. As the process for procuring, installing and maintaining similar technologies becomes more commonplace for these and neighbouring cities, the possibility of acquiring new and innovative ESTs will ensure that these cities take concrete steps towards becoming green cities.
The second key success factor and lesson learned for this project was the ac- tive participation of Premier Products as a partner throughout the project. Often- observed barriers to technology transfer are the reluctance from the private sector to export new technologies and the high cost of patent licensing fees and intel- lectual property restrictions. In the case of Premier Products, it did not oppose local modifications of the technology or local replication. The company was also heavily involved through technical visits to and from the project sites, transferring knowledge and expertise on the technology and did not charge any additional fees for the Eco-Tanks. This was largely because of a variety of benefits. First, participa- tion in the project meant region-wide promotion of the Premier Products brand and products, as well as its new Eco-Tank model. Second, Premier Products could act as the tried and tested supplier for any further demands for Eco-Tanks in any of the three countries herein. The project also allowed Premier Products to test its operation model and technology at a low-cost in new potential markets. Finally, the project allowed Eco-Tank to extend its potential manufacturing base with new national partners and distributors, as in the case of San Fernando.
There were a variety of shared challenges and lessons learned for all three Eco- Tank project cities. Some of these were especially related to the need for greater understanding of technical aspects related to the Eco-Tanks. While city delegations did take part in study visits to see the original Bangkok Eco-Tank sites, it seemed that upon arrival of Eco-Tanks in beneficiary cities none of them had envisioned the

large weight and size of the Eco-Tanks. This meant that all the cities had difficulty transporting and managing the tanks from arrival at the ports to the destination sites. More could have been done to prepare recipients of the tanks for their actual weight and size and the procedures for unloading tanks safely. The three cities each reported issues related to receiving the tanks at the port, off-loading and customs, which in each case ended up costing the city greater local transport expenses and delayed the project, especially in the case of Negombo. Further logistical research for all officials involved in the process would possibly help to alleviate these issues for future projects. It is also interesting to note that all three Eco-Tank cities also experienced problems with groundwater and tank flotation. In the future, provid- ing installation instructions for dealing with this site condition would be useful.

Overall, the project experienced a variety of shared challenges for technology transfer across the cities, which led to lessons learned and the development of a checklist suitable for guiding the implementation of similar projects for and with local governments (table 1). UNITAR will use the checklist to asses a parallel pro- ject for the transfer of biogas technology to local governments and planned future knowledge transfer projects on green technologies, services and practices between cities and private sector partners.


Table 1: UNITAR Checklist for Future C2C Green Technology Transfer Training Projects