DemoEnvironment

The new DemoEnvironment Programme - for partner-driven cooperation through international dissemination of environmental technology to The Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida) partner countries.

Background

In the period 2007 to 2010 the Swedish Agency for Economic and Regional Growth (Tillväxtverket) ran the first part of the DemoEnvironment programme, covering some 40 countries, as a commission from The Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida). The purpose of the pogramme has been to introduce modern, environment-friendly technology solutions in Sida´s partner countries.

An evaluation has been conducted of the projects funded in the first part of the programme. The second phase of the programme is based on recommendations from this evaluation and on the Government's policy for global development and Sida´s objectives and the Government´s country strategies for the countries concerned.

The new DemoEnvironment  

The new DemoEnvironment Programme, which is presented below, will be implemented in the period 2012 and 2013. The programme will consist of planning grants and support for demonstration plants relating to the introduction of new environmental technology in partner countries.

Better living conditions for poor people

The objective of the new DemoEnvironment Programme is to promote sustainable growth and a stronger business sector in the area of environmental technology that contributes to better living conditions for poor people in the following seven partner countries:

• Botswana
• Namibia
• South Africa
• India
• Indonesia
• China
• Vietnam

To achieve this objective, the design and implementation of projects must take account of Sida´s strategies for partner-driven cooperation, the respective country strategies as well as the relevant thematic priorities and perspectives. The programme covers projects in both urban and rural development.

Programme tools  

Planning grants - for Swedish suppliers or promoters of environmental technology

The purpose of this support is to establish longterm sustainable relations between actors in the area of environmental technology in Sweden and in the seven partner countries. This will result in these countries benefiting from knowledge of Swedish environmental technology, which will contribute in the longterm to better living conditions for poor people in these countries.

Private companies, organisations and public organisations can apply for grants. The requirement is that they have a partner in one of the partner countries with which they want to develop cooperation. The maximum grant is SEK 284 000. The environmental technology can be proven or untested. The implementation period is 6 months.

Demonstration projects - for buyers of environmental technology in one of the partner countries

The purpose of the demonstration project grant is to enable a buyer in one of the selected countries to set up a demonstration project in their country. The project has to be implemented in a way that will inspire others to follow the project's example or in a way that spreads the use of the technology. The dissemination of the environmental technology will contribute to improving the environment in the country and creating better living conditions for poor people.

• The buyer (the party applying for the grant) can be a private company or organisation or a public organisation in the country concerned.
• The supplier must be a Swedish company.
• The environmental technology must be proven but new in the country (or context).
• The buyer must have a partner in Sweden and have an agreement with that partner.
• The buyer can get a grant for the purchase of equipment and services needed to get the demonstration project to work on the ground.
• The grant is at least SEK 500 000 and at most SEK 1.8 million.

The buyer has overall project responsibility for the demonstration project, which means responsibility for ensuring that the project is run according to the project plan and that correct reporting about the project is delivered to the Swedish Agency for Economic and Regional Growth at set times. The implementation period is 1 year.

Read more about planning grants
Read more about demonstration projects