Sustainable Education through Renewable Energy in the Governorates Affected by the Syrian Crisis This quarterly progress report describes the activities progress during January 1 to March 31, 2019. Deliverables Description: 1.1 A clean source of energy is provided for the selected schools 1.1.1 As the project managed to recover the delay that happened due to the need for schools roof inspection, and to replace the schools that their buildings have less safety with stronger buildings, the project is currently following the smooth progress of the three contractors on ground. According to the latest progress reports submitted by the contractors, their progress reached to almost 65%. So far, 55 schools have been equipped with PV systems, heating/cooling systems, 26 are under RESS/NERC approval and process, and the remaining new 19 schools have been selected and NERC’s have completed their assessments and specified the needed capacities for RE/EE systems. The work in these new schools is under progress and it is planned to complete all installations by end of June, 2019 1.1.2 The project activities have crossed with the activities of another project which is the National Alliance Against Hunger and Malnutrition (NAJMAH). This project focuses on improving the living conditions of Syrians and Jordanians through employing them in the maintenance activities of schools. This has interfered with the maintenance activities of our contractors. In order to maximize the benefit, the project decided to leave the schools maintenance for NJAMAH and utilize the saved money to benefit other schools. This has saved a value that is enough to cover additional 5-7 schools. So, the project is going to support additional schools by equipping them by RE/EE systems especially the schools that have been covered by PV systems without heating/cooling systems through another donor and under PAF supervision. Assessment of the additional schools is ongoing 1.1.3 According to the above clarified new requirements, and as MFA has approved the No-cost extension request for three months submitted by PAF, it is expected that the work at the 100 schools will be completed by June, 2019. This will directly benefit 48,351 Jordanian and Syrian students of which are 20,662 boys and 27,689 girls, 39,496 are Jordanian students while 8,855 are Syrians. 1.2 Improve learning environment at the selected schools: 1.2.1 The Eco-Schools program has been completed in the remaining schools and covered the targeted 100 schools. An international certified body is teaching students how to be active in changing others actions by rationalizing energy use through following best practices. Focal points and teachers from each school were selected, with assistance from the Royal Marine Conservation Society (JREDS). Focal points and teachers will remain in constant communication with the project team and they have participated in a training to gain further knowledge on climate change, energy challenges in Jordan, best practices and tools for rationing energy use and reducing costs and CO2 emissions as well as how to organize and implement team building activities between students from different backgrounds to ensure social cohesion and interaction. The project has conducted the post survey for the schools to measure the progress and achievements and completed the final evaluation. (46) Schools out of (100) have won the international eco-schools certification and a celebration event to honor these schools has been conducted on April 17, 2019. 1.2.2 The Virtual Reality educational screening was rolled out to the (100) schools. It was developed in parallel with the Eco-schools program to create a live experience for students about RE/EE and to teach them about the environment and energy in an engaging approach. These measures have fully engaged students and introduced them to best practices on energy saving and promoted green culture. Students participated in an interactive virtual reality video that takes viewers on a dream like journey through space to better understand the operation of PV systems demonstrating how energy is generated and saved. So far (3,127) students experienced the video; https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_jHP5YmgZXs&feature=youtu.be 1.2.3 To further support the awareness among students that are younger in age, an interactive song is under development which will be broadcasted on famous children channels to reach out to the largest possible number of children. 1.2.4 A website was developed through a specialized media company in order to map out the location of schools that are currently receiving funds and/or assistance related to environment or renewable energy and by whom. The map will also include schools that are in need of assistance in order to ensure no overlapping of schools or donors prioritizing similar projects. The 100 selected schools have also been marked on Google Maps for future reference. The project team visited Queen Rania Center for IT (QRCIT) to explore possible cooperation channels, QRCIT host all the servers responsible for the schools’ data for in the Kingdom, their students and staff. It was agreed that the project will develop its own website for the schools equipped with RE&EE systems but the server will be hosted by the Queen Rania Center to ensure more sustainability. The first draft of the website is launched. http://solarjordanschools.com/ 1.2.5 Remedial classes and drop out of schools The project in cooperation with the local CBO’s have organized Summer remedial classes supported in the northern governorates, targeting Jordanian and Syrian students. Arabic, English and math lessons targeted out of school children, enabling them to apply for placement tests. A further professional program was developed in cooperation with “Youth Without Borders” CBO who are very active in Ramtha and one of the project CBO’s. They are going to cooperate with the Ministry of Education to attract 100 students who left school; those 100 students will be able to attend remedial classes over a three month time period and will then be enrolled back in schools. This program will be completed by April 2019. 1.3 Awareness Workshops In Communities: 1.3.1 The project managed to complete (100) awareness days for the communities surrounding the selected schools. Thematic topics address social cohesion and best practices on renewable energy that target Syrian and Jordanian women who will in turn spread awareness to their respective communities. In 2018, the project managed to conduct 100 workshops in Ramtha, Irbid, Mafraq and North Shouneh (50 days on social cohesion and 50 days on energy awareness). Evaluating the pre and post surveys demonstrated the knowledge gained and the new positive attitude of 3,974 people of which are: 3,182 women and 792 men (2,854 Jordanians and 1,120 Syrians). 1.4 The role of women-led CBO’s in empowering women, reducing poverty and promoting the green culture in the surrounding communities 1.4.1 Forged partnership with five women CBO’s were established; in Mafraq, Ramtha, Sareeh/Irbid and the Jordan Valley, to develop their organizational and service minded skills for their communities. Women and youth employment is embedded within the activities through small income generating projects and the introduction of RE&EE technologies in close partnership of the private sector. 1.4.2 The progress of the activities in these CBOs is going very well benefiting the local communities while employing more than (15) local youth. Awareness and audit activities have reached out to more than 4,000 citizens who encouraged the people to have revolving funds to purchase RE&EE systems for their houses in order to reduce their electricity bills and reduce CO2 emissions by mainly using PV systems and solar heaters. So far, more than 100 families have benefited from the provided services such as solar heaters, PV systems, AC’s that save energy as well as other systems that have reduced their energy bills. 1.4.3 Coordinated with JREEEF who partially support the installation of the PV systems and solar heaters so that the remaining value will be covered by the CBO’s through the revolving fund mechanism. 1.4.4 The equipped two RE/EE exhibitions have proved a successful business model where the exhibition will be able to sustain after the project completion. 1.4.5 To ensure synergies in different programs, Two CBOs were supported with solar systems in existing water purification plants. The plants now run a full eco-system. 1.4.6 Forged cooperation and support with other projects that are funded by the Dutch Ministry such as the hydroponic agriculture that is implemented by Eco-Consult Company. Our project has provided one of our CBO’s with off-grid PV system for the Hydroponic unit provided by Eco-Consult to reduce their energy bill by 100% from JOD 300.0 to Zero. Another PV system was provided to Mafraq CBO that have a small plastic house that plant organic products. 1.5 Vocational Training Centers (VTC’s) 1.5.1 The six months training course for the (120) youth was completed successfully and the trainees passed the needed certification exams and received a ‘skilled’ level diploma. There will be official graduation for them in a public event on April 29, 2019. 1.5.2 The equipped VTCs should be able to sustain after the project completion as it is equipped with all needed PV systems, tools and training materials, and the new certified green job became well known in their area. So, after the project completion, this certification will be opened for the youth with certain fees like the other certifications in the VTC centers. 1.5.3 The Employment Application is almost completed; it will become a platform that connects the trained youth and possible employers. This application will be open to all in order to facilitate job opportunities. 1.6 Lobbying and Advocacy 1. A desktop review was conducted about carbon trading in general revealing the history and the fact that the 2008 global crisis has caused a slowdown in industrial development, causing industrial nations to slow-down their economic activity, and the resulting carbon emissions, which reduced their need to buy carbon credits, and caused a considerable reduction in carbon unit prices. This reduction has been consistent until the present day. Details of the desktop review will be presented in the complete report. 2. A meeting with His Excellency Dr. Ibrahim Saif, former minister of Planning and International Cooperation, former minister of Energy and Mineral Resources, current CEO of the Jordan Strategy Forum. The meeting revolved around the history of carbon trading in Jordan, especially for the National Electric Power Company (NEPCO), which reported to Dr. Saif when he was minister of Energy. The summary of the discussion is that NEPCO did sell its carbon credits attained from renewable energy projects (solar and wind) with acceptable revenues, but the current prices have become too low and NEPCO is considering alternative trading methods to try and maximize value. 3. A meeting was conducted with, Secretary General of the Ministry of Environment, to discuss potential alternative mechanisms for carbon trading. His Excellency was very supportive of the initiative and confirmed the Government intent to identify ways to maximize its potential revenues from carbon credits related to mitigation projects such as those in the renewable energy space. The meeting resulted in the setting-up of another meeting with Eng. Bilal Shaqareen, Director of the Climate Change Directorate at the Ministry of Environment. 4. A meeting with climate change department revealed that the Government has been researching potential trading mechanisms and has been in contact with the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) Secretariat to allow them to introduce such new measures. Mr. Shaqareen highlighted the pros and cons of such approach including a potential upside in revenue by trading special cards that would be charged with carbon credit over time and sold to the highest bidder, and cons including a possibility that such mechanism may not allow Jordan to get its due credits towards achieving its sustainable development targets. The full report will include a deep analysis of the possible approaches and will result in a recommendation based on these options. Eng. Shaqareen also indicated that any such platform has to get the approval of the Central Bank of Jordan (CBJ) as the central authority regulating such transactions. 5. A meeting with the CBJ is set for next week to discuss the Government’s appetite for using such unconventional mechanisms and the potential risk of missing out of credit allocation as per Mr. Shaqareen’s comments. 6. A meeting is set-up with the NEPCO leadership and carbon specialists for next week, which will conclude the required meetings and data gathering component of this engagement. 7. On the other hand, we have discussed with the Directorate of Administrative and Financial Affairs the possibility of establishing a fund to invest the electricity savings resulting from schools using solar energy, and the establishment of an independent fund specifically for this purpose requires a technical and legal study. These meetings have revealed that no trust fund shall be established except under a system issued by the Council of Ministers which requires the political will of the competent minister. 8. We have been contacted by several parliamentary committees who expressed willingness to discuss the file with all parties concerned and work to achieve mechanisms appropriate for all stakeholders Next steps will be mainly: 1. Meet with relevant parliamentary committees: (Education Committee, Rural and Badia Committee, Environment Committee, Energy Committee) to find a new mechanism in cooperation with the electricity companies, the Ministry of Education, the Authority for Energy and Minerals and the Renewable Energy Fund to benefit from the surplus to support schools in poor and marginalized areas. 2. Also, there are alternatives to the proposed fund: such as Fils Rural Fund: The possibility of calculating surplus amounts and the need to balance them as money for rural villas and then load the cost of energy bill for poor schools at the expense of rural villages. 3. Also. The Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Fund (JREEEF) is another option: To invest money in favor of the Fund so that it can continue to provide solar energy to schools in marginalized areas. Are the target group engaged in the implementation of the project? Yes, Intensively. Please elaborate: - The intensive awareness workshops for the local communities surrounding the schools had mobilized the community to be part of the project activities and they are actively inquiring on educational courses to get better understanding on available technology and means of energy savings. - Introduce the revolving fund model at CBO’s to ease the economic burden: participating associations engaged in managing fund creation and operation. Once active, community members are sensitized on process and began applying for interest-free loans to finance renewable energy technologies at homes, shops and farms with confidence in the investment made and revenue on the longer term. - Renewable energy showrooms are established and illustrate RE technologies: shops display renewable energy products that the community members can purchase through an interest-free payment system, they have started utilizing the educational material in the shops to learn more on RE and EE. - CBO energy audit teams: recruited focal points and volunteers trained and tasked with energy audits are actively promoting the audit exercise, sensitizing community and illustrating saved electricity bill amounts after installing RE technology. - Community members gain confidence in RE concept and accrued savings, community members approached CBO’s to request audits at their homes and businesses and started apply for revolving fund loans. - RE&EE education and certification: youth in communities enrol in training module at the local vocational training centres to qualify for future green jobs. Due to the introduction of practical and theoretical training some post-graduate students are also enrolled. - Eco-school programs: students and teachers are enthusiastically participating in responsible energy practices and are holding science fairs and organizing events to celebrate achievements. As a result, schools falling out of the targeted lists in communities are expressing interest in participating in similar activities. - Parents-teachers councils were created in targeted schools to organize additional awareness sessions in communities while environment clubs were created and became part of the school system. - The remedial classes for students who dropped-out of school and their support in enrolment after the three month period of classes have ended. - The close cooperation with relevant stakeholders such as the VTC’s, Parliament, the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Environment. Completed Outputs according to the logical framework are: • (100) schools selected in communities affected by the Syrian students to have improved learning environment through equipping them with renewable energy systems, energy efficiency lights, Heating /cooling systems, free electricity for operating the learning tools such as computers, internet and access to on-line curricula .This will directly benefit 48,351 Jordanian and Syrian students of which are 20,662 boys and 27,689 girls, 39,496 are Jordanian students while 8,855 are Syrians. • Targeted schools are sensitized on the Eco-Schools program introduced by an international certified entity to teach students how to be active in changing positive behaviors by rationing energy use and adopting best practices  The international Eco-Schools program was introduced to 100 schools.  TOT for 200 teachers (125 females and 75 males).  (9) Focal points volunteers appointed to follow up on activities in all selected schools.  (3,127) students were educated through the Eco-schools program • Students participated in an interactive virtual reality video that takes viewers on a dream like journey through space to better understand the operation of PV systems demonstrating how energy is generated and saved. So far (3,127) students experienced the video. • Additionally, 10,000 digital CDs, 10,000 educational Shamousa manuals support extracurricular activities in schools. • Evaluating the pre and post surveys of the awareness workshops conducted for the surrounding communities demonstrated the knowledge gained and the new positive attitude of 3,974 people of which are: 3,182 women and 792 men (2,854 Jordanians and 1,120 Syrians). • (15) Local youth have been trained and employed to spread awareness in the community and conduct energy audits at household level. So far, 500 citizens were targeted through workshops (male and female). • (5) Active CBOs were selected and equipped revolving funds and with proper training halls to become a hub for the local community and promote green culture. So far, more than 70 families have benefited from the provided services such as solar heaters, AC’s that save energy as well as other systems that have reduced their energy bills. • Training halls in CBOs used for extra learning spaces and remedial catch-up classes for drop-out children. Thus far, 500 students participated in this program: 276 boys (96 Jordanians and 180 Syrians) and 224 girls (101 Jordanians and 123 Syrians). • To sustain the efforts of creating green jobs, the project equipped three of the main vocational training centers with on-grid and off-grid educational PV systems, comprehensive TOT and curricula to expand the benefits of all communities.  (5) teachers have been trained; one-week ToT session was organized by the EU TA II program manager  (100) students; 40 females and 60 males, enrolled in a 6 month RE&EE VTC training program. Graduates shall receive a ‘skilled’ level diploma.  The Employment Application is under process, it will become a platform that connects the trained youth and possible employers. This application will be open to all in order to facilitate job opportunities.