Building and Construction Improvement Program
Encyclopedia
The Building and Construction Improvement Program (BACIP) is a program of the Aga Khan Planning and Building Service, Pakistan
(AKPBS,P) and is engaged in developing and promoting solutions to housing and built environment
related issues of rural communities living in the Northern Areas
of Pakistan
and the province of Sindh
.
Since 1997, BACIP has benefited over 150,000 people from the installation of over 36,000 smoke free stoves, water-warming facilities and other energy-efficient products. The program has also trained over 6,400 construction craftsmen and entrepreneurs.
In general, over 15% of the household expenditure and around 50% of all disease morbidity in the region were directly attributable to poor housing conditions, most of which were avoidable. Keeping these issues in view, the Building and Construction Improvement Program (BACIP) set out to improve the living condition by developing several home–improvement products that mitigated the negative impact of planning and building inefficiencies on these traditional households and lessened the burden on the surrounding environment. BACIP also attempted to reduce the cost and increase the affordability of better housing conditions.
BACIP works to improve the built environment by focusing on a participatory approach. This means that the program team works with the local people to develop products that can address housing issues such as fuel-efficient stoves, water warming facilities, solar cookers and geysers, roof hatch windows and more. This also means that AKPBS,P can market these products through village resource persons. This provides income earning opportunities for the locals while promoting products that can greatly improve the quality of their lives.
In 2003, BACIP partnered with the First MicroFinance Bank, an institution of the Aga Khan Agency for Microfinance, to provide micro-credit facilities to homeowners for the purchase of BACIP products. This unique program was one of the first initiatives in Pakistan geared towards relatively small investments that increased the accessibility of BACIP in the target area.
To date BACIP has achieved the following results:
• More than 18,000 households and approximately 150,000 people have benefited from one or more of the 36,067 BACIP products over a period of 10 years.
• More than 9,500 cooking stoves including 8,900 water warming facilities; 8,600 floor insulation; 1,500 roof hatch windows and 7,600 other value added products have been sold by the end of 2008.
• BACIP Products reduce domestic biomass consumptions - which accounts for 85% of for overall wood consumption in the program area - by 15-60%
• It was reported that BACIP stoves reduce smoke related diseases - which account for around 35% of all acute diseases in the program area - by as much as 60%.
• BACIP has trained 6411 construction craftsmen, product manufacturers and entrepreneurs/salespersons.
(BACIP) has received the Award for Avoided Deforestation at this year’s Ashden Awards
for Sustainable Energy. Princess Zahra, Head of the Social Welfare department of the Aga Khan Development Network
, accepted the award on behalf of AKPBS at a ceremony in London addressed by Rt. Hon. Gregory Barker, UK Government Minister for Climate Change. Winners from India and Africa were also announced.
.
for 2006 for its efforts to improve housing conditions in Pakistan
.
for its efforts to provide water and sanitation facilities as well as improve housing conditions through the Building and Construction Improvement Program (BACIP) in Pakistan
Aga Khan Planning and Building Services
The Aga Khan Planning and Building Service was established in 1980 as an agency of the Aga Khan Development Network . The agency works to improve the built environment, particularly housing design and construction, village planning, natural hazard mitigation, environmental sanitation, water...
(AKPBS,P) and is engaged in developing and promoting solutions to housing and built environment
Built environment
The term built environment refers to the human-made surroundings that provide the setting for human activity, ranging in scale from personal shelter and buildings to neighborhoods and cities that can often include their supporting infrastructure, such as water supply or energy networks.The built...
related issues of rural communities living in the Northern Areas
Northern Areas
Gilgit-Baltistan , is the northernmost political entity within Pakistan. It borders Pakistan's Khyber Pukhtunkhwa province to the west, Afghanistan's Wakhan Corridor to the north, China to the east and northeast, Azad Kashmir to the southwest, and Indian-administered Jammu and Kashmir to the...
of Pakistan
Pakistan
Pakistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan is a sovereign state in South Asia. It has a coastline along the Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Oman in the south and is bordered by Afghanistan and Iran in the west, India in the east and China in the far northeast. In the north, Tajikistan...
and the province of Sindh
Sindh
Sindh historically referred to as Ba'ab-ul-Islam , is one of the four provinces of Pakistan and historically is home to the Sindhi people. It is also locally known as the "Mehran". Though Muslims form the largest religious group in Sindh, a good number of Christians, Zoroastrians and Hindus can...
.
Since 1997, BACIP has benefited over 150,000 people from the installation of over 36,000 smoke free stoves, water-warming facilities and other energy-efficient products. The program has also trained over 6,400 construction craftsmen and entrepreneurs.
Program overview
Poor villages in the northern regions of Pakistan experience a number of problems related to housing and living conditions. Some of the core problems are:- Cold, dark, damp, dusty and unhygienic in-house environment;
- Poor and weak structures of the houses which required maintenance and which were susceptible to damage during earthquake, hence putting life and property at risk;
- Lack of proper sanitation;
- High expenses and workload related to fuel wood collection and purchase;
- High degree of smoke and pollution inside the houses;
- Heavy workload of women to complete household chores;
- High incidence of environment related diseases like ARI, Pneumonia, eye soreness, etc.; and
- Overall demoralizing living conditions which led to a feeling of utter poverty and hopelessness.
In general, over 15% of the household expenditure and around 50% of all disease morbidity in the region were directly attributable to poor housing conditions, most of which were avoidable. Keeping these issues in view, the Building and Construction Improvement Program (BACIP) set out to improve the living condition by developing several home–improvement products that mitigated the negative impact of planning and building inefficiencies on these traditional households and lessened the burden on the surrounding environment. BACIP also attempted to reduce the cost and increase the affordability of better housing conditions.
BACIP works to improve the built environment by focusing on a participatory approach. This means that the program team works with the local people to develop products that can address housing issues such as fuel-efficient stoves, water warming facilities, solar cookers and geysers, roof hatch windows and more. This also means that AKPBS,P can market these products through village resource persons. This provides income earning opportunities for the locals while promoting products that can greatly improve the quality of their lives.
Program impact
Studies have shown significant impact of BACIP products on poverty alleviation, environment conservation, health improvement and seismic vulnerability reduction. Since most of the household chores (collection of firewood; dusting and even minor house repairs) are undertaken by females, BACIP also impacts gender issues at the strategic level.In 2003, BACIP partnered with the First MicroFinance Bank, an institution of the Aga Khan Agency for Microfinance, to provide micro-credit facilities to homeowners for the purchase of BACIP products. This unique program was one of the first initiatives in Pakistan geared towards relatively small investments that increased the accessibility of BACIP in the target area.
To date BACIP has achieved the following results:
• More than 18,000 households and approximately 150,000 people have benefited from one or more of the 36,067 BACIP products over a period of 10 years.
• More than 9,500 cooking stoves including 8,900 water warming facilities; 8,600 floor insulation; 1,500 roof hatch windows and 7,600 other value added products have been sold by the end of 2008.
• BACIP Products reduce domestic biomass consumptions - which accounts for 85% of for overall wood consumption in the program area - by 15-60%
• It was reported that BACIP stoves reduce smoke related diseases - which account for around 35% of all acute diseases in the program area - by as much as 60%.
• BACIP has trained 6411 construction craftsmen, product manufacturers and entrepreneurs/salespersons.
Ashden Awards, 2011
On June 16, the world’s most prestigious green energy awards announced that the Aga Khan Planning and Building Service’s (AKPBS) innovative Building and Construction Improvement ProgramBuilding and Construction Improvement Program
The Building and Construction Improvement Program is a program of the Aga Khan Planning and Building Service, Pakistan and is engaged in developing and promoting solutions to housing and built environment related issues of rural communities living in the Northern Areas of Pakistan and the...
(BACIP) has received the Award for Avoided Deforestation at this year’s Ashden Awards
Ashden Awards
The Ashden Awards for Sustainable Energy are annual awards given by a charity of the same name that is based in London. They reward local sustainable energy projects in the UK and developing countries that protect the environment, and improve quality of life....
for Sustainable Energy. Princess Zahra, Head of the Social Welfare department of the Aga Khan Development Network
Aga Khan Development Network
The Aga Khan Development Network is a group of private, non-denominational development agencies that seek to empower communities and individuals to improve living conditions and opportunities, in sub-Saharan Africa, Central and South Asia, and the Middle East...
, accepted the award on behalf of AKPBS at a ceremony in London addressed by Rt. Hon. Gregory Barker, UK Government Minister for Climate Change. Winners from India and Africa were also announced.
Global Leadership Award, 2009
BACIP won the Partnership for Clean Indoor Air (PCIA) Global Leadership Award, 2009 for its achievements in improving health, livelihood, and quality of life, particularly of women and children, by reducing exposure to indoor air pollution from household energy use.Energy Globe Award - Pakistan, 2008
BACIP was awarded the national Energy Globe Award for Pakistan for its efforts to introduce energy efficient products in rural communities that are heavily dependent on natural resources for their domestic energy requirements. The award was presented to the Aga Khan Planning and Building Service, Pakistan at a ceremony held in PraguePrague
Prague is the capital and largest city of the Czech Republic. Situated in the north-west of the country on the Vltava river, the city is home to about 1.3 million people, while its metropolitan area is estimated to have a population of over 2.3 million...
.
World Habitat Award, 2006
BACIP won the World Habitat AwardWorld Habitat Awards
The World Habitat Awards were established in 1985 by the Building and Social Housing Foundation as part of its contribution to the United Nations' International Year of Shelter for the Homeless in 1987....
for 2006 for its efforts to improve housing conditions in Pakistan
.
Alcan Prize for Sustainability, 2005
In 2005, the Aga Khan Planning and Building Service received the US $1 million Alcan Prize for SustainabilityAlcan
Rio Tinto Alcan Inc. is a Canadian company based in Montreal. It was created on November 15, 2007 as the result of the merger between Rio Tinto PLC's Canadian subsidiary, Rio Tinto Canada Holding Inc., and Canadian company Alcan Inc. On the same date, Alcan Inc. was renamed Rio Tinto Alcan Inc..Rio...
for its efforts to provide water and sanitation facilities as well as improve housing conditions through the Building and Construction Improvement Program (BACIP) in Pakistan
See also
- Aga Khan Development NetworkAga Khan Development NetworkThe Aga Khan Development Network is a group of private, non-denominational development agencies that seek to empower communities and individuals to improve living conditions and opportunities, in sub-Saharan Africa, Central and South Asia, and the Middle East...
- Aga Khan Planning and Building ServicesAga Khan Planning and Building ServicesThe Aga Khan Planning and Building Service was established in 1980 as an agency of the Aga Khan Development Network . The agency works to improve the built environment, particularly housing design and construction, village planning, natural hazard mitigation, environmental sanitation, water...
- Water and Sanitation Extension ProgramWater and Sanitation Extension ProgramThe Water and Sanitation Extension Program is an initiative by the Aga Khan Planning and Building Service, Pakistan to provide clean drinking water and hygienic sanitation facilities to prevent the high incidence of waterborne diseases in disadvantaged communities of Pakistan.WASEP was launched in...