Final Project Report

for the African BREwery sector Water Saving Initiative

(ABREW)

Background
Access to fresh water has been identified repeatedly as a key condition for
development, and particularly so in Africa. Access to water (or lack thereof) is
closely linked to environmental factors such as pollution, desertification, human
health and poverty.

Surprisingly for a water scarce continent the potential to reduce freshwater

consumption in water intensive industries, such as breweries, tanneries and pulp and
paper mills, is typically overlooked in Africa. Not only do these industries consume
large amounts of fresh water, but they also generate wastewater that can
contaminate far larger amounts of water. Furthermore industrial water use tends to
affect the same water sources as are used for domestic consumption. The potential
to reduce the water consumption in these sectors in Africa is considerable,
considering that they typically exceed international benchmarks for water
consumption significantly. Experience from UNEP’s work in the brewery sector
shows that water savings in the range 20-50 % can be achieved by applying the
Cleaner Production (CP) concept. This translates to potential freshwater savings up
to 170 million cubic meters per year, not including the additional water resources that
would be saved from contamination from wastewater.

While many projects aim at improving access to freshwater in Africa, including

several UNEP projects, this was the only project directly seeking to realise the
potential for water savings in water intensive industries in Africa. The project aimed
at assessing the needs and opportunities for reducing water use and wastewater
generation from the brewery sector in Africa by applying a CP approach.
The main objectives of the project were:
a) To develop, update and test the Cleaner Production (CP) approach for the
African brewery sector;
b) To identify potential for, and challenges to (technical, legislative, economic, social
and policy), a wider uptake of the CP approach in the brewery sector in Africa;
and
c) To deliver a strategy (in the form of a follow-up project) for a pan-African
implementation of CP in the brewery sector.

The immediate target group for this project was the brewery sector in Africa with
associated stakeholders, such as concerned government agencies and financing
institutions, as secondary stakeholders. The ultimate beneficiary of the project was
the general public by getting improved access to water resources, as well as the
brewery sector itself through improved efficiency and competitiveness.
The total project budget of US$140.000 was funded in equal parts from the UN
Environment Fund and as Counterpart Contribution from Danida.
Activities
The project has included the following activities:

1. Sector study and framework analysis:

The African Roundtable on Sustainable Consumption and Production (ARSCP)
through the National Cleaner Production Centres (NCPCs) in Ethiopia, Ghana,
Morocco and Uganda undertook sectoral study framework analysis at the
counties level. Technical support and input for the sectoral study and framework
analysis was provided by the Pollution Research Group of the University of
Kwazulu-Natal and Fritz Balkau.

2. In-plant cleaner production assessments of two breweries in Uganda

Danbrew in partnership with the Ugandan Cleaner Production Centre undertook
the in-plant cleaner production assessments in two breweries in Uganda,
focussing on water and wastewater.

3. Mid-term review workshop

A mid-term review workshop was held in Kampala, Uganda, on 22-23 January
2007.

4. Project Dissemination
The project output has been distributed through UNEP and partners to major
stakeholders in the region, including breweries, concerned authorities, cleaner
production centres, and development agencies. The project has further been
presented at the African Roundtable on Sustainable Consumption and Production
(ARSCP) organized in Johannesburg, South Africa from 4 to 6 June 2008, as well
as to the African Ministers Forum on Water (AMCOW) at individual consultations.
The ABREW resource kit is put on-line for free download at
http://www.unep.fr/scp/water/.

Outputs
The following outputs have been produced as part of the project:

1. Sector study and framework analysis report

The report Sustainable Water Utilisation in African Breweries – current practices
and prospects assesses the current status and opportunities for reducing water
use and wastewater generation of the African brewery sector through a cleaner
production approach. The study focused on breweries in Ethiopia, Ghana,
Morocco and Uganda, but it is assumed that the findings are relevant to the rest
of the continent.

2. ABREW brochure:
This brochure summarises the results of the sector study and framework analysis
and gives a brief overview of the planned follow-up project ABIWSI.

3. ABREW Resource Kit

This resource kit is distributed in form of a CD-ROM and includes a collection of
resources, which are relevant to the African brewery sector:
a) Sustainable Water Utilisation in African Breweries – current practices and
prospects: the sector study and framework analysis report
 b) In-plant CP assessment reports for two breweries in Uganda
c) The water audit tool for breweries
d) Environmental management in the brewing industry: UNEP Technical Report
No. 33
e) UNEP – Cleaner production in breweries – a workbook for trainers
f) Three Powerpoint presentations: a summary of the sector study and
framework analysis, summaries of both in-plant CP assessments .

4. Proposal for ABIWSI as follow-up project for ABREW

This proposal is prepared as a follow-up to ABREW and its objectives and
activities have been developed based on the outcomes of ABREW and in context
of the African Water Vision and various water-sector related activities that are
promoted under the auspices of AMCOW. UNEP in partnership with AMCOW,
GTZ, UN Global Compact and ARSCP will engage with the African beverage
sector to promote efficient water use within the industry sector.

Financial Statement
The project was budgeted at US$ 140.000, of which 50% was provided by UNEP and
50% was provided by the Danish International Development Agency (Danida). The
actual project expenditure is provided in the attached financial statement (annex A).
The project was conducted within the budget with a left-over of US$ 1.982.

Self evaluation
Rating scale 1-5 (1: very poor – 5: very good)

Timeliness of project delivery

ABREW was started in November 2005 with a scheduled completion in September
2006. The first round of data collection indicated serious discrepancies in the quality
and consistency of data, why a second round of data collection and verification of
results was undertaken. This delayed the project with almost six months. In addition
to this, one of the project partners (University of KwaZulu-Natal) repeatedly failed in
delivering their part of the input which caused very serious additional delays. The
project manager was repeatedly trying to get this partner to honour its commitment,
which it finally did. However, because of the delays caused by the unprofessional
behaviour of this partner they are now noted as not suitable for future cooperation
with UNEP. Because of these delays the final output was not delivered until April
2008. This constitutes a delay of 19 months, which is not acceptable. However, it
should also be noted that in spite of these problems all other partners have shown
considerably commitment in supporting and implementing the project. The fact that
the mid-term meeting in January 2007 decided to conduct a second round of data
collection and verification, rather than pushing ahead with a product that would have
allowed us to complete activities much earlier, but with inferior quality, also indicates
the professional attitude of partners.

The rating for timeliness of delivery is 2.

Quality of output
All outputs identified in the project document were delivered and of high quality. In
addition the ABREW resource kit constitutes a much richer tool, than was anticipated
in the project document. In particular the interactive water audit tool for breweries, the
updated work book for trainers and the presentation materials are additional output,
to which we have received very positive feedback.

The rating for quality of output is 5.

Sustainability of project outcomes

The long-term objective of ABREW was stated as: “reducing the use and pollution of
fresh water in the African brewery sector” which would be attained by ABREW
providing the foundation (information, analysis and tools) required to underpin a
larger regional project. It is too early to make an assessment of the long-term impact
of the project but the positive response to the ABWISI proposal is a positive sign. As
noted above, all short-term results have been achieved.

The rating for sustainability is 3.

Budget and project management

As stated above the project has been conducted within budget (more or less exactly
as planned). The coordination and cooperation among project partners has been
generally good, with regular phone conferences conducted throughout the meeting,
and with regular reports provided to all partners. Because of reassignment of duties
within UNEP the lead project manager role was formally shifted from Niclas
Svenningsen to Desta Mebratu in late 2007. However, both project managers have
remained fully involved throughout the project.

The rating for budget and project management is 3

Conclusion

ABREW has been successfully implemented, reaching targets and goals as planned.
Project delivery was seriously delayed but part of the delay was caused by the need
to add and verify data so as to ensure high quality output, which must be seen as a
valid cause. The project was delivered within budget and project deliveries included
outputs above and beyond what was originally planned or budgeted for. It is too early
to assess the attainment of the long-term objectives of the project but preliminary
indications are positive. All short-term results and objectives have been met. The
overall rating of this project is 4 (Good).