Simon Batchelor Email & Phone Number

Reading, Gb

I remain Director as it states below, but I wanted to give the LinkedIn profile some indication of current work - I ran out of words in the other box! Three EPSRC/DFID/DECC-funded projects. “Supporting African Municipalities in Sustainable Energy Transitions” (SAMSET) seeks to support local bodies involved in municipal energy planning in the effective transition to sustainable energy use in urban areas. Partners UCL Energy Institute, Sustainable Energy Africa, ERC – University of Cape… Show more I remain Director as it states below, but I wanted to give the LinkedIn profile some indication of current work - I ran out of words in the other box! Three EPSRC/DFID/DECC-funded projects. “Supporting African Municipalities in Sustainable Energy Transitions” (SAMSET) seeks to support local bodies involved in municipal energy planning in the effective transition to sustainable energy use in urban areas. Partners UCL Energy Institute, Sustainable Energy Africa, ERC – University of Cape Town, ISSER – University of Ghana, University of Durham, Uganda Martyrs University. AGRICEN looks at how agro-industries in sub-Saharan Africa can position themselves to become important players in the delivery of clean energy services. The project combines new approaches to political economy analysis with business development, innovation systems, and participatory approaches. Partners AFREPREN/FWD, LUANR, Malawi; The Policy Practice, and partners in Ethiopia, Kenya, Malawi and Uganda.The ‘Renewable Energy And Decentralization’ (READ) project. This is basically about the importance of local governance (and in particular decentralization) to sustainable energy transitions. Partners Department of Geography at Loughborough University, and Practical ActionHealth Information Seeking in Bangladesh. The objective of this ESRC study is to examine how the spread of the mass media, increased access to the internet and high levels of mobile phone use are changing the ways that poor people seek health-related information and advice. Partners IDS, ICDDR,BmNutrition Impact Study. A team appointed by DFID to conduct an external impact study of the GSMA mNutrition programme. Partners; Oxford Policy Management (OPM), Institute of Development Studies (IDS), International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI), and various country partners.Then there are other studies such as a Difference in Difference study in Malawi on HIV led by my colleague Nigel Scott….out of words again. Show less

Expertise Information and Communication in social empowermentPro-poor policy issues in communications (and other infrastructure)Innovative monitoring and evaluation techniquesTraining teams on participation and community mobilisationUnderstanding of the social factors involved in mobilisation of the poorI have over 30 years overseas development experience. In the Eighties my work was mainly with appropriate technology in agriculture (systems), rural water supplies… Show more Expertise Information and Communication in social empowermentPro-poor policy issues in communications (and other infrastructure)Innovative monitoring and evaluation techniquesTraining teams on participation and community mobilisationUnderstanding of the social factors involved in mobilisation of the poorI have over 30 years overseas development experience. In the Eighties my work was mainly with appropriate technology in agriculture (systems), rural water supplies and renewableenergy technology. In the Nineties it became more focused on social mobilisation and community development as I lived in Cambodia. From 2000 onwards it seems to have concentrated on the role of Information and Communication in social empowerment. Commissioned to undertake planning, training and evaluation of community development projects drawing on general experience to constructively comment on the social and management components of programmes.I have led teams in evaluations of large scale communications initiatives. This is in addition to DFID funded communications related research projects conducted across many countries. And Gamos currently has 2 enabling frameworks with DFID. It has been a challenge to synthesise experience into policy papers for a number of agencies including OECD, infoDev.In 2002, based on research in Africa, we (Gamos) began to Champion the potential of using Mobile Phones for banking the unbanked and lowering remittance costs. Successful lobbying contributions resulted in attention being paid to the problem by the UK Treasury, mention of remittances in the G8 Gleneagles statement, inclusion in the Commission for Africa report, allocation of funds by IADB, World Bank, DFID, CGAP, GSM, SIDA, IDRC and most importantly the successful startup of Mpesa by Vodafone in Kenya. DFID acknowledged my role as Champion in 2005 and I currently work with a number of private sector initiatives which are not mentioned due to NDAs. I enjoy my work :) Show less

Brighton, United Kingdom

Seconded by Gamos, part time, to set up this team and take it forward. What was going to be a temp assignment of 3 months turned into 20 months so I think it deserves its own LinkedIn entry!The team have been doing some really interesting research on 'Research Policy Praxis', how research gets into the policy environment, how to encourage evidence based decisions - and more importantly how to encourage use of multiple evidence sources (not a single piece of research). We have some… Show more Seconded by Gamos, part time, to set up this team and take it forward. What was going to be a temp assignment of 3 months turned into 20 months so I think it deserves its own LinkedIn entry!The team have been doing some really interesting research on 'Research Policy Praxis', how research gets into the policy environment, how to encourage evidence based decisions - and more importantly how to encourage use of multiple evidence sources (not a single piece of research). We have some forthcoming studies which will put some evidence on evidential use! :) Show less

Phd, Renewable Energy, Wind, Water

Bsc Agric, Agricultural Tropical Systems