ProBEC (Programme for Basic Energy and Conservation) is a regional programme implemented by the German Agency for Technical Co-operation (GTZ) in the SADC region.
 
 
ProBEC is a programme that manages and stimulates the establishment of various projects based on basic energy conservation in 10 member states in SADC. Currently ProBEC is actively involved in Malawi, Lesotho, Mozambique, Tanzania, Zambia and Zimbabwe. ProBEC is in negotiation regarding future activity in Botswana, Namibia, South Africa and Swaziland, which shall hopefully be established in early 2008. In preparation for a full-scale programme of work in South Africa, ProBEC is embarking on preparatory activities to inform planning, including market studies. ProBEC's interventions in Malawi can be summarised as follows:
 
The promotion of clay stoves in rural areas and the training of stove producers as well as partner organisations and village based trainers
 
Training metal workers to become institutional rocket stove producers
 
Researching marketing activities to provide an enabling environment for producers
 
Identifying institutions that would benefit from large institutional stoves
 
Identifying employers with a large staff base so as to encourage the use of efficient, fixed household rocket stoves like Esperanza and Changu stoves
 
Encouraging the development of energy devices that are appropriate for productive use by small and medium enterprises that involve the burning of wood, including the promotion of efficient Tobacco rocket barns
 
Research and development on the 2nd and 3rd generation products