Energy Delivery Models Training

As of 2024, there were an estimated 130.8 million people forcibly displaced across the globe, the vast majority of whom do not have access to sustainable energy. The lack of expertise among humanitarian actors around how to integrate clean energy into responses to forced displacement in a socially and financially sustainable manner is a key barrier to addressing this problem.

The Energy Delivery Models (EDM) Training was developed by the Global Platform for Action (GPA) on Sustainable Energy in Displacement Settings under the United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR) to build the capacity of humanitarian stakeholders concerning the benefits of access to clean energy for displaced people as well as support these actors in developing effective, market-based approaches to delivering it.  

This course provides guidance for designing sustainable energy delivery programmes that are structured, context-specific and end-user centric.

Training & Certification

The training is based on the methodology outlined in the Energy Delivery Model Toolkit for planning pro-poor energy services developed by the International Institute for Energy and Development (IIED) and the Catholic Agency for Overseas Development (CAFOD). All course content was developed by the World Food Programme (WFP) and digitized by UNITAR, with financial and technical support from Modern Energy Cooking Services (MECS), NORCAP, the SELCO Foundation and IIED.

The EDM training is administered by UNITAR and consists of three self-paced e-learning modules to be completed using the EDM Training Guide. Upon completion of all three modules, trainees can submit their workbooks and a consultation for review and certification by emailing energy@unitar.org.

UNITAR also facilitates the EDM training as a blended online and in-person learning program. To inquire about in-person facilitation of the EDM training, please contact aimee.jenks@unitar.org.

Module 1: Introduction to Energy Access in Displacement Settings

The introductory module of the EDM training is targeted to policymakers, managers and other decision-makers operating in the humanitarian, development and energy sectors. For practitioners, it provides foundational knowledge on the impact of energy access in displacement settings necessary to begin designing effective delivery models.

Access Module 1: Introduction to Energy Access in Displacement Settings

Learning Objectives for Module 1:

• Develop understanding around the relevance of energy access in development and humanitarian contexts
• Develop knowledge and review evidence demonstrating how sustainable energy access improves quality of life, creates livelihood opportunities and contributes to economic development in displaced and host communities
• Understand how delivering sustainable energy access in displacement settings is essential to achieving the wider Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and particularly SDG 7: Clean and Affordable Energy Access for All
• Become familiar with the framework for analyzing energy value chains to support sustainable local economic development when designing and implementing energy programs

The approximate time to complete this module is 1-2 hours.

Module 2: Energy Value Chain Analysis for Sustainable Delivery Models

This training module is tailored for humanitarian, development and energy sector practitioners responsible for developing or managing projects as well as government representatives responsible for designing energy access policies. It can also help employees of small and medium enterprises (SMEs) working in energy access, agriculture, agribusiness and other relevant sectors understand the complexities of energy markets in displacement settings.

Access Module 2: Energy Value Chain Analysis for Sustainable Delivery Models

Learning Objectives for Module 2:

• Understand energy value chains in the local context and identify energy solutions and delivery models that can sustainably operate over the medium and long term
• Learn to identify the barriers that prevent local energy value chains from functioning properly
• Learn the steps to design strategies for addressing these barriers in order to provide displaced communities with energy access

The approximate time to complete this module is 6 hours.

Module 3: Developing Your Energy Delivery Model

This training module builds on the previous two, helping practitioners employ the concepts learned to develop delivery models tailored to their operating context. It is also relevant to policymakers seeking a more in-depth understanding of how to improve the enabling environment for energy access in challenging contexts as well as SMEs seeking to understand their role in sustainable energy delivery.

Access Module 3: Developing Your Energy Delivery Model

Learning Objectives for Module 3:

• Develop a project outline and rationale based on the energy value chain analysis framework
• Understand how to develop a business case for the proposed solution, including an evaluation of the anticipated costs, benefits and risks
• Understand how to use innovative and sustainable financing tools as well as develop partnerships with relevant stakeholders to execute the proposed project

The approximate time to complete this module is 3 hours.

Supporting Documents

• Energy Delivery Models Training Guide
• Energy Delivery Models Workbook
• Planning Pro-Poor Energy Services for Maximum Impact: The Energy Delivery Model Toolkit
• Impact Story: Creating Projects to Improve Delivery of Energy Products and Services