Webinar Series: Sustainable Energy in Humanitarian Settings

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Webinar Series Sustainable Energy in Humanitarian Settings

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Today, over 130 million people are in need of humanitarian assistance due to conflict, natural disasters, and other complex global challenges. For many of these people, access to energy sources is critical for survival, and how they access it impacts their health, livelihoods, safety, and well-being.

Energy access for displaced people is not prioritized in the global humanitarian system. Current energy practices in situations of displacement are often inefficient, polluting, unsafe for users, and harmful to the surrounding environment. Moreover, institutional humanitarian operations such as water pumping, community lighting, and health clinics rely heavily on unsustainable fossil fuels, costing hundreds of millions of dollars annually.

Given the complex nature of humanitarian response and the challenges of integrating sustainable energy solutions into the humanitarian program cycle, there is not just one solution but a need for systemic actions to mobilise resources, build capacity and use the opportunity for sustainable energy solutions to enhance impact in sectors such as health, protection, food security, and WASH. read more

Against this background, key actors involved in displacement settings developed in 2018 the Global Plan of Action for Sustainable Energy Solutions in Situations of Displacement (GPA). It’s mission is to equip stakeholders with the capacity to mainstream sustainable energy solutions into programming, with the goal of delivering improved protection, dignity, and energy-related social, environmental, and economic benefits to displaced people.

As part of the outreach and capacity building activities of this movement, the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) together with the Steering Group of the GPA and other partners are conducting a series of webinars on humanitarian energy issues to raise awareness and spread knowledge about different technologies, best practices and impacts.


Webinar 3: The Energy-Livelihoods Ecosystem in Humanitarian Settings - Finance, Technology Supply Chains, Market Linkages and Stakeholder Roles

In session 3, we will explore the ecosystem aspects of delivering energy for improved livelihoods purposes such as access to finance, market linkages, and technology supply chains, followed by a multi-stakeholder panel discussion on the roles of different partners in bringing energy-livelihoods projects to life. 

Speakers

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Paul T. Yillia, Global SDG7 Hubs

Dr. Paul T. Yillia has professional background in applied science and engineering with over 20 years of experience in undertaking analytical work and implementing technical assistance programs within the development context. He has served in various capacities, with assignments in several countries. Currently, he is leading efforts in Sierra Leone on the energy ecosystem to define the strategy for decentralized renewable energy (DRE) interventions for social infrastructure. Dr Yillia has interacted with various stakeholders, including governments at the highest political level, aid agencies, companies, academia, international organisations and MDBs. He has undertaken numerous consultancy assignments with several governments and international organizations, including FAO, UNDP, UN-Environment, UNESCO, UNF, UNIDO, UNOPS, UN-Water, and the World Bank Group. He has participated in the organisation and facilitation of several international events, with over 100 appearances and more than 80 presentations, including keynote speeches and moderation of high-level panels and discussions.

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Abishek Bharadwaj, Equatorial Power Abishek is currently the Co-Founder/CTO of Equatorial Power, a PUE based Mini-grid developer with operations in Uganda, Rwanda and DRC. Abishek has more than 12 years of experience in the mini-grid sector across solar, hydro and biomass based technologies. Prior to Equatorial Power, Abishek was involved in providing advisory support for over 200 mini-grid projects across Asia and Africa."




Florent Eveillè, EnDev

Herbert Nyaga, Energy4Impact

Anaclet Ndahimana, Practical Action

Rachita Misra, SELCO Foundation

Webinar 2: Planning Energy-Livelihoods Interventions in Humanitarian Settings - Tools and Delivery Models

In session 2, we will hear from organizations with expertise in planning and implementing energy access for livelihoods purposes, with a focus on inspiring and innovative delivery models emerging in conflict and crisis affected areas. Examples and experiences from Sierra Leone, Ethiopia, and India will be shared.

Presentations

Speakers

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Andrea Ranzanici, Managing Director at HumEn - Humanitarian Energy PLC

Andrea has more than 10 years of experience as project manager and advisor in the field of sustainable energy access in sub-Saharan Africa. Based in Addis Abeba, Ethiopia, Andrea is now the managing director of HumEn. HumEn is an Ethiopian social enterprise established by international and national shareholders, which aspires to become the partner-of-choice for clean and sustainable energy access for humanitarian settings, organizations and operations, in Ethiopia and elsewhere.

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Shahaab Javeri, Program Manager - Research and Learnings, SELCO Foundation

Shahaab contributes across teams at SELCO Foundation, with regards to program strategy & design, communication, documentation, and knowledge management from an action research perspective. He has been with the organization for a period of 5 years and has been engaged in the development and communication sectors for a period of 10 years.

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Fazle Muztaba, Envo Renewable Energy Services Pvt.Ltd

Fazle is the Co-Founder & Managing Director of Envo Renewable Energy Services Pvt. Ltd., a rural energy enterprise creating a holistic ecosystem to provide reliable energy access in the most remote and vulnerable areas of the North East Region of India. He is an ex-banker and entrepreneur with an experience of 10+ years in the decentralized renewable energy (DRE) sector. Fazle and his team with their DRE interventions is working for the underserved communities of the region which mitigates climate change and works as an enabler in Poverty Alleviation, opportunity for improved Livelihood, Health Services.

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Robert Munis, Danish Refugee Council (DRC), Tanzania Robert is a DRC’s Livelihoods team leader with expertise around financial inclusion and renewable energy areas. He has been working in DRC Tanzania for 6 years and engaged in both humanitarian and development projects in Tanzania. He is a strategic partnership focal point for DRC Tanzania.

Webinar 1: Understanding the Energy-Livelihoods Nexus: Challenges and Opportunities in Humanitarian settings

This webinar focuses on the energy-livelihoods nexus in humanitarian contexts. It will present options for energizing different value chains as well as discussing common challenges in meeting needs not only with regard to end-users but also from development and private sector partners. A following panel discussion with practitioners and entrepreneurs from i.e. Kenya and Tanzania will highlight different examples of how renewable energy has benefitted livelihoods.

Presentation

Speakers

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Surabhi Rajagopal, Senior Program Manager, SELCO foundation. Surabhi has been working with SELCO Foundation since 2011, on aspects of ecosystem building for energy access including financing, skill development and policy, from a Practitioner perspective. Her work includes bottom-up planning, programme design and policy engagement to integrate sustainable energy solutions for livelihood improvements and healthcare delivery, including in humanitarian settings. She has a Masters in Environmental Policy and Regulation from the London School of Economics, UK.

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Alexandre Gachoud (International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC)) has been working for the past 3 years with the ICRC as the Global Cash & Markets advisor with the Economic Security Unit based in Geneva. Before joining the ICRC, Alex has worked with different UN agencies and International NGOs. His current role with the ICRC consists of providing remote and in-country support on market analysis, Cash & Voucher Assistance (CVA), market support interventions and value-chain development in conflict-affected contexts where the ICRC operates. Alex also leads training on market-based programming for the ICRC and the broader Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement.

Vasco Amisi (Resilience Action, Okapi Green), Vasco, a Congolese refugee, spent the most part of life in internal displacement, as well as in refugee camps outside the country, living in Kakuma Refugee Camp, Kenya since 2010. Vasco is co-founder of Resilience Action formerly SAVIC which was founded in 2010 as a self-help group and later became a CBO and is now an NGO that is benefiting thousands of people in Kakuma. Having contributed to the starting of this rapidly growing community-based organization Solidarity & Advocacy in Crisis (SAVIC) has given a great chance to make change happen in the refugee communities in Kakuma. Under Vasco's leadership, cases of adolescent pregnancies have considerably reduced in Kakuma, through various programs initiated at SAVIC, which include the Nuru Vocational Training Center, the Ubuntu Savings & Loans Associations, and Peer Educator's Mentoring initiatives.

Turned entrepreneur, he is currently CEO of Okapi Green, a refugee-owned for-profit enterprise operating in Kakuma Refugee Camp in northern Kenya. Formalized in 2018, Okapi Green works to increase access to quality, affordable, and reliable electricity for the community of Kakuma. They installed a 20 kwp solar mini-grid to supply electricity to 200 small businesses, community centers, and individual households within the camp, supplying electricity to the end users via smart meters. In addition, the project also offer a Wi-Fi mesh network, to help boost productivity of the business being reached.

Emael Mrema is recognized amongst the year 2020 East Africa’s YALI Power Africa's young women leaders in the African energy sector. Emael is a former 2017 Mandela Washington fellow, and currently a member of the African Women Leaders Network (AWLN) Tanzanian chapter, under the Women Peace and Security pillar. Emael has over several years of experience in internal auditing and programme management within Government and non-Government sectors. Emael is a recipient of a 2011 Switzerland Government excellence scholarship for foreign scholars, having completed her Master of Science in Economics, majoring in management from the Universita della Svizzera Italiana in Switzerland. Emael is currently a programme officer with KAKUTE Projects which is a local NGO based in Arusha, Tanzania, that promotes technology innovation and adoption in East Africa. Objectively focusing on innovation knowledge transfer, nurturing local talent and the use of clean renewable energy resources to improve community livelihoods. Emael is passionate about working on projects focusing on improving all lives by supporting the sectors of energy, food, health, and education. She aspires as a Sustainable Development Goal ambassador hence her current interests include Africa’s Agenda 2063 and transforming our world and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. Finally, Emael is a proud mother to 2 young daughters, and she enjoys singing karaoke to refresh herself.

Past Webinars

Further Resources on Humanitarian Energy

Find here some useful resources for further information:

Available resources on energypedia

Global Plan of Action

Mercy Corps

Moving Energy Initiative

Renewable Energy Transition

Grantham Instittute

Blog Articles


Organizers

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