Webinar Series: Sustainable Energy in Humanitarian Settings
Webinar Series: Sustainable Energy in Humanitarian Settings - Knowledge and Solutions from and for the Field - |
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.
List of past Webinars
- Webinar on Landscaping : Capacity Building and Knowledge Sharing Opportunities
- Webinar on Productive Uses of Energy in Humanitarian Contexts
- Webinar on Powering Possibilities : Lessons Learned from Mini-grid Application in Conflict and Fragile Contexts
- Webinar on Powering WASH : Renewable Energy for Water Supply in Humanitarian Settings
- Webinar on Powering Humanitarian Health Operations : Sustainable Energy Solutions
- Webinar on Energy Efficiency and Designing for Sustainability in Humanitarian Response
- Webinar on Powering Humanitarian Facilities : Dialogue on Implementation Models
- Webinar on Sustainable Energy for Household Cooking Needs in Humanitarian Settings
Nov 2019
Sustainable Energy for Powering Household and Community Lighting Needs in Humanitarian Settings
Webinar recording
Which quality solar products for household use are on the market? How can humanitarian actors assess which lighting solutions are needed for households and communities in their intervention? Presentations by Lighting Global and Oxfam will shed a light on these questions. In two case studies, Practical Action and Mercy Corps will share their experience from a community needs assessment in Rwanda, and from delivering quality solar products via distribution and market based approaches in Afghanistan.
Presentation
Speakers
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Nicole S. Bouris, Lighting Global Nicole S. Bouris is part of Lighting Global (IFC) business development team. As part of her job she also leads the program’s workstream in displacement settings. She has developed the program’s strategy on how to engage in such situations, worked on an assessment of the energy situation of Syrian refugees in Lebanon, contributed to IFC’s strategy on forced displacement, and with Chris she assists humanitarian agencies on their energy programs. Before joining IFC, Nicole worked for Trine in Kenya, UNICEF in Lebanon and co-founded a startup in Milan. | |
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Christopher Carlsen, Lighting Global Christopher Carlsen leads policy support activities for the Lighting Global Quality Assurance Program. In his current role, Christopher engages with national governments, regional bodies, development partners and the private sector to bolster an internationally harmonized quality assurance framework for off-grid energy systems. Since joining the Quality Assurance team in 2009, Christopher has implemented a breadth of activities, including product testing, field and lab research, policy development, and direct support for a diverse set of stakeholders, including the humanitarian aid sector. | |
Rachel Hastie, Oxfam
Rachel has worked for Oxfam GB for more than 16 years in field and headquarter posts implementing and supporting humanitarian programmes. Since 2016 she has been the Protection Team Leader for the Global Humanitarian Team. | ||
Cecilia Ragazzi, Mercy Corps
Cecilia has a 10-year experience in the humanitarian and development sector covering advisory, management and consulting positions in diverse cultural and geographical contexts, including Bangladesh, Haiti, Afghanistan, Libya, Jordan, Philippines, Democratic Republic of Congo, Niger, Nepal, Indonesia, Senegal, and Mali. She started nurturing her interest in women economic empowerment through renewable energy managing a multi-country and multi-partner EC program in the Sahel region (Mali, Senegal and Niger). Cecilia is part of Mercy Corps’ Technical Support Unit Environment Team as Senior Advisor for Humanitarian Partnerships on Energy Access. She is based in Mercy Corps’ Edinburgh office and she supports country teams in humanitarian settings across the world. | ||
Philip Sandwell, Practical Action Dr Philip Sandwell is a Research Associate at Practical Action and Imperial College London where he researches the implementation of energy projects in developing countries and humanitarian settings. For the past two years he has worked on the Renewable Energy for Refugees Project, a partnership between Practical Action and UNHCR, which provides sustainable energy solutions to three refugee camps in Rwanda and in urban settings in Jordan. He holds a PhD in Physics from Imperial College London, which focused on techno-economic modelling of minigrids, and a master's degree in Theoretical Physics. | ||
Baryalai Sadiqi, Mercy Corp Baryalai Sadiqi holds a Bachelor's Degree in Civil Engineering from University of Pune, India on Environmental Engineering. He has been working with Mercy Corps in its native Afghanistan for more than 7 years, contributing to the set-up of the Renewable Energy Department. He is specialized in solar PV systems, including design, implementation, supervision, and management. Presently, he is Program Manager for the expanding Renewable Energy portfolio for Mercy Corps Afghanistan. |
Resources
- The State of Sustainable Household Energy Access in Refugee Settings in Uganda: Survey Findings in Rhino Camp Settlement and Imvepi Settlement, Arua District, West Nile Region (EnDev 2019)
- Market Analysis: Energy Access for Syrian Refugees in Lebanon (Lighting Global): This report examines the current solar energy sector in a few select refugee settlements in Lebanon and offers a few insights into the potential market for solar lighting products.
- Procurement of Stand-alone Solar Kits for Humanitarian Aid (Lighting Global):This Technical Note provides guidance on procuring pico-solar and solar home system (SHS) kits for humanitarian aid. It presents the relevance of the Lighting Global Quality Standards, key procurement considerations, and a step-by-step procurement guide
- Solar Home System Kit Quality Standards (Lighting Global): This document describes the Quality Standards for Solar Home System Kits, which set a baseline level of quality, durability, and truth in advertising to protect consumers. Kits covered by these Standards must have a peak power of 350 W or less and a DC voltage of 35 V or less.
- Pico-PV Quality Standards (Lighting Global): These Standards apply to products with power up to and including 10 W.
- Quality Matters (Lighting Global): In 2017, Lighting Global tested 17 top-selling, non-quality verified solar products from retail stores in Ethiopia, Kenya, Myanmar, Nigeria, and Tanzania.
- Benefits of Harmonizing Test Methods and Quality Standards (Lighting Global): This Technical Note explains the importance and benefits of an internationally harmonized quality assurance framework for small scale solar photovoltaic (pico-PV) products. Benefits are outlined for specific stakeholder groups, and a summary of the Lighting Global Quality Assurance (QA).
- Shining a Light: How lighting in or around sanitation facilities affects the risk of gender-based violence in camps. Oxfam & WECD (2018)
Sep 2019
Sustainable Energy for Essential Humanitarian Services: Outline of Energy Solutions and a Case Study on Solar Pumping
Webinar recording
How is the corporate sector partnering with humanitarian organizations to provide energy for essential services, such as water, health, and education? This webinar – the second in the series – will present examples from companies such as Grundfos and Schneider Electric. It will also include an in-depth case study from ICRC on how solar pumping has benefited the community in Arsal, Lebanon.
Presentation
Speakers
Olivier Jacquet, Schneider Electric
Olivier Jacquet studied electrical engineering at University College, London UK, and at the French High School Centrale-Supélec. After he graduated his MSc, he also studied his MBA at College des Ingénieurs in Paris, France. Since 1998, Olivier hold various positions at Schneider Electric in solution sales, manufacturing, and entered general management roles since 2004, as Factory Manager in Western France, then as Zone Manager in Vietnam Philippines and Cambodia, and lately Senior Vice President for international projects in EMEA region. | ||
Christian Lenz, International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC)
Christian holds a Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering from ETH in Zurich, Switzerland and is currently an EMBA candidate at Politecnico di Milano, Italy. After graduating from ETH, he co-founded a startup in the field of electro-acoustic solutions for concert venues, gaining on eight years of experience as a live sound engineer. Since 2016 he is part of the ICRC engineering team having worked in Iraq, Yemen and currently in Lebanon. As Deputy Water and Habitat Coordinator, he supervises all projects related to access to essential services (water, wastewater, power supply, healthcare provision, education) for refugees and resident communities. | ||
Geraldine Tsui Yee Lin, Grundfos Holding A/S
Geraldine has worked as Global product manager in Grundfos for 10 years, based in Denmark, and has been involved in the Solar Water solution almost ever since joined Grundfos. Throughout the last decade, Geraldine has been responsible for solar program management, product development as well as global solar market development with extensive cooperation with aid-organizations, private and public sectors. Before her employment in Grundfos, Geraldine has an engineering degree in Mechanical Engineering with a focus on Material Science. Followed her education, she worked in the semiconductor development in Hong Kong for 8 years. | ||
Morten Riis, Grundfos Holding A/S
For more than 25 years, Morten Riis has worked in the field of technology & engineering, i.e. working with advanced systems - in the recent years focused on both energy and water – and in this respect participated in addressing the challenges on both globally. Morten is board member at the green think tank, Concito, at the Danish Water Forum ao. Previously, he has previously likewise served as member of the advisory board of the China Europe Water Platform (Integrated Urban Water Management) as well as member of the Steering Board at 2030 Water Resources Group. Before joining Grundfos, he served in other global companies such as ABB and Oracle. Morten has a background with degrees in engineering as well as Business Economics besides diplomas in journalism, process consulting and management. |
Resources
- MiniGuide - Solar Water pumping
- RWSN (Rural Water Supply Network)
- Borno State Global Solar and Water assessment
- HELPDESK: solarquery@iom.int
- Webinar - Taking stock of solar pumping for domestic water supply – Operation & maintenance
June 2019
State of Play: Sustainable Energy in Humanitarian Settings
Webinar Recording
Presentation
Speakers
Marco Albertini, International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC)
With a background in Environmental Engineering and Business Administration, Marco has 15 years of international experience in team coordination and project management in the fields of water and power supply and rehabilitation of infrastructures for essential services. | ||
Raffaella Bellanca, World Food Programme
Raffaella, Energy for Food Security coordinator at WFP, is an Access to Energy specialist focused on energy delivery models and the development of sustainable value chains that meet households, institutional, commercial and humanitarian needs for cooking, lighting, cooling and productive uses. | ||
Francois Delfosse, Doctors Without Borders / Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF)
Holding a Master Degree in Geopolitics and a diploma of humanitarian applied logistic, François Delfosse has been working in the humanitarian sector for the past 21 years, including more than 11 years in the field. Currently Project manager, is developing a comprehensive and transversal Environmental Roadmap for MSF Operational Center Geneva, aiming at promoting and implementing environmental best practices, encompassing OCG environmental footprint and setting the frame to better understand the impact of climate change on populations’ needs and therefore reflect on our operational approach. | ||
Florent Eveillé, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO)
Florent Eveillé coordinates the Safe Access to Fuel and Energy approach within and outside of FAO. Before ensuring this role, he worked for the FAO Office in West Bank & Gaza Strip. With a background in Natural Resources Management and Economics, Florent has covered different roles in the field of resilience, nature conservation, renewable energy and waste management in Central African Republic, France, Jordan, Lebanon and at EU level. | ||
Thomas Fohgrub, United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR)
Thomas is the head of the Coordination Unit for the Global Plan of Action for Sustainable Energy Solutions in Situations of Displacement, which is hosted at the United Nations Institute for Training and Research and is steered by 13 key organizations from humanitarian aid and development assistance. He is working within UNITAR at this topic since two years. Before that, Thomas was for more than 4 years the focal point for trade and development, economic cooperation and sustainable energy at the German Mission to the UN in Geneva and served in other capacities for the German Ministries of Energy and Social Affairs before. He holds an MA in European Studies and a PhD in Management Consulting. | ||
Sergio Gelli, International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC)
Sergio Gelli works for the International Committee of the Red Cross- ICRC, as the Energy Initiatives Senior Advisor to the Board of Directors. | ||
Owen Grafham, Chatham House
Owen Grafham joined Chatham House in May 2014. During his time in the Energy, Environment and Resources department, he has managed Chatham House's research and outreach on energy for displaced populations and the institute's work on energy-use inside the humanitarian system. | ||
Eva Mach, International Organization for Migration (IOM)
Eva Mach works as Environmental Sustainability Programme Officer at the Headquarters of the International Organization for Migration – the UN Migration Agency (IOM). In this capacity, she manages IOM’s institutional Environmental Sustainability Programme which aims to connect environmental sustainability principles and practices with migration governance and management with a special focus on the clean energy transition and environmental management systems. She also contributes to IOM’s global policy work on water and energy related topics. | ||
Madeleine Marara, Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR)
Madeleine Marara, who has more than 10 years of mix-experience in the humanitarian, development and academic sectors, currently works at the Headquarters of the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR), as an associate project officer, within the Energy and Environment Unit. Prior to joining UNHCR headquarters, she has worked in the field with UNHCR Rwanda Operation, where she developed the country SAFE (Safe Access to fuel and Energy) Strategy and managed its implementation. Her other work experience include work in the development sector, mainly in WASH, Environment and sustainable energy solutions in remote areas. Miss. Marara holds a BSc. Degree in civil engineering from KIST, Kigali - Rwanda and a MSc. degree In Environmental Sciences from IHE, Delft-The Netherlands. |
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Further Resources on Humanitarian Energy
Find here some useful resources for further information:
Available resources on energypedia
Global Plan of Action
- Global Plan of Action - Framework for Action
- Global Plan of Action - Unitar website
- Identification And Analysis Of Standard Clauses Of PPA And Leasing Agreements For Energy Provision In The Humanitarian Sector
- Feasibility and Applicability of a Global Guarantee Mechanism in Humanitarian Energy Contracts
- SAFE Workshop 2019 - Final Report
- Humanitarian Energy Conference 2019 - Final Report
- Renewable Electrification of Refugee Camps – Phase 1
Mercy Corps
Moving Energy Initiative
- The Costs of Fuelling Humanitarian Aid (2018)
- The Solar Energy Handbook - A guide to institutional solar for organizations working in humanitarian settings
- Private-Sector Engagement - The Key to Efficient, Effective Energy Access for Refugees. Toolkit (2016)
- Heat, Light and Power for Refugees Saving Lives, Reducing Costs (2015)
- Prices, Products and Priorities - Meeting Refugees’ Energy Needs in Burkina Faso and Kenya (2018)
Renewable Energy Transition
- McKinsey (2019): Energy Perspective 2019: Reference Case
- World Economic Forum (2019): Fostering Effective Energy Transition 2019
- World Economic Forum Website: Shaping the Future of Energy
Grantham Instittute
Blog Articles
- Rachel Kyte: https://www.seforall.org/news/on-world-humanitarian-day-its-time-we-finally-talk-about-energy-access
- Vijay Bhopal and Sandy Robinson: Is Sustainable Attainable?
Organizers