ESDS Cross-Cutting Topics (Policy)
Policy
The Energy Solution for Displacement Setting (ESDS) project supports the policy development and stakeholder engagement in Uganda, Kenya, and Ethiopia at the national and regional levels. The focus is on creating framework conditions that encourage the self-reliance of the communities' energy supply by facilitating local market structures. In this regard, ESDS has provided advisory services and played an active role in the launch of the Sustainable Energy Response Plan (SERP) within Uganda's Ministry of Energy and Mineral Development (MEMD). In Ethiopia, the project successfully supported the development of the Multi actor’ Cooking Energy Strategy (MCES). In Kenya, ESDS has been working with Turkana County Government (TCG) to finalize the draft Turkana County Energy Plan and energy bill as provisioned by the Kenya Energy Act of 2019, which to accelerate energy access for both refugees and the host community members of Turkana County. Furthermore, stakeholder engagement workshops have been held in all three countries, facilitating information exchange and collaboration among all parties involved. The project organized a Webinar on Role of Energy Policies in Shaping Energy Access Dialogue in Displacement Contexts on Nov. 16, 2022, to share its experience working with policy makers in Uganda, Kenya and Ethiopia in promoting access to energy in displacement contexts. Policymakers from the three countries shared their journey to draft relevant policies that integrate the energy needs of refugees and nearby host communities.
The involvement of ESDS has also brought benefits to government partners by enhancing coordination among various stakeholders and providing additional entry points for other projects and organizations to engage in the field. The implementing partners (IP) of ESDS have also reaped the rewards of this collaborative approach. There has been an evident improvement in information exchange and coordination among governmental and non-governmental stakeholders. Moreover, there is now a renewed focus on displacement settings, highlighting the importance of addressing energy needs in these contexts.
