Making Markets Work – Session 3

Making Markets Work | Models for Private Sector Engagement in Humanitarian Energy

Session 3: Collaboration models to develop energy markets: ‘Market-based approaches’ vs ‘Procure and distribute’’

Facilitator

Thomas Fohgrub, Strategic Lead, Global Plan of Action for Sustainable Energy Solutions in Situations of Displacement (GPA) UNITAR Thomas is the Strategic Lead of the Coordination Unit for the Global Plan of Action for Sustainable Energy Solutions in Situations of Displacement. Individual’s experience in the humanitarian/energy sector: Thomas is working on the goal to provide every displaced person access to sustainable energy by 2030 since 2017. Before that, Thomas served in various capacities for the German Government. He holds an MA in European Studies and a PhD in Management Consulting Organization’s experience in the humanitarian/energy sector: The GPA is the central global platform for actions to reach SDG7 in displacement settings and a long-standing partner of the SCC.

Panelists

		H.R.H. Prince Jaime de Bourbon de Parme, Senior Advisor on Private Sector Partnerships, UNHCR HQ H.R.H. Prince Jaime de Bourbon de Parme is Senior Advisor on Private Sector Partnerships to the United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR) with a mission to find private sector solutions that boost the self-reliance of refugees. Jaime develops opportunities for partnerships in livelihoods, water & sanitation, shelter, connectivity, education and access to finance. He currently leads the Clean Energy Challenge to bring renewable energy solutions to refugees, host communities and UNHCR operations. Jaime has an extensive diplomatic career in forging partnerships for innovative solutions to complex global challenges. As the Ambassador of the Netherlands to the Holy See (Vatican, under the leadership of Pope Francis) he partnered on peace negotiations, climate action and forced migration. As Special Envoy for Natural Resources, he initiated the Responsible Mining Index and set up conflict-free supply chains of metals and minerals in the DRC with the private sector and civil society. He was selected to be a member of the Cabinet of the European Commissioner for Competition, worked in the field as Political Advisor to the Dutch Commander of the NATO Peacekeeping Mission in Afghanistan and helped set up the Netherlands Embassy in Iraq. He has held various other roles in MENA, Africa and Latin America. Born in the Netherlands, Jaime holds an MA from Johns Hopkins University Paul H. Nitze School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS) and a BA from Brown University. He is married with two young daughters.
		Efrem Ferrari, Consultant, IFC Efrem is a consultant working at the International Finance Corporation (IFC), World Bank Group. Over the past 4 years, Efrem worked on the Lighting Pakistan & Afghanistan project, an initiative promoting a commercial market for sustainable, accessible and clean off-grid energy lighting products in rural communities in the two countries. In Afghanistan, Efrem led an assessment of the off-grid energy market and provided business development support to private sector firms interested in entering the sector. He also helped designing and implementing consumer awareness campaigns to advocate the use of quality certified products in both countries. Individual’s experience in the humanitarian/energy sector: Efrem led an Energy Access Assessment in Lebanon, targeting Syrian refugees and the host community. The assessment helped shedding the lights on the appetite for solar energy, especially among Syrian and the main barriers that persists to for a wider private sector involvement. Organization’s experience in the humanitarian/energy sector: Lighting Global is the World Bank Group’s initiative to rapidly increase access to off-grid solar energy for the 789 million people living without electricity world-wide. Lighting Global – managed by IFC and the World Bank, with support from the Energy Sector Management Assistant Program (ESMAP) – works with manufacturers, distributors, governments, and other development partners to build and grow the modern off-grid solar energy market. Our programs are funded with support from ESMAP, the Public – Private Infrastructure Advisory Facility (PPIAF), the Netherlands’ Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Italian Ministry for the Environment, Land, and Sea (IMELS), and the IKEA Foundation.
		Cecilia Ragazzi, Senior Advisor Access to Energy Lead, Mercy Corps Cecilia is a Senior Advisor and Access to Energy Lead at Mercy Corps and provides technical assistance on community energy services, private sector partnerships and innovative financing solutions to teams working on Energy Access across Mercy Corps. Prior to joining her current role at Mercy Corps, she project managed a multi-country EU-funded program that focused on women’s economic development through renewable energy - reaching 4,650 small-medium enterprises and 21,000 women. Individual’s experience in the humanitarian/energy sector: Having lived and worked in 20 countries, Cecilia has more than 12-years experience in humanitarian and development contexts, with a focus on social inclusion (energy, financial services, and protection). Cecilia is passionate about the catalytic potential that access to energy offers in terms of increased well-being and she believes in the scaling power of partnerships with the private sector to offer quality products and services. At Mercy Corps, she provides technical support to design and deliver highly impactful programs and is active in the global humanitarian energy community of practice. Organization’s experience in the humanitarian/energy sector: Mercy Corps’ Energy Access portfolio spans over 15 countries, providing clean, affordable and reliable access to energy to the world's most vulnerable communities. Our approach to energy access is rooted in innovative, market-based programming that supports resilient livelihoods. Projects range from last-mile distribution of certified solar and clean cooking products, to energy efficiency, rural electrification, and grid scale productive power projects.