Publication - Finding the Uncomfortable Solution: Responsible Innovation in Humanitarian Energy

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Title

Finding the Uncomfortable Solution: Responsible Innovation in Humanitarian Energy

Publisher

Humanitarian Engineering and Energy for Displacement (HEED) Project, Coventry University

Author

Robinson, L., Halford, A., and Gaura, E.

Published in

November 2021

Abstract

In response to the increasing number of displaced people, the humanitarian sector is exploring innovation as a framework to improve the delivery of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Traditionally, the focus on camp settings and short term solutions have resulted in a humanitarian response that is slow to adapt to the rapidity of technological innovation. For example, 87.8% of African’s in Sub-Saharan Africa have a mobile phone, yet 80% of displaced people living in camps in this same region still cook over open fires which are linked to long term health and environmental effects. As a result of the lessons learned from the Humanitarian Engineering and Energy for Displacement (HEED) project around the different perceptions of innovation between key energy stakeholders, this paper looks to engage with questions around ensuring innovation in the humanitarian sector, and more specifically humanitarian energy, is responsible. How can we define responsible? Is responsible innovation a theoretical nicety or can it ensure a just energy transition as outlined by the SDGs? What does responsible innovation look like in reality? Building to our underlying research question: what is the state-of-the-art in responsible innovation for humanitarian energy and how is it implemented at project level?

URL

link to the document

Admin:

• Energy Access

• Humanitarian Energy

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• Policies and Regulations