Energizing the most vulnerable: a briefing session on energy in displacement settings and launch of the Implementer-network

Date and Time: 28 April 2021; 11:00-12:00 CEST

Abstract

People who flee conflict often find refuge in densely populated and ecologically fragile environments that already experience the adverse effects of climate change. Most environmental impacts that occur in refugee hosting areas happen at the onset of an emergency and because of unmet energy demands. Today, 90 per cent of the forcibly displaced people living in rural settlements have limited access to energy in their homes. Sustainable and clean energy can provide significant benefits associated with protection, gender equality, food security, water, sanitation, health, education, livelihoods, connectivity, and environmental protection. Therefore, clean energy is a critical means of achieving the protection and wellbeing of forcibly displaced populations, as well as a key factor in creating more sustainable and inclusive communities and mitigating climate change impact.

The Global Platform for Action on Sustainable Energy in Displacement Settings (GPA) is the global hub, led by humanitarian and development actors, to promote and deliver actions towards achieving sustainable energy access in displacement settings. Two years after the establishment of the GPA, this session will be used to:

• Take stock and provide an update on why energy is important
• Present some best practice examples and recent research on how energy access bridges short-term humanitarian response and long-term development
• Outline opportunities for collaboration and capacity development to improve energy access for displaced and host communities.

The session will also be used to launch the GPA Implementers Network, which is a collective of field-based practitioners from humanitarian and development agencies who are involved or interested in sustainable energy projects or initiatives at the country or regional level. The network builds on the SAFE Working Group and it is most relevant in countries where there is no existing coordination mechanism among the humanitarian partners who are engaged in the renewable energy sector.

The audience is invited to participate and engage through questions/comments and will have opportunity to present their organization to the humanitarian energy community. The session will conclude with the launch of the revamped Humanitarian Energy website.

 

Targeted Audience

Anyone interested in humanitarian energy or energy in displacement settings, especially anyone working within the areas of SDG3, SDG7, SDG13, SDG15, SDG17

 

Expected outcomes

• Increased knowledge of the coordination mechanism for energy in displacement settings
• Expanded network and established contacts with the organizations working in energy for refugees.
• Attract support for energy interventions through increased partnership and engagement.

This session contributes to the goals and vision of the GPA Framework, aiming to achieve universal sustainable energy access for displaced people and their host communities by 2030. The GPA is a multi-stakeholder platform for actions to systematically improve sustainable energy access in displacement settings.