Events

Invitation to UNHCR Energy Strategy Introduction Event

Safe Access to Fuel and Energy (SAFE) is a global inter-agency initiative focused on supporting sustainable and safe access to appropriate energy for cooking, lighting and powering for affected populations in humanitarian contexts. The collection, supply, and use of biomass fuel, mainly firewood and charcoal, in emergencies create myriads of risks for crisis-affected people and their environment. These risks also occur in protracted situations where displaced persons rely on biomass fuel to cook their meals or for light and heat at night. Such risks include sexual and gender-based violence or assault during firewood collection, loss of livelihood and education opportunities, environmental degradation, and respiratory illnesses caused by household air pollution. The approaches and interventions to address these issues require greater attention and a multi-sectoral approach from the humanitarian community.
 
To better address the risks associated with limited energy access, UNHCR recently launched its first Global Strategy for Safe Access to Fuel and Energy (2014-2018). To achieve its objectives, the Strategy seeks to employ an integrated approach to energy in humanitarian settings, noting its links with sectors such as protection, education, livelihoods, nutrition, health, and environment. With an emphasis on working closely with partners and refugee and host communities, the Strategy aims to enable refugees to satisfy their energy needs in a safe and sustainable manner, without fear or risk to their health, well-being, and personal security.
 
About the Partners:
 
Established in December 1950, the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees is mandated to lead and coordinate international action to protect and assist refugees and other persons of concern. Its primary purpose is to safeguard the rights and well-being of refugees. It strives to ensure that everyone can exercise the right to seek asylum and safe refuge in another State, with the option to return home voluntarily, integrate locally or to resettle in a third country. It also has a mandate to help stateless people. For more information, please visit www.unhcr.org.
 
The United Nations Foundation builds public-private partnerships to address the world’s most pressing problems, and broadens support for the United Nations through advocacy and public outreach. Through innovative campaigns and initiatives, the Foundation connects people, ideas, and resources to help the UN solve global problems. The Foundation was created in 1998 as a U.S. public charity by entrepreneur and philanthropist Ted Turner and now is supported by global corporations, foundations, governments, and individuals. For more information, visit www.unfoundation.org.
 
The Global Alliance for Clean Cookstoves is a public-private partnership to save lives, empower women and improve livelihoods by creating a thriving global market for clean and efficient household cooking solutions. Today a staggering 4 million people around the world die annually from exposure to smoke from cookstoves.  Women and children are disproportionately impacted. The Alliance’s ‘100 by 20’ goal calls for 100 million homes to adopt clean and efficient stoves and fuels by 2020. The Alliance works with public, private, and non-profit partners to help overcome the market barriers that currently impede the production, deployment, and use of clean cookstoves in the developing world.  For more information on the Alliance, please visit www.cleancookstoves.org.