SPECIAL FEATURE SEAR ENERGY ACCESS BUILDING RESILIENCE IN ACUTE AND PROTRACTED CRISES Andreas Thulstrup, and Indira Joshi, FAO b    S TAT E O F E N E R GY ACCES S R EPO RT  |  2 0 1 7 Copyright © 2017 International Bank for Reconstruction and Development / THE WORLD BANK Washington DC 20433 Telephone: +1-202-473-1000 Internet: www.worldbank.org This work is a product of the staff of the World Bank with external contributions. The findings, interpretations, and conclusions expressed in this work do not necessarily reflect the views of The World Bank, its Board of Executive Directors, or the governments they represent. The World Bank does not guarantee the accuracy of the data included in this work and accept no responsibility for any consequence of their use. 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Furthermore, the ESMAP Program Manager would appreciate receiving a copy of the publication that uses this publication for its source sent in care of the address above, or to esmap@worldbank.org Cover photo: © Asian Development Bank (via flickr CC lic) ENERGY ACCESS BUILDING RESILIENCE IN ACUTE AND PROTRACTED CRISES Andreas Thulstrup and Indira Joshi, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations INTRODUCTION A lmost every month, developing countries make reliable and efficient lighting, heating, cooking, mechani- the headlines with stories of food and livelihood cal power, transport, and telecommunications services emergencies, whether driven by natural disasters, (International Energy Agency 2015).1 However, an esti- conflicts, or political instability. Take the following exam- mated 1.3 billion people currently lack access to modern ples involving Sub-Saharan Africa, the Middle East, and energy services (Practical Action 2014) and almost 3 billion Asia, all of which have resulted in calls for emergency people rely on wood, coal, charcoal or animal waste as humanitarian assistance since mid-2015: sources of fuel for cooking and heating (Sustainable Energy for All 2014). In emergency settings, even basic access to • In the Central African Republic (CAR), three years of traditional biomass may be constrained. conflict and ongoing displacements continue to se- A major problem for the international community is that verely constrain people’s access to food as they strug- the importance of providing fuel and appropriate cooking gle with the effects of multiple poor harvests, disrupted technologies in emergency settings is often overlooked or markets, and soaring prices for many staple foods. Half inadequately prioritized by humanitarian and emergency of the population faces hunger. response actors. While food may be provided—for exam- • In southern Africa, still in the grip of an intense ple, through the World Food Programme food basket— drought—driven by one of the strongest El Niño events the means to cook that food is not consistently provided, in the past 50 years—crop and livestock production are and when aid agencies do provide cooking fuel, they often projected to decline sharply, triggering shortages and do not provide enough to cover needs (WFP 2012). price hikes, and threatening the livelihoods of at least The need for energy is highly acute in displacement 2.5 million people. This could undercut recent gains in contexts, especially in developing countries that host reducing malnutrition and leave a greater number of large numbers of refugees or internally displaced per- people vulnerable to food insecurity (especially wom- sons (IDPs)—and the gap between the needs of growing en, children, and HIV-affected people). numbers of IDPs and the resources and political will to meet these needs is increasing (Moving Energy Initiative • In Syria, after six years of war, half of the people that 2015). There are currently 60 million forcibly displaced remain lack enough food to eat and are unable to meet people in the world (19.5 million refugees, 38.2 million their basic food needs. The conflict has decimated the IDPs, and 1.8 million asylum-seekers)—higher than the agriculture sectors, and food prices have soared. combined populations of Australia and Canada. (UNHCR, • In Myanmar, heavy storms, floods, and landslides across 2015). In the CAR alone, over a quarter of the population nearly all provinces have dealt a major blow to the (about 1million people) has been displaced by violence country’s agriculture, severely limiting the availability of (OCHA 2015). food. Rice is the most affected crop, with some parts of The UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) is the country losing entire paddy plantations. And the tackling these challenges by engaging in the Safe Access loss of poultry will especially hurt women, who often to Fuel and Energy (SAFE) Humanitarian Working Group rely on small animals to support their families. —which works to facilitate a more coordinated, predict- able, timely, and effective response to the fuel and energy One thing that all of these emergencies have in common is needs of crisis-affected populations. FAO also implements that they magnify ongoing difficulties in accessing energy, projects that address both the supply and demand for fuel which constitutes a key component of the physical capital in multi-hazard contexts (FAOa 2013).2 The new emphasis required by individuals and households to pursue sustain- is on taking a holistic approach to the multisectoral chal- able livelihoods. Indeed, modern energy services are lenges, which range from natural resources (including for- essential for ensuring the well-being of people, playing a estry and land tenure) and climate change to nutrition, key role in providing clean water, sanitation, health care, gender, protection, and livelihoods.   1  2    S TAT E O F E L E C T RI CI TY ACCES S R EPO RT  |  2 0 1 7 INCREASING RESILIENCE BY IMPROVING tions in a protracted crisis. Large refugee camps in Sub-Sa- ENERGY ACCESS haran Africa in some cases host people for several decades, and challenges of covering fuel and shelter needs have While humanitarian responses have helped to save lives, it had significant implications for the well-being of these dis- is widely acknowledged that they have not done enough placed populations, host communities, and the surround- to enable affected populations to withstand or absorb ing environment. shocks and avert future crises. As a result, there is a grow- The guidelines for responding to fuel needs fall into ing consensus on the importance of building the resilience three main categories (IASC 2009): of people and their livelihoods. For this purpose, the FAO defines resilience as: “The ability to prevent disasters and • Availability of fuel: local materials/biomass for use as crises as well as to anticipate, absorb, accommodate or energy, the environment and climate, and funding recover from them in a timely, efficient and sustainable available for developing local production of fuel-effi- manner. This includes protecting, restoring and improving cient stoves and/or alternative fuels. livelihoods systems in the face of threats that impact agri- • Access to fuel: protection risks associated with the col- culture, nutrition, food security and food safety.” lection of fuel, the state of infrastructure for transport- The FAO’s SAFE work contributes to reducing risks and ing fuel, laws, and regulations pertaining to access to vulnerability at the household and community levels by land and natural resources, and the relationship be- improving access to sustainable energy. This work sup- tween displaced and host communities. ports resilience building by helping to diversify income and energy sources, reduce environmental impacts, and • Use of fuel: cultural considerations regarding fuels and improve food security and nutrition. stoves and health and safety when cooking, and oppor- For the purpose of assessing energy needs and design- tunities for promoting fuel and stove production as a ing appropriate responses, FAO distinguishes between two livelihood activity. types of emergency contexts: acute emergencies and pro- These considerations can be used by humanitarian and tracted crises. However, disasters caused by natural haz- development organizations to support comprehensive and ards—and complex emergencies characterized by out- long-term planning of how to introduce fuels and technol- breaks of violence—can be both acute and protracted, ogies that reduce social and environmental risks while con- often causing the large-scale displacement of people. tributing to building resilient livelihoods. FAO’s work on energy applies to both acute emergency re- sponses and protracted crises, including longer-term Disas- ter Risk Reduction/Disaster Risk Management interventions KEY CHALLENGES RELATED TO ENERGY that facilitate the transition from relief to development. ACCESS IN EMERGENCIES The cross-cutting nature of the energy sector in emergen- Acute emergencies cies (whether protracted or acute) poses a range of chal- Acute emergencies involve rapid onset disasters and lenges—touching on the environment, gender, nutrition, humanitarian contexts that require a quick response to safety, and earning a living. cover the immediate needs of affected people.3 After Typhoon Haiyan made landfall in the Philippines in 2013, a Environmental degradation and depletion of Level 3 Emergency4 was soon declared to respond to the natural resources needs of 14 million people. Fortunately, an effective emer- In the absence of a stable and sustainable supply of energy, gency response surge effort and rapid self-recovery of surrounding forests and tree resources are often used to communities ensured that the duration of the emergency provide the wood needed as fuel for cooking. With the was limited and that households subsequently have been additional pressure stemming from the influx of displaced able to resume livelihood activities. people, the most immediate and lasting impact of fuel In this type of emergency, the collection, production, needs in emergencies is deforestation and forest degrada- and use of biomass cooking fuel create a myriad of risks for tion, as illustrated in Tanzania, Sudan, and Democratic crisis-affected people and their environment (FAOa 2013). Republic of Congo (DRC) (see box). The SAFE guidelines focus mainly on the direct provision In post-emergency contexts, the needs of returnees can of cooking fuels and stoves, taking into account issues like: also have a profound ecological impact. In the Tigray region (i) availability and environmental sustainability of local fuel of northern Ethiopia, the return from Sudan of several hun- sources; (ii) development of alternative fuel sources; (iii) dred thousand refugees since the mid-1990s has resulted in local regulations and laws on using forest resources for fuel the unsustainable exploitation of vegetation for fuel, fod- purposes; (iv) familiarity of users with the fuel provided; der, and building materials (UNHCR 2005). In Kenya, the and (v) presence of a market for fuel sales. towns of Dadaab and Kakuma host large refugee popula- tions (from Somalia, Sudan, and South Sudan), and the Protracted crises added population pressure has resulted in significant envi- Protracted crises are characterised by recurrent natural ronmental degradation around the camps (WFP 2013). disasters and/or conflict, longevity of food crises, break- down of livelihoods, and insufficient institutional capacity Protection risks and women’s work burden to react to the crises. Displaced people and their host Women are often tasked with collecting fuel and cooking. communities often constitute the most vulnerable popula- In protracted crises, this often exposes them to the risk of ENERGY ACCESS: BUILDING RESILIENCE IN ACUT E AND PROT RACT ED C RISE S   3  BOX 1 Conflicts and Deforestation in Sub-Saharan Africa NORTHWESTERN TANZANIA: Following the influx of reliable supply of fuel. Furthermore, fuelwood is used Rwandan refugees in the wake of the Rwandan geno- to fire bricks in inefficient open brick clamps. Brick pro- cide, tree resources in a 5-kilometer radius around ref- duction is a livelihood activity in both IDP and host ugee camps were cut down to satisfy fuel needs. A communities in Darfur (ProAct 2012), and brick pro- year after the arrival of refugees, the average walking duction may use as much as 200 trees per day in some distance to collect fuel was 10 kilometers (Van Dorp IDP camps (Van Dorp 2010). 2010). DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO: A large number of DARFUR, SUDAN: Conflict has been the main driver of refugees from neighboring countries (like Angola, the rapidly increasing demand for fuel as a result of Burundi, and especially Rwanda) entered the country large-scale displacement. An estimated 50 percent of in the immediate aftermath of the Rwandan genocide the population in Darfur, around 3.5 million people, (Van Dorp 2009)—settling in and around the Virunga are directly affected by the conflict through violence, National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage site. Within displacement, and disruption of livelihoods (ProAct two years, 105 kilometers had been deforested as a 2012). Internally displaced persons (IDPs) are forced to result of refugees cutting trees for use as building find fuelwood in areas near camps because humanitar- materials, fuelwood, and large-scale charcoal produc- ian organizations are not providing a consistent and tion (Van Dorp 2009). assault, harassment, and rape as they walk long distances classified as experiencing some level of food insecurity in search of fuelwood. The collection of fuelwood is partic- and is largely dependent on food aid—and the situation ularly dangerous in displacement settings and areas of has only worsened over the past decade. In these situa- scarce or depleted natural resources, given that the tions, the scarcity of fuelwood and other sources of energy increased population pressure may heighten competition can increase the risk of malnutrition. As cooking fuel for resources between displaced and host communities. becomes scarce, households may resort to negative cop- The time women spend collecting fuel also takes time ing mechanisms such as switching to less nutritious food, away from income-generating activities, child care, and lei- undercooking food, or reducing the number and size of sure. Children are also often tasked with collecting fuel for meals. WFP reports that selling or bartering food for fuel is the household, which exposes them to protection risks and a commonly adopted strategy, especially in contexts reduces the time they spend on their education. where food is the main, if not the only, source of income. In a study carried out by the Women’s Refugee Com- These practices hurt the quantity, quality, and nutritional mission (WRC) in South Kivu, DRC, women reported that value of the food consumed. (WFP 2012). either they or women they knew had been raped while collecting fuelwood for cooking. Men who earn income Health and safety risks producing charcoal are also at risk of physical assault and Populations that have been affected by emergencies often kidnapping. In both cases, the perpetrators of these rely on the use of a three stone fire or other forms of open attacks are often members of armed groups who also rely fires to cook their food. Cooking is often carried out in on fuelwood and charcoal as income sources (WRC 2014). crowded and poorly ventilated dwellings, exposing women In the Karamoja region of Uganda, WFP reports that the and other household members to indoor air pollution. The widespread reduction of forest cover is forcing women and indoor burning of biomass fuel releases smoke into the girls to travel increasing distances to collect grass and environment that contains numerous pollutants (including wood for cooking fuel, in turn, creating grave protection carbon monoxide, particulate matter, and other organic risks for women and girls (WFP 2012). compounds) (Barnes 2014). Over 4 million people die each year as a result of inhaling lethal smoke from open fires Malnutrition (Practical Action 2014)—and in emergencies, these health Emergencies often involve the large-scale displacement of risks rise. The use of a three stone fire for cooking also people to places where there are few livelihood opportuni- greatly increases the risk of women and children getting ties. Despite this, displaced populations must ensure that burned, which has been known to cause child mortality. they have enough food to eat—which means that they Following a mission to four refugee camps in Upper often spend all their savings on food or rely on the distribu- Nile State, South Sudan, three agencies—the United tion of food rations. But with few livelihood opportunities Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), United and meager savings, there is little money to spend on Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and Office for cooking fuel. the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA)— In the Karamoja Region of Uganda, where rainfall has reported that nearly all households in these camps were been unreliable, more than 80 percent of the population is using a three stone fire for cooking (UNHCR 2012). FAO 4    S TAT E O F E L E C T RI CI TY ACCES S R EPO RT  |  2 0 1 7 has also carried out rapid fuel needs assessments in pro- tion system. Synergies that exist between renewable tracted crisis settings in Kenya, Somalia, Ethiopia, South energy production processes and the processes involved Sudan, and Myanmar, and the use of the three stone fire in crop and livestock production can also be maximized by was found to be widespread in all of the locations visited. using a variety of agro-industrial technologies—like gasifi- The negative impacts of using this cooking technology cation or anaerobic digestion that recycle or reuse by-prod- were reported by female respondents (which included ref- ucts, and using other residues created during the ugees, IDPs, and host populations). production processes (Bogdanski et al. 2010). Unsustainable livelihoods Addressing energy demand by promoting fuel-saving Vulnerable populations in emergencies and protracted cri- cooking practices and fuel-efficient technologies for ses often rely on the sale of fuelwood and charcoal, which cooking and productive uses. The use of fuel-efficient are risky and unsustainable livelihood activities. Charcoal stoves can save from 10–50 percent of the biomass that production is highly inefficient—as little as 10 percent of would be consumed when using a three stone fire.5 the wood used in traditional charcoal making is actually Fuel-saving cooking techniques include saving on water marketable as charcoal. for boiling, cutting food into smaller pieces before cook- In crisis-affected parts of Somalia, charcoal production ing, pre-soaking beans before cooking, using the fire is the main source of income especially for the poorest and continuously, preventing the loss of steam by using lids, most marginalized parts of the population. In South Sudan, managing the fire, and other simple procedures that can charcoal production is becoming an important livelihood reduce the amount of wood or other biomass needed activity for many people, including ex-combatants, who for cooking. have few other livelihood opportunities to rely upon. An increasingly significant share of this charcoal is exported to Promoting sustainable livelihoods and diversifying live- Sudan, Uganda, and the Middle East (Thulstrup & Henry lihood activities by establishing and sustainably managing 2014). In the Karamoja region in Uganda, women have few woodlots and agro-forestry. FAO has identified a number options other than to collect fuelwood which they can sell of IFESs that can produce food, energy, and marketable to earn income. products for income-generation from the same land or integrated farming system (Bogdanski et al. 2010). Women Disaster risks can also produce fuel-efficient stoves using local materials Many countries face multiple natural and man-made disas- (like mud, ceramic, and metal) that constitute safer and ters, which hurt people, goods, services, and the environ- cleaner alternatives to the three stone fire and can be sold ment. Livelihoods are disrupted and resources for recovery to generate income. (in the short or medium term) are often lacking. In this way, disasters set back developmental efforts. Drought, floods, These three pillars also address the need for Disaster Risk landslides, and fires are some of the major hazards faced Management by ensuring the sustainability of the natural by populations who depend on fuel and energy for cook- resource base. Forests can be used as shelterbelts and ing and productive activities. Drought pushes people into windbreaks, and also play an important role in protecting other areas in search of natural resources, such as wood- against landslides, floods, and avalanches. Trees stabilize fuel, which increases tension between various livelihood riverbanks and mitigate soil erosion, while woodlots pro- groups and can result in conflict and associated violence. vide fuel wood, timber, and fodder. Ensuring that appropri- As woodfuel resources decline as a consequence of ate energy sources and technologies are promoted for droughts, women also have to walk longer distances, in uptake by crisis-affected populations can play a significant even more difficult conditions, to obtain fuelwood. role in managing the environment in support of risk reduc- tion, such as in the productive use of land (like liquid fertil- izer from biogas) and less deforestation from improved or ACTIVITIES AND INTERVENTIONS non woodfuel-based cook stoves (FAO 2013). A multisectoral challenge requires a The following are some country examples of FAO’s multidisciplinary approach work on energy in emergencies. Most of this work is carried FAO—in coordination with many other organizations like out in Sub-Saharan Africa, where large numbers of people WRC, WFP, and UNHCR—is adopting a multi-disciplinary are facing multiple and interlinked stresses and shocks approach to address the multisectoral challenges associ- including drought, conflict, and forced displacement. ated with energy in emergencies. This approach comprises three interlinked pillars: Sudan Rural livelihoods of the majority of the population in Ensuring a sustainable supply of energy by establishing Sudan’s Greater Darfur area remain at risk as a result of the and promoting agro-forestry, which can provide fuel and on-going multifaceted crisis. Coping strategies, particu- food from the same land, communal woodlots and other larly in and around IDP camps, have included activities that modes of reforestation and afforestation, sustainable natu- rely on scare or unsustainable resources such as charcoal ral resource management, use of agricultural residues, and production and firewood and grass collection, further other alternative fuels (like renewables). For example, Inte- exacerbating the deterioration of the natural resource grated Food-Energy Systems (IFES) produce food and base. IDPs are forced to find fuelwood in areas surround- energy on the same land or in the same integrated produc- ing camps due to the fact that humanitarian organizations ENERGY ACCESS: BUILDING RESILIENCE IN ACUT E AND PROT RACT ED C RISE S   5  are not providing a consistent and reliable supply of fuel. ings of the study are now being fed into an FAO SAFE Furthermore, fuelwood is used to fire bricks in inefficient strategy for the ASALs. open brick clamps. Brick production is a livelihood activity Another FAO project in Kakuma links refugees with in both IDP and host communities in Darfur (ProAct 2012), host communities to promote the sustainable production and the production of bricks may use as much as 200 trees of charcoal using improved kilns that use small branches per day in some IDP camps (Van Dorp 2010). and invasive species as a feedstock, resulting in a reduced In response, FAO has been working with UNEP in the impact on the environment since traditional charcoal Greater Darfur Region to help IDPs and conflict-affected making requires the felling of large, indigenous Acacia communities obtain and use fuel wood in a sustainable trees. The sustainably produced charcoal will be sold to and resource-efficient manner. They have distributed camp refugees through a voucher scheme supported by several hundred thousand tree seedlings to over Mastercard. Furthermore, both refugees and host popu- 150,000 households and set up many community for- lations will benefit from locally produced fuel-efficient ests/woodlots. FAO has also trained hundreds of exten- stoves. The project is designed to improve incomes of sion agents, community forest committee members, Turkana residents, reduce social tensions between those and local leaders on seedling production, nursery man- residents and the refugees, and relieve pressure on the agement, and seed broadcasting. And it has supported environment. the production and distribution of 72,900 mud fuel-effi- cient stoves. Challenges encountered during implemen- Somalia tation of these activities, included seasonal factors (such In Somalia, FAO conducted a similar assessment on fuel as a shortage of rainfall and prolonged dry spell that needs, cooking technologies, and related challenges in affected the establishment of newly-planted seedlings), two districts (Hargheisa and Doolow). Focus group discus- and insecurity (which led to limited access to the vulner- sions, Participatory Rural Appraisal (PRA) sessions, and a able populations). comprehensive questionnaire survey were conducted in IDP camps, host communities, and rural villages. The key South Sudan findings and analysis are being fed into a country strategy In Yei County in 2014, not long after South Sudan to be endorsed by relevant stakeholders. This strategy will descended into civil war, the influx of returnees and refu- be multidisciplinary and articulated around a number of gees from the DRC, plus the town’s expansion to the rural interventions to address the cross-sectoral nature of the areas, disrupted the usual pattern of wood fuel collection issue—drawing upon the programmatic and technical from nearby woodlands and limited access to biomass expertise of FAO, in close partnership with other relevant energy. It was soon acknowledged that without addressing actors and stakeholders. access to a secure and efficient source of energy for cook- ing, it would become riskier for women to seek fuel sources Ethiopia and harm the environment. The strongest El Niño weather episode in recent decades In response, FAO introduced fuel-efficient mud stoves has caused repeated crop failure, decimated livestock to reduce the immediate need for firewood and charcoal, herds, and driven some 10.2 million people across Ethio- while decreasing the pace of deforestation and desertifi- pia into food insecurity. Humanitarian needs have tripled cation processes. Furthermore, FAO and its partners since early 2015 as the drought has led to successive crop trained women on how to produce the stoves using failures and widespread livestock. In 2014, FAO and locally available materials and how to set up tree nurser- UNHCR collaborated on an assessment of woodfuel ies and woodlots for multipurpose tree species (which are demand and supply in and around two refugee camps in useful for wood fuel, shade, fodder, windbreaks, and soil Ethiopia, which included the following components: fertility). • A fuel demand assessment focusing on the fuel types, cooking technologies, energy needs, and challenges Kenya inside the camps. Conflict over natural resources in the Arid and Semi-Arid Lands (ASALs) in Kenya is exacerbated by the demand • A woodfuel supply assessment, using both onsite sur- for woodfuel and the increasing reliance on traditional veys and satellite imagery analysis of the distribution of charcoal production as an income-generating activity, woodfuel resources, estimations of stocks, and stock exposing women who collect fuelwood to a number of changes. risks. FAO carried out a study in 2015 on the fuel and • Integration of the supply and demand to identify defi- energy-related challenges faced by women in the cits and appropriate interventions to address fuel sup- ASALs—with the focus on refugee and host population ply and demand management. contexts in Kakuma, Turkana County, as well as rural and urban settings in Samburu, Kitui, Meru, and Marsabit The results of the assessment highlighted the need for Counties. The study showed that there are significant FAO to develop global products on SAFE. Currently, FAO links between forest degradation and the need for cook- is finalizing a manual for assessing woodfuel demand and ing fuel in ASAL counties of Kenya and highlighted the supply in displacement contexts and an excel-based tool many risks and challenges faced by people in these for planning supply and demand interventions in and areas, particularly women who are exposed to the risk of around camps. assault and rape when they collect fuelwood. The find- 6    S TAT E O F E L E C T RI CI TY ACCES S R EPO RT  |  2 0 1 7 FUTURE PROSPECTS AND depend on the scarce natural resources found in areas sur- RECOMMENDATIONS rounding the camps. The influx of displaced populations and their fuel needs are thus often a source of tension and FAO and its partners will continue to scale up and pursue conflict that increases the risk of women being harassed, efforts related to providing sustainable and renewable assaulted, and raped while searching for fuelwood. energy for conflict-affected households in a holistic way. FAO views energy access as instrumental for contrib- With the recognition that access, production, and use of uting to peace-building efforts, because it can lower the energy poses an increasing number of challenges and risks risk of potential conflict between communities (for exam- for crisis-affected households, especially women, FAO is ple, IDPs/refugees and host communities or pastoralists ensuring that energy access dimensions are more system- and farmers) who compete for scarce natural resources atically mainstreamed in its resilience work. (like woodfuel). The following are some broad areas of engagement that FAO will pursue in continuation of its work on energy Guidance. To ensure technical standards are met and con- in emergencies: sistency, it is important to develop guidance material par- ticularly for field-based actors. Through the global Food Engaging in strategic partnerships and coordination. It Security Cluster, FAO and WFP have developed material will be increasingly important to foster effective and mean- on the key minimum steps, responsible entities, and ingful partnerships and modes of collaboration to ensure further tools and resources for integrating energy in pre- coordinated and timely response and avoid duplication of paredness, needs assessments, strategic planning, re- efforts. Therefore, FAO will continue to work with its tradi- sponse implementation, resource mobilization, monitoring tional partners such as UNHCR and WFP, nongovernmen- and evaluation, and inter-cluster coordination. tal organizations, and local governments to harmonize Given the cross-cutting nature of energy, future guid- approaches and ensure synergies. Efforts will also be made ance material needs to be embedded in key frameworks to explore the scope for partnership with the private sector and initiatives. Recently, the Committee on World Food and academia. Security endorsed a Framework for Action for Food Secu- The SAFE Humanitarian Working Group provides an rity and Nutrition in Protracted Crises (FFA). This global ideal forum for enhanced coordination, good practice policy framework speaks to the promotion of coherent and exchange, and joint advocacy for doing a better job of well-coordinated humanitarian and development pro- including energy access in emergency planning. graming. Its goal is to address immediate needs and build Toward innovation. FAO and other key actors will resilient communities, while adapting to specific chal- need to keep abreast of the latest developments in new lenges and contributing to resolving underlying causes of technologies and approaches in the energy and related food insecurity and malnutrition. Energy is a key compo- sectors, while pursuing innovative partnerships. UNHCR nent of this work, which has prompted FAO to develop and the IKEA Foundation are partnering to provide energy FFA guidance material specifically on energy. (in addition to shelter, care, and education) to refugee and host communities—and since 2010, the IKEA Foundation Ensuring accountability. Accountability to Affected Popu- has committed more than $166 million in both cash and lations (AAP), a people-centered approach, puts the dig- in-kind donations to UNHCR’s programs. The partnership nity of all human beings affected by disaster and conflict at shows how global companies can provide solutions that the forefront and is at the core of FAO’s humanitarian and really work, helping the UN respond to emergencies, iden- development interventions. In the design and implemen- tify and scale new ideas, and create more opportunities for tation of FAO’s SAFE activities, attention will continue to refugees to lead dignified lives . focus on the varying needs of different groups in a commu- In terms of innovative approaches and technologies, nity, including the most vulnerable. Furthermore, the FAO is seeking to broaden its focus from energy for cook- importance of participation and equal access to assistance ing to energy for productive activities. This may include the by women, men, girls, and boys is a crucial aspect of FAO’s promotion of new energy efficient technologies for AAP approach. post-harvest processing and storage (such as solar dryers In embedding good accountability principles in its and better fish smoking technologies). SAFE activities, FAO seeks to achieve greater transpar- ency, two-way communication, and better information pro- Research for catalyzing action. To better understand the vision for affected communities. This will involve setting up cross-cutting nature of energy in acute emergencies and mechanisms that promote and facilitate responses and protracted crises (and to tailor interventions accordingly), feedback from affected populations. more money needs to be invested in research. A top prior- ity is the nexus between energy, conflict, and food security, with a specific focus on peace building and human secu- CONCLUSION rity. The collection, production, and use of traditional bio- In sum, the importance of providing fuel and appropriate mass as a fuel for cooking and heating is associated with a cooking technologies in emergency settings is too often myriad of risks and challenges—including conflict and ten- overlooked or inadequately prioritized by humanitarian sion between different social groups. Displacement camps and emergency response actors—meaning that the inter- are frequently established in fragile, sparsely forested eco- national community needs to get more involved. FAO systems in which both host and displaced populations together with its partners has embarked on SAFE work ENERGY ACCESS: BUILDING RESILIENCE IN ACUT E AND PROT RACT ED C RISE S   7  that revolves around reducing risks and vulnerability at ing energy demand, promoting sustainable livelihoods, the household and community levels by improving access and diversifying livelihood activities. to sustainable energy. This work supports resilience build- In terms of next steps, FAO and its partners will focus ing by helping to diversify income and energy sources, on scaling up efforts to both provide sustainable and reduce environmental impacts, and improve food secu- renewable energy for conflict-affected households in a rity and nutrition. holistic way and ensure that energy access dimensions The good news is that FAO’s work on energy in emer- are more systematically mainstreamed in resilience work. gencies at the field level—mainly in Sub-Saharan Africa, It will also continue to engage in strategic partnerships where large numbers of people are facing multiple and (both traditional and non-traditional) and keep abreast of interlinked stresses and shocks (including drought, conflict, the latest developments in new technologies and and forced displacement)—is showing promising results. A approaches in the energy and related sectors—the goal multidisciplinary approach is being applied, articulated being to ensure maximum effectiveness and impact for around ensuring a sustainable supply of energy, address- the affected communities. NOTES 1. The Global Bioenergy Partnership defines modern energy services as the “availability for the end user of: electricity for lighting, communica- tion, health care, education and other uses; modern fuels or technologies for cooking, heating and cooling; mechanical power for productive use (e.g. irrigation, agricultural processing), provided through electricity or modern fuels, or directly through renewable sources such as hydropower; and transport, provided through electricity or modern fuels” (Global Bioenergy Partnership 2011). 2. The SAFE Humanitarian Working group (http://www.safefuelandenergy.org/about/steering-committee.cfm) has evolved from the Safe Access to Firewood and alternative Energy Task Force under the Inter-Agency Standing Committee, which was in existence from 2007-2009. The SAFE Humanitarian Working Group is currently seeking formalization as a Reference Group under the IASC. It includes FAO, WFP, UNHCR, Women’s Refugee Commission (WRC), and the Global Alliance for Clean Cookstoves as key members, among others. 3. UNHCR (2007) defines an acute emergency as “any situation in which the life or well-being of refugees and people of concern to UNHCR, will be threatened unless immediate and appropriate action is taken, and which demands an extraordinary response and exceptional measures.” 4. The Inter-Agency Standing Committee (IASC) defines a Level 3 Emergency as a major sudden-onset humanitarian crisis triggered by natural disasters or conflict that requires systemwide mobilization. 5. https://energypedia.info/wiki/Improved_Cookstoves_%E2%80%93_What_is_it_all_about%3F 6. http://www.unhcr.org/pages/52a5c44f6.html 8    S TAT E O F E L E C T RI CI TY ACCES S R EPO RT  |  2 0 1 7 REFERENCES Barnes, B. (2014) Behavioral Change, Indoor Air Pollution and Practical Action (2014) Poor people’s energy outlook 2014: Child Respiratory Health in Developing Countries: A Key messages on energy for poverty alleviation, Rugby, Review. International Journal of Environmental Research UK: Practical Action Publishing. and Public Health. 11, 4607-4618. SE4ALL 2014: http://www.se4all.org/wp-content/ Bogdanski, A., Dubois, O., Jaimieson, C., & Krell, R. 2010. uploads/2014/12/fp_se4all_overview.pdf Making Integrated Food-Energy Systems work for People Thulstrup, A., & Henry, W. J. (2015). 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FAO. operations: policies and best practice. Issue 59: energy in Rome. conflict and emergency relief. Hedon. Harmer, A. & Macrae, J. eds. (2004). Beyond the continuum: Women’s Refugee Commission. (2014). Safe Access to Fuel aid policy in protracted crises. HPG Report 18, p. 1. and Energy: Rapid Assessment Report for Ruzizi DRC. London, Overseas Development Institute. Women’s Refugee Commission. New York. Moving Energy Initiative. (2015). Heat, Light and Power for World Food Programme. (2012). Safe Access to Firewood Refugees Saving Lives, Reducing Costs. Chatham House. and alternative Energy Workshop, 20-21 September London. 2012. WFP. Rome. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs. (2015). World Food Programme. (2013). WFP SAFE Project in Kenya: Global humanitarian overview. Appeal coordination and project summary report. WFP. Rome. analysis section, programme support branch. OCHA. SPECIAL FEATURES To download the State of Electricity Access Report, overview, and Special Features, visit: http://esmap.org/SEAR