In region Global and in group Global Shelter Cluster

Working Group on NFI practices

Subscribe to notifications about this working group by creating an account or logging in (recommended).

Dashboard
Pages
Useful Links

GSC Meeting Open Session on Energy Summary of Session

Recording of the Session

Summary of the Session

Energy has many entry points in shelter and settlement operations. How and what types of energy are provided can have a significant impact on health, the environment, the economy, social conditions and conflict within and outside a settlement. Energy in humanitarian settlements also has a significant gender component, which can be missed in initial planning for humanitarian shelter and settlements. 

While different aspects of energy in humanitarian shelter and settlement operations has received increased attention, the Environment Community of Practice felt it would be useful to bring together, briefly, the range of humanitarian stakeholders involved to share what is known and identify where further concerted efforts are needed.

  1. There are several initiatives which would complement the areas of work that the Shelter Cluster is doing in the field level: 

    1. UNEP/OCHA Joint Environment Unit: https://ehaconnect.org/clusters/shelter-and-settlements/ 

    2. Study of air quality in shelters impacted by cooking fuel primarily: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0360132320306302

    3. SAFE Fuel and Energy- changed leadership recently but this group is still active and could be an area for future collaboration: https://www.safefuelandenergy.org/about/index.cfm Please contact: Dean Cooper <Dean.Cooper@practicalaction.org.uk>

    4. London School of Economics will be partnering with UNEP/OCHA Joint Environment Unit on the linkages between Protection and Energy/Environment. For more information, please contact: Emilia Wahlstrom wahlstrom@un.org

    5. Energy is mentioned 71 times in Shelter Projects Case Studies, but there is probably more work to be done in doing case studies on energy. 

  2. Recommendations from the participants in terms of what the Shelter Cluster’s relationship with energy should be: 

    1. Shelter Cluster should focus on cooking stoves and the use of solar energy. NRC is working on some projects in Bangladesh. GSC team offered to put NRC into contact with Venezuela Shelter Cluster Colleagues. 

    2. From the perspective of Shelter Cluster Coordinators, it would be good to have guidelines in place on definitions of ventilation and applications of energy in shelter responses similar to Global Guidance that was produced on tarpaulins.

    3. The definition of durability differs in many Shelter Cluster responses, so it would also be good to look into what that means in different responses according to different energy solutions: LPG, biodegesters, etc. Which solutions are more sustainable in different responses? 

    4. There is a need also for more support on the issue of cooking plot area in camp settings particularly. This also links with HLP.  This could be an area of synergy in the joint LSE/UNEP Joint Environment work.