Key success factors and obstacles for FAO energy projects in humanitarian settings

Evaluates FAO's energy-in-emergency portfolio in Kenya, South Sudan and Uganda to define innovative programming options for efficient energy access within the humanitarian settings of these three countries.

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This publication evaluates FAO's energy-in-emergency portfolio in Kenya, South Sudan and Uganda to define innovative programming options for efficient energy access within the humanitarian settings of these three countries. Under the Safe Access to Fuel and Energy (SAFE) programme, FAO has contributed to improving resilience and livelihoods for refugees and internally displaced people in 14 countries through four types of activities: clean cooking, forest management, renewable energy in agri-food chains and policy support. In these countries, most refugees and displaced persons rely on energy resources – in particular, energy for cooking – that are unsustainable and that pose high risks to their health and well-being. Many households are dependent on firewood collected from areas around the settlements to supplement the fuel that they receive from humanitarian agencies or purchase through markets. Intense demand for this natural resource has led to the degradation of forests and to conflicts with host communities. The report provides recommendations for improving the efficiency of access to energy. These include developing a market ecosystem to support the delivery of energy services and prioritizing the preservation of the environment, which is critical to create a sustainable natural resource base and biomass that will ensure long-term, efficient and quality cooking fuel