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African Refugee Energy Workshop by Matthew Owen et al.
Refugees are a distinct group of energy consumers. Not only do they suffer the well known problems of health, labour and finance associated with biomass use, they also bring with them the threat of significant environmental degradation and competition with indigenous populations in meeting their fuel demands. In recognition of this problem, relief and development agencies are becoming involved in energy and forest activities around refugee camps. Some of the experiences reported at the East African workshop may be useful for camp organisations elsewhere. The workshop discussions included stove promotion, biomass energy conservation, fuel supply and forestry, non-biomass fuels and alternative cooking systems. It also considered ways of influencing energy policy on refugee camp energy problems and environmental impacts. [top] [end]ParticipantsThere were 27 participants representing the following organisations: Kenya: ITDG, UNEP, GTZ RESCUE, UNHCR, Rural Technology Enterprises, Solar Cookers International Tanzania: UNHCR, CARE, Swiss Disaster Relief Burundi: GTZ Special Energy Programme Uganda: ACORD, American Refugee Committee, UNHCR Rwanda: Ministry of Energy and Public Works Zaire: UNDPGEF, GTZ Biodiversity emergency programme, European Union Virunga National Park Project USA: Solar cookers International UK: Oxford Brookes University [top] [end]Workshop Themes
[top] [end]Recommendations (summarized)[top] [end]Cooking fuelshould be treated as a basic need in refugee situations and provided in the emergency phase until medium and long term plans are instituted and their probable effects assessed.[top] [end]Negative environmental effectsRefugee situations inevitably have NEGATIVE ENVIRONMENTAL EFFECTS and a range of ameliorating approaches should be considered including biomass rehabilitation work such as afforestation; although this can rarely be expected to satisfy refugee fuel demands.[top] [end]Fuel saving cooking technologies
[top] [end]DisseminationNo consensus was reached on basic promotion methods although a majority opposed free distribution except in the trial/promotional stage and for certain vulnerable groups. The idea of exchange commodities (such as labour or cash) was generally preferred. Cooking practices
[top] [end]Alternative biomass fuels
[top] [end]Non-biomass fuelsSolar cookers now in the developmental and testing stages in camps in Kenya may contribute to fuel saving cooking in suitable climatic areas and under certain circumstances.Kerosene was opposed at household level but may be appropriate for communal or centralized cooking where there is less chance of the fuel or hardware provided being sold. [top] [end]Camp durationIt should not be assumed that refugee situations are short lived. Approaches to energy must therefore be developmental, participatory and long term and include education, skills training, refugee empowerment and raising of self respect.[top] [end]Pre-cooking food preparationThe grinding of beans and hard grains should be promoted for energy saving eg processing by World Food Programme at break-of-bulk points, or introduction of grinding facilities within camps at household level (traditional stone or concrete systems) and at small industrial level (private grinding operations). Food choices should take account of the energy needed as well as nutritional values.[top] [end]Consultation with refugeesThe introduction of policies, practices or technologies which have impacts on labour and household activities should involve full consultation with refugees particularly women, allowing for proper consideration of the benefits and disadvantages in terms of labour and other factors.[top] [end]Policy controlDonors, rather than implementing agencies, control policy in the refugee sector in many cases and often respond positively to cost comparisons. There is thus a need for practitioners to collaborate on issues of common interest to provide such comparisons In a persistent and united manner if they wish to see policy changes. Issues of energy and environment are now being discussed with UNHCR. Sharing of camp experiences by regional exchanged visits should be carried out during the early stages of programme planning to ensure funding.[top] [end]AcknowledgmentsITDG is grateful to Tony Edwards, Senior Advisor to the Executive Director UNEP for offering to provide partial funding in support of the workshop. The organisers also wish to thank Christian Lambrechts of UNEP for his support in organising conference facilities and for providing invaluable advice during the planning stage. We are also grateful to all participants for their contributions.For a more detailed account of the refugee situation in East Africa our readers are recommended to obtain a copy of the following report which has recently been published: Meeting Energy Requirements in Refugees Situations: 'A Case Study in Household and Institutional Energy Interventions in Coma. Zaire and Dadaab, Kenya '. pp 108 [top] [end]Contents: Boiling Point 37: Household energy in emergency situations
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Page created:
15 August 2007; Last edited:
02 December 2008; Version: 1 | |||||||||||
Pagename: AfricanRefugeeEnergyWorkshop @HEDON: QNGA | |||||||||||
