Experts call for renewal energy promotion in Africa's refugee camps

Energy experts on Friday called for new policies to accelerate the adoption of solar lighting and clean cooking technologies in Africa's refugee camps.

The experts said that African countries need to integrate humanitarian and business approaches for long-term sustainable development interventions in providing energy to the refugees.

"There is need to incorporate the private sector in bringing new expertise as they have the incentive to improve access to energy products and services in humanitarian settings," Moving Energy Initiative (MEI) Program Manager Laura Patel said at a forum on private sector engagement in meeting refugee energy needs.

She observed that some private sector is already providing energy solutions to low-income and remote communities.

"Their understanding of the market and customer satisfaction supports the growth of local, sustainable and clean energy markets within refugee and host communities," she added.

Patel called for a shift from biomass to clean and low-carbon energy to vulnerable households in the refugee set-up and host community.

Patel noted that the private sector are facing challenges ranging from unstable environments, insecurity, poor road networks, lack of water, unclear contractual guidelines, intellectual property ownership and slow decision making in the provision of energy to displaced populations.

Experts noted that Kakuma refugee camp that is located in Kenya with a population of around 170,000 require improved energy access to benefit refugees mainly from South Sudan.

The CEO of Energy Impact Ben Good said the organization is implementing low-carbon projects, exploring contracts for expert management of energy infrastructure.

"We are looking at local market-based solutions to energy access challenges and stimulating non-wood fuel markets in the continent," he noted.

In the recent past, Kenya has engaged accelerating energy access to populations through small-scale renewable energy entrepreneurs in line with the country's Vision 2030.

Experts from the government, the United Nations, the international and local NGOs and private sector on renewable energy have attended the workshop. Endit