New report: EmPowering Africa's most vulnerable

Egeland was part of the panel discussion on the new report Empowering Africa’s Most Vulnerable – Access to Solar Energy in Complex Crises that was launched at Litteraturhuset in Oslo September 1st. 

The report by NORCAP and Boston Consulting Group (BCG) shows what actions and actors are needed to accelerate the use of renewable energy among displaced and host communities.

“Our study shows is that it is entirely possible to improve the lives of millions of the world's poorest people with clean energy. The money is there, the technology is there, the expertise is there, and the willingness is there. However, everyone needs to "row together" to move the boat in the right direction." 

— Jason Yeoh, Project Lead, BCG 

90 percent green operations by 2030

One of the key findings of the whitepaper is that a yearly investment of $50-60 million could ensure the transition of about 90 percent of camp operations from diesel generators to solar technologies by 2030. 

It also shows how solar systems could provide access to clean energy for millions of people in Africa. Currently, as much as half the continent's population lack access to energy. 

This has vast implications on people’s health and safety, education, social inequality and economic growth.

There is an immediate need to address the widening energy access gap impacting vulnerable populations, especially displaced people in Sub-Saharan Africa.

It is also vital that humanitarian, development and peace-keeping organisations start their transition to renewable energy as soon as possible. As the world’s leading provider of expertise on humanitarian clean energy, NORCAP is looking to partner with actors to make the shift happen.

“Technical and financial resources are there at the service of the “greening” agents. This leadership in the field is the trigger to a massive change towards SDG7 in the way we generate and use energy across the three sectors (humanitarian, development, peace). Our beneficiaries and the planet should not wait any longer”

— Borja Gómez Rojo, Energy Project Manager at NORCAP

Download the report here

Digital launch

Benedicte Giæver, Executive Director at NORCAP, and Odd Arne Sjåtil, Managing Director and Partner at BCG presented the highlights of the report at the digital launch.

A panel debate followed led by Stig Arild Pettersen. Representatives from politics, the private sector, UN agencies and NGOs discussed what steps are needed to fulfil the Sustainable Development Goal 7, which calls for ensuring access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all.

The event was live streamed on Facebook and a part of the ONS energy conference

Here are a few highlights from the panel debate:

“Different actors have different values, approaches, timeframes and budgeting. We need to align around the higher-level shared collective outcomes. We know that only private sector can do certain things, such as creating the technology, innovating, and using competition to establish the best models, but it is only governments that can take things to scale. UN agencies or NGOs could play the role of an honest broker and to hold both governments and private sector accountable. Time is now.” 

— Sibi Lawson-Marriott, Senior Regional Adviser for Climate Adaptation, Resilience, Livelihoods and Gender Equality at World Food Programme 

“This report shows that change can happen, and I believe success depends on all stakeholders working together. We need incremental progress and the report provides guidance on how this could happen. We need the right solutions, investments and organisation.” 

— Jan Egeland, Secretary General, Norwegian Refugee Council 

“Norway has a great history of supporting development of grid-tied energy projects with development funding. Part of this funding could be used in areas where refugees are far from the grid.” 

— Mads Hansen, CEO – Kube Energy