Landscape Analysis of Modern Energy Cooking in Displacement Settings

By Dr. Iwona Bisaga (Loughborough University).

Cooking safely and sustainably in forced displacement settings is the longest and most enduring energy challenge in the humanitarian sector. An estimated 70.8 million people are living in situations of forced displacement with 85% of refugees still relying on dirty solid fuels such as charcoal and wood and traditional open fire stoves for cooking. The MECS Landscape Analysis of Modern Energy Cooking in Displacement Settings report has analysed modern energy cooking in displacement settings by identifying the drivers and constraints for the transition from traditional biomass fuels to modern energy cooking, under three main themes: technological requirements; the role of different stakeholders; and policies and financial models. Its aim is to inform the MECS programme strategy and open up a wider discussion within the humanitarian sector. The report has identified five core priority areas of interest for the MECS humanitarian energy stream, namely: opportunities for MECS transitions in urban and peri-urban displacement contexts; MECS in community facilities and humanitarian institutions; innovative financing of MECS in displacement settings beyond grant funding; quality data on energy access and inclusive models of MECS provision in and for the displaced and host communities. 

Initially released in December 2020, the current version of the Landscape Analysis of Modern Energy Cooking in Displacement Settings report has been revised following a series of stakeholder consultations (workshops and one-to-one) which provided feedback on the identified priorities and highlighted pertinent issues facing transitions to modern energy cooking in displacement settings. A report capturing what was discussed during the consultations is available here. A comprehensive summary of feedback received during stakeholder consultation workshops can be found here (9 Dec 2020 workshop) and here (15 Dec 2020 workshop).

You can read the full report here.

The executive summary is available here.

You can also read a short blog summarising the consultation workshops here and watch a presentation introducing the key report findings and the identified research priorities here.