Humanitarian Energy Conference 2024 report

The third Humanitarian Energy Conference (HEC) was held on October 7, 2024, at the Movenpick Hotel in Nairobi, Kenya. HEC 2024 was led by the Global Platform for Action (GPA) on Sustainable Energy in Displacement Settings under the United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR). It was co-hosted by NORCAP, SNV, and Practical Action, and supported by the German Federal Foreign Office (GFFO), NORAD, and IKEA Foundation.  1 UNHCR (2024). Mid-Year Trends: Key Displacement Solutions and Trends in the First Half of 2024.  2 UNITAR (2022). State of the Humanitarian Energy Sector.  0 20 40 60 80 100 120 140 Million people People forced to flee, 2015 to mid-2024 IDPs Refugees under UNHCR mandate Asylum seekers Palestine refugees under UNRWA mandate Other people in need of international protectionThe third HEC aimed to:  

• Assess progress on achieving SDG 7 (clean and affordable energy access for all) in humanitarian and displacement settings
• Highlight the contribution of decarbonising humanitarian operations and providing clean energy for displaced people to SDG 13 (climate action)
• Promote knowledge sharing, partnerships, and innovations in pursuit of these goals While the challenge of delivering sustainable energy access in humanitarian settings has grown, so too has the community of stakeholders committed to tackling it. HEC 2024 convened a record 300 delegates from over 150 organizations working to advance the humanitarian energy agenda.

This HEC also welcomed the active participation of 18 people with lived experiences of displacement. An additional 337 viewers participated online.  The third HEC was strategically organised in Nairobi in the same week as the Global Off-Grid Solar Forum & Expo 2024 to increase engagement from private sector and government stakeholders who are crucial to the humanitarian energy space. NORCAP also organised its Annual Technical Workshop, attended by over 60 humanitarian energy experts, with the aim of bringing the humanitarian angle into discussions being had within the SDG 7 community.