2018年-查塔姆研究所_The_Costs_of_Fuelling_Humanitarian_Aid_70页_813kb

Summary of "The Costs of Fuelling Humanitarian Aid"

Core Content

This report, The Costs of Fuelling Humanitarian Aid, examines the significant energy consumption and financial burden of humanitarian agencies in the context of displacement crises. It highlights the widespread reliance on diesel and petrol, the inefficiencies in energy use, and the opportunities for improvement through sustainable energy solutions. The report is part of the Moving Energy Initiative (MEI), which seeks to promote clean, affordable, and reliable energy access for displaced populations.

Main Findings

• Energy is critical to humanitarian operations, especially in remote locations where agencies must transport staff and resources over long distances and power essential services like clinics, schools, and water pumping.
• Diesel dependency is prevalent, despite the availability of renewable energy solutions that can reduce costs and environmental impact.
• High energy costs are a major concern, with diesel prices in some regions being significantly higher than national averages. For example, in South Sudan, diesel costs can reach $1.7–2.6 per litre, leading to monthly energy costs of up to $80,300 for humanitarian hubs.
• Inefficiencies in building standards, generator use, and fleet management are common, contributing to unnecessary expenditures.
• Transparency is lacking in energy spending and use, making it difficult for donors and agencies to track and manage costs effectively.

Key Issues Identified

• Financial waste: Agencies are often overpaying for energy due to inefficient practices and lack of competitive procurement.
• Lack of incentives: There is little motivation for agencies to conserve fuel or improve energy efficiency, as fuel distribution mechanisms do not encourage such actions.
• Insufficient data: Reliable and standardized data on energy use and costs are scarce, limiting the ability to make informed decisions and identify cost-saving opportunities.
• Environmental impact: The heavy use of fossil fuels by humanitarian agencies contributes to carbon emissions and local environmental degradation, which is at odds with the UN's stated commitment to carbon neutrality by 2020.

Opportunities for Improvement

• Fuel cost savings: Agencies could save up to 10% on ground transport, 37% through behavior change and efficient technologies, and 60% on electricity generation using current best practices.
• Renewable energy adoption: Solar power is already making a difference in Jordan, where it has led to annual savings of $7.5 million for UNHCR and reduced pressure on the national electricity grid.
• Fleet sharing: A pilot scheme by UNICEF showed that reducing fleet size by 10–15% could lead to significant cost savings and be recouped within one year.
• Energy efficiency in buildings: Improving the energy efficiency of large head offices and facilities could yield substantial savings, especially in areas with high electricity costs.

Recommendations

For Humanitarian Agencies

• Commit to reducing emissions: Agencies should aim to reduce their carbon footprint and phase out diesel for electricity generation.
• Adopt a '3M' strategy:
  • Measuring: Collect and track energy and emissions data.
  • Monitoring: Report on data and identify low-cost, high-impact improvements.
  • Motivating: Use energy efficiency as a key performance indicator and encourage local innovation and partnerships.

For Donors

• Require energy cost breakdowns: Encourage agencies to include detailed energy cost projections in budgets and reporting.
• Support pilot schemes: Fund and scale up successful models such as fleet-sharing and solarization of camps.
• Provide guarantees: Enable performance contracts with the private sector or contribute to multi-country funds to reduce investment risks.

For Host Governments

• Engage with agencies: Ask agencies about their efforts to reduce vehicle impact and emissions.
• Incorporate sustainable energy: Include it as a priority in response and resilience plans.
• Facilitate infrastructure investments: Support projects that reduce energy and water demand in camps and improve local energy access.
• Promote partnerships: Collaborate with agencies to develop sustainable energy solutions for rural areas.

Conclusion

The report emphasizes that while energy is essential for humanitarian operations, current practices are inefficient, costly, and environmentally harmful. By adopting sustainable energy solutions, improving efficiency, and increasing transparency, the sector can achieve significant cost savings and reduce its environmental footprint. The Global Plan of Action for Sustainable Energy Solutions for Situations of Displacement (launched in July 2018) provides a platform for collaboration among agencies, governments, and the private sector to drive these changes.

Additional Context

• The number of displaced people globally reached 87.3 million in 2017, with 68.5 million due to conflict.
• Humanitarian agencies spend over $27.3 billion annually, with a large portion allocated to energy.
• The Grand Bargain aims to improve efficiency and transparency in humanitarian aid, including energy use.
• The UN and other agencies have published sustainability guidelines, but these are not widely known or implemented within the sector.

References

• Figure 1: Unmet funding requirements, UN coordinated appeals 2007-17
• Figure 2: Top 10 humanitarian agencies by size of annual budget and number of staff, 2015
• Table 1: A selection of relevant publications and documents on sustainability initiatives by humanitarian agencies.