Technical report. Socio-economic data and energy access in households in Hilaweyn refugee camp and host communities

In the spirit of good knowledge management generated by Alianza Shire experience, we published “Socioeconomic and energy access data at household level in Hilaweyn refugee camp and host communities”, a technical report presenting findings on energy access and population profiles through surveys conducted in Hilaweyn refugee camp and host communities in 2022.

The surveys highlighted gender disparities and inequalities in energy access. Approximately 15% of household income is spent on energy services such as charging phones, using batteries, candles and powering small electronic devices such as radios.

Cooking is mainly done by women and the main fuel used is firewood. It was also found that 100% of respondents rely on non-clean fuels for cooking, highlighting the significant challenges in promoting sustainable and safe energy practices.

These findings underline the urgent need for interventions that address energy poverty, gender inequality and dependence on unsustainable fuels. In conclusion, it is also important to redouble efforts to transition to cleaner, safer and more equitable energy solutions in displacement contexts.

These findings underline the urgent need for interventions that address energy poverty, gender inequality and dependence on unsustainable fuels. In conclusion, it is also important to redouble efforts to transition to cleaner, safer and more equitable energy solutions in displacement contexts.

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Technical report. Implementing a solar mini-grid in Kobe refugee camp: technical design, management and economic model

We publish the document “Implementing a solar mini-grid in Kobe refugee camp: technical design, management and economic model” to present the methodology used to develop the technical design, management and economic model of a solar mini-grid system to provide energy access to critical community services in Kobe refugee camp and its host community.

This report complements the report of the initial phase, which assessed the energy needs and defined the preliminary technical solution (documented in “Designing a Mini-Grid in Kobe Refugee Camp: Input Data and Level of Energy Access in Communal Services”).

As can be seen in the document, the technical model optimises energy generation and storage using solar photovoltaic technology and lithium-ion batteries to ensure high reliability and minimal environmental impact.

The report also describes a strong multi-stakeholder governance model. This framework involves direct beneficiaries, such as institutions receiving energy services, local authorities, NGOs and international organisations. The model ensures that financial contributions from beneficiaries cover operating costs and that responsibility for maintenance lies with a capable energy cooperative. Partnership agreements define the roles and responsibilities of all stakeholders, ensuring transparency and commitment to long-term sustainability.

Key lessons learned highlight the critical need to integrate technical expertise with local and institutional knowledge, while fostering collaboration between different actors. In addition, overcoming challenges such as the instability of beneficiary institutions, technical risks during installation and operational uncertainties required a combination of technical precision, local knowledge and stakeholder coordination.

 

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Alianza Shire brings ten years of experience to the community of practice in energy access and humanitarian aid

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Sharing the knowledge generated by the Alianza Shire members with other actors in the international community has always been one of the alliance’s goals. Indeed, all the Alianza Shire’s manuals and reports are published under the Creative Commons licence. However, until now there has been no single, publicly accessible repository of this documentation.

With the dual intention of practicing good knowledge management within Alianza Shire and sharing the experience of this multi-stakeholder partnership with other organisations and practitioners, we are launching this specific and open site with all the technical and scientific experience built up by the members of Alianza Shire during its first ten years of life.

The tool, built on the Notion platform, allows us to visualise in an agile and clear way what phases Alianza Shire has gone through during these years, what knowledge products have been generated, and also allows us to filter them according to different criteria.

In the “Technical Reports” section it is possible to find the project impact reports, which provide a detailed overview of the progress, results and impact achieved in the key areas of the project, giving an overall view of its impact.

In the “Scientific production” section, you will find scientific articles published by researchers on aspects relevant to the work of Alianza Shire (such as the facilitation of multi-stakeholder partnerships or the relationship between collaboration and the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals).

The “Educational Activities UPM” section includes all the final projects (bachelor’s or master’s degrees) of students from Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, whose research has contributed to systematising the partnership’s knowledge and opening up new areas for innovation.

Finally, in the last section, it is possible to access the database of all the documentation in three different ways: by theme, by document or by technical file.

The result of this collective effort makes the technical and academic knowledge of the first ten years of Alianza Shire much more accessible.

CLICK HERE AND BROWSE THE KNOWLEDGE PRODUCTS

TECHNICAL REPORT: Designing a solar street lighting intervention in Kobe refugee camp

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Alianza Shire publishes the technical document ‘Designing a solar street lighting intervention in Kobe refugee camp’ to contribute to the knowledge of the international community of practitioners in the field of energy access in humanitarian contexts.

This is a technical report detailing the methodology used to gather information on the state of street lighting in Kobe Refugee Camp and its host community, with the aim of informing the participatory design of the intervention.

The methodology consisted of a literature review of relevant international initiatives, field data collection, analysis of this data and development of design proposals. After several discussions with local stakeholders and cross-checking of the above information, the final technical design was developed, leading to the installation of the solar lights.

Thanks to this project, 87 new solar street lights were installed and 118 non-functioning solar lights were replaced. As a result of this intervention, the area illuminated increased from 13.80% (17.17 hectares) to approximately 45.59% (56.74 hectares).

In areas identified as vulnerable, lighting coverage increased from 9.48% (2.72 hectares) to 33.39% (9.57 hectares), with a clear positive impact on the lives of women and girls.

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Alianza Shire Showcases Refugee Camp Solar Mini-Grid Management Model at International Conference S-@Access

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On 6 September, Alianza Shire participated in the 5th International Conference on Solar Technologies and Hybrid Mini-Grids to Improve Energy Access, held in Palma de Mallorca and organized by the University of the Balearic Islands.

Sonia Ramos, an international expert in solar energy and energy access, coordinator of Alianza Shire’s Technical Office at itdUPM, and PhD candidate specializing in electrical cooking, presented the summary of a scientific paper detailing the Operation and Maintenance Management Models for mini-grids in refugee camps and their host communities. Her presentation centered on Alianza Shire’s project in Dollo Ado, Ethiopia.

In her talk, Ramos explained that the purpose of the solar mini-grid currently being installed is to provide a sustainable energy supply for 16 communal services in the Kobe refugee camp (Dollo Ado) and its host communities. She detailed the mini-grid’s management model, which aims to ensure that the energy supply to community services is not only sufficient but also reliable, of high quality, convenient, affordable, legal, healthy, and sustainable in the long term.

Key Actors and the importance of synergy

The management model developed by Alianza Shire, now in the implementation phase, is based on the principles of energy communities. This multi-stakeholder collaboration aims to harness renewable energy resources for the community, benefiting them environmentally and socially.

En este modelo de entrega un Comité de Dirección, formado por todos los beneficiarios directos (entidades gestoras de los servicios comunitarios), supervisa y garantiza la correcta ejecución de la iniciativa. El Refugee & Returnee Service (RRS) (la oficina del gobierno etíope encargada de proteger a los refugiados y coordinar la asistencia en toda Etiopía) es el propietario tanto de la minirred como del terreno donde se localiza y miembro del comité de dirección y delega la operación y mantenimiento a una Cooperativa Energética local. Esta cooperativa, a su vez, es la encargada de mantener el sistema y de gestionar el uso de la energía y los pagos solidarios del coste de mantenimiento y operación por parte de los beneficiarios directos, operando mediante una entidad financiera que facilita la administración de recursos, asegurando así un suministro energético sostenible y accesible para las comunidades beneficiadas.

In this model, a Steering Committee composed of direct beneficiaries (community service providers) oversees the project’s implementation. The Refugee & Returnee Service (RRS) —the Ethiopian government agency responsible for protecting refugees and coordinating assistance across the country— owns both the mini-grid and the land, participates in the Steering Committee, and delegates operation and maintenance responsibilities to a local Energy Cooperative. This cooperative manages the system, including maintaining operations and collecting solidarity payments for maintenance and operational costs from the direct beneficiaries. By involving a financial entity to manage resources, the model ensures a sustainable and accessible energy supply for the communities served.

Ramos emphasized that engaging a diverse array of stakeholders requires addressing potential risks and challenges, especially given that this type of project is pioneering in the region.

 

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Challenges and Solutions

To tackle the challenges ahead —such as training technical and management personnel, securing funding, and establishing infrastructure— Alianza Shire conducted an in-depth assessment of factors like stakeholder capabilities and local regulatory requirements.

This groundwork allowed them to develop a preliminary model clearly defining roles and responsibilities. After validating the proposed model and identifying possible risks, an energy monitoring system and a context-specific Operation and Maintenance Plan were created. Agreements were formalized between parties, focusing on measures to mitigate risks based on their potential impact.

Through these steps, Alianza Shire has been able to outline and implement a model designed to ensure long-term sustainability.

 

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BOOK OF ABSTRACTS

Technical report. Designing a mini-grid in Kobe refugee camp

With the aim of adding value to the international community of practice on energy access in humanitarian contexts, Alianza Shire has published the document “Designing a mini-grid in kobe refugee camp. Input data and level of energy Access in Communal Services”.

This is a technical report detailing the methodology used to develop a baseline for providing energy access to communal services in the area through a mini-grid. This initial effort was critical in assessing energy needs before determining the most suitable technical solution and moving forward with technical implementation.

The report is part of a series of technical documents systematising Alianza Shire’s experience, which will be published to share knowledge with members of the international community working on energy access in vulnerable contexts.

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Feedback Loops and Facilitation: Catalyzing Transformational Multi-Stakeholder Refugee Response Partnerships

This academic paper, written by several members of Alianza Shire and experts in partnerships, analyzes the role of aid agencies in the co-creation process of a multi-stakeholder partnership, the consolidation of internal learning as essential practices for the effective management of complex partnerships and the rol of the facilitator.

This paper explores how the creation and development of multi-stakeholder partnerships can maximize the transformational potential of collaboration for refugee response, ensure the stakeholder diversity needed to provide basic services on a stable basis, and provide a facilitation function that supports the partnership.

Using an action-case methodology, the focus of the article is on the Alianza Shire. Our findings suggest that (i) the active participation of aid agencies in the co-creation process of a multi-stakeholder partnership may increase the transformational potential of refugee response, (ii) feedback loops and the consolidation of internal learning are essential practices for the effective management of complex multi-stakeholder partnerships, and (iii) the facilitator plays a critical and underexplored role in refugee response collaborative arrangements.

In addition, sustainability-oriented university centers may possess a particular capacity for nurturing the transformational potential of multi-stakeholder refugee response partnerships by generating ‘safe spaces’ that foster trust-building, providing a cross-sector ‘translation’ service, and affording the legitimacy and expert knowledge required to conduct learning processes.

We believe that the theoretical and practical implications of our research may contribute to the effective fulfilment of the Sustainable Development Goals, specially, SDG7 (Affordable and Clean Energy) and SDG17 (Partnership for the Goals).

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Guide for Multi-Stakeholder Partnerships

The Spanish Agency for International Development Cooperation (AECID) presents this tool in order to boost the promotion, support and implementation of multi-stakeholder partnerships, within the new development landscape established by the 2030 Agenda. Alianza Shire is one of the four cases analysed for this guide.

The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development of the United Nations provides a new global framework for international development cooperation in which multi-stakeholder partnerships are essential to achieve its seventeen Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

In this context, the guide for Multi-stakeholder Partnerships was developed in collaboration with the Centre for Innovation in Technology for Human Development of the Universidad Politécnica de Madrid (itdUPM), in order to foster and coordinate partnerships between the different actors involved in international cooperation, the public and private sectors and civil society.

The guide analyses four case studies, including Alianza Shire, in order to show a variety of examples of partnerships and explore some of the new trends in the field of multi-stakeholder collaborations. In addition, the role of the different international cooperation organisations in promoting and supporting these partnerships is analysed. With this initiative, the Agency provides an indispensable working tool that will serve to guide and assist us in undertaking and managing a multi-stakeholder partnership, in accordance with the application of the Action Plan for the implementation of the Government of Spain’s 2030 Agenda.

AECID Guide for multi-stakeholder Partnerships (Spanish)

Four case studies analyzed (Spanish)

Working in Partnership: A new panorama for Development Cooperation Agencies (Spanish)

 

Transformational Collaboration for the SDGs: Alianza Shire

Transformational Collaboration

This paper written by itdUPM Team analyses the transformational Collaboration and the potential for achieving transformation through partnerships as something central to the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

Transformational Collaboration

The article uses the collaborative value creation (CVC) framework to analyze the transformational prospects of the Alianza Shire, the first multi-stakeholder partnership for humanitarian action in Spain.

Open access in the follow link: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/12/2/539

NAUTIA, methodology for the identification of needs in refugee camps

NAUTIA (methodology)

In 2018, the Technical University of Madrid has created the UPM Refugee Platform, a network for cooperation between professors, researchers and students, with the objective of improving the quality of life in refugee camps.

This year, the Platform published the NAUTIA methodology, which makes it possible to obtain a list of priorities identified by the refugee population and the host communities, through participatory workshops.

These workshops of Alianza Shire provide assessment of current critical situations in the camp and in the surrounding populations, as well as the design of actions that lessen the fragility of the settlements.

nautia methodology

The methodology is applied in those refugee camps that are no longer in the emergency stage, and which are now facing the typical issues of permanent settlements.

Implementation of this methodology is already underway in the Shimelba refugee camp (Shire), established in 2004 and which has taken in approximately 7,000 people from Eritrea.

Download the methodology in Spanish (PDF)

Download the methodology in English (PDF)

 

 

Collaborating partner:

 

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