For the first time, discussions on how to provide clean energy in displacement settings were part of the UN High-Level Political Forum’s (HLPF) deliberations in New York.
The Steering Group of the Global Plan of Action for Sustainable Energy Solutions in Situations of Displacement (GPA) held an expert-level meeting and a high-level panel discussion to launch the Global Plan of Action Framework. The GPA is a non-binding framework that will provide concrete actions for accelerated progress towards the vision of “safe access to affordable, reliable, sustainable, and modern energy services for all displaced people by 2030.” The organizations steering the Plan’s development to date include IOM, UNHCR, UNITAR, GIZ, the Moving Energy Initiative, Practical Action, WFP, FAO, UNEP DTU, UNDP, the Global Alliance for Clean Cookstoves and the UN Foundation.
During the expert-level meeting, participants discussed the GPA and its framework of recommendations, including: planning and coordination; policy and host country involvement; innovative financing; training and capacity building; and finally data, evidence and reporting. They also reflected on the next steps and highlighted how donors, humanitarian and development actors, the private sector and academia can support the GPA. The High-Level Panel Discussion was entitled “Leaving no one behind - A Global Plan of Action for Sustainable Energy Solutions in Displacement.” Speakers included Ms. Michele Klein Solomon (Director of Global Compact for Migration, IOM), as well as Mr. Hans Olav Ibrekk (Policy Director, Energy and Climate Change, Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Co-Facilitator of SDG7 Technical Advisory Group), as well as Mr. Craig Sanders (Deputy Director, Division of Programme Support and Management, UNHCR).
VI Regional Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction in the Americas
Addresses Displacement 20-22 June 2018, Cartagena, Colombia
IOM participated in a panel on "Human Mobility and Displacement due to Natural Disasters and the Adverse Impacts of Climate Change" at the VI Regional Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction in the Americas. The Regional Platform brought together more than 1,300 participants from the Americas and the Caribbean and enabled the signature of the Cartagena Declaration recommitting States to the implementation of the Regional Action Plan for the Implementation of the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015 – 2030 in the Americas.
IOM discussed human mobility and displacement in the context of natural disasters together with the Platform on Disaster Displacement (PDD) and the South American Network for Environmental Migrations (RESAMA) in a panel chaired by the Colombian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The objective of the session was to identify opportunities and challenges in integrating displacement in disaster risk reduction strategies, discuss experiences in integrating migrants in DRR plans, and examine situations of cross-border displacement in the Americas.
For the past six months, IOM Egypt has been working on increasing office and project sustainability through its new Environmental Working Group named “Green Egypt”. Within this short amount of time, much has been accomplished and awareness raised on the importance of environmental sustainability as a key cross-cutting issue. Group members include liaisons from every unit to maximize positive impact throughout the Mission.
Since February, all staff members have received a reusable water bottle, replacing the copious amounts of plastic cups that were used daily. Mugs and cups were also procured for beneficiaries and visitors. Recently, paper recycling bins were procured to introduce in-office recycling, and soon bins for plastic recyclables will be added. Future goals include reducing paper consumption and buying environmentally-friendly cleaning supplies.
Communities in Darfur Increase Honey Production through Environmentally Sustainable Means
According to the World Bank, agriculture accounts for 30% of Sudan’s GDP. Beekeeping offers a great potential for socio-economic development, with approximately, 1,600 tons of pure honey produced every year. Local residents rely on honey for its natural healing properties and as a nutrient, however traditional honey and wax collection practices in Sudan pose a serious threat to bee colonies and the environment. In the long run they contribute to desertification and the destruction of wild swarms, damaging the natural biodiversity of the forests and environment. But, if practiced with conservation and optimum levels in view, beekeeping can give communities an incentive for the protection of natural habitats and has a positive economic impact on the household.
In June 2017, IOM Sudan trained 50 local residents in honey bee production in El Radoom locality in South Darfur, well known for its honey production and rich forests. The two workshops were conducted over a period of three days and covered the following topics: improved hive construction; honey harvesting and processing; packaging and marketing of the honey; sewing of appropriate protective clothing; small business management; sustainable practices and risks for the biodiversity if fire is used. Each resident also received a smokestack, which formed an environmentally friendly substitute to burning wood from trees in order to repel the bees from the hives when harvesting honey, replacing traditional practices. After one year, the trainees reported that the quality and quantity of honey production increased - from once every four months to every month.
Due to its successful adoption by communities, in July 2018 IOM Sudan extended the workshops in honey production for a further 300 community members from 23 villages in El Radoom Locality (40% women, 40% youth, and 20% middle aged men). Beekeepers were also assisted with establishing their own grass roots associations and were registered with the local government to promote value chain production. The achieved interventions promoted sustainable management of indigenous honey bees in El Radoom locality, contributing to the overall conservation of biodiversity as well as ensuring food security and income generation for local bee-keepers.
Protecting Persons Displaced by Volcanic Activity
from Trafficking in Persons in Guatemala
On 3 June, the Volcan de Fuego erupted for the second time in 2018, affecting hundreds of thousands of people in neighboring communities. According to displacement tracking information collected by IOM on 17-23 June, 3,615 people are living in 17 registered shelters, including persons with specific vulnerabilities. A livelihood survey further pointed out that 85.6% of respondents had lost their livelihood due to the volcanic eruption.
As these are factors of vulnerability to trafficking and exploitation, IOM has deployed, in collaboration with the Guatemalan Secretariat against Sexual Violence, Exploitation and Trafficking (SVET), communication materials to prevent the occurrence of trafficking in shelters. These materials were developed in the framework of the Mesoamerica Program and include posters and a video aimed at protecting displaced persons from trafficking networks. The communication campaign speaks to the need for protection of persons displaced by natural disasters as vulnerability factors tend to increase substantially in contexts of displacement.
Latest News from Southern Africa and the Western Indian Ocean
Migration, environment and climate change (MECC) are closely interrelated; environmental degradation and disasters can cause migration just as the movement of people can also significantly affect surrounding ecosystems. The scale of such internal and cross-border flows is expected to rise as a result of accelerated climate change, with unprecedented impacts on lives and livelihoods. This is particularly true in Southern Africa and the Western Indian Ocean.
On 24 May, IOM Mauritius launched and disseminated the Migration, Environment and Climate Change; Evidence for Policy (MECLEP) project research documents and the cabinet endorsed the MECC Policy Paper and Action Plan in collaboration with the Ministry of Environment and Sustainable Development. The discussions and interactions on the recommendations of the MECC Policy Paper among key officials from relevant ministries led to a consensual endorsement of the Action Plan and an implementation strategy of selected policy and programmatic recommendations for the way forward. Some 30 stakeholders identified priority actions within the frameworks of the Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) and other relevant policies in place and agreed that these had to be implemented through a coordination mechanism. The MECLEP Technical Working Group will as such remain functional beyond the scope of the project to channel the approach, funding and continuous capacity building.
IOM has been at the forefront of operational, research, policy and advocacy efforts on MECC, seeking to bring environmental migration to the heart of international, regional and national concerns, in collaboration with its Member States, observers and partners, which reflects Member States’ priorities to advance in this area. On 5 & 6 June, IOM Madagascar facilitated the first Regional Policy Forum on MECC in Pretoria – South Africa. The Forum was attended by 38 policy makers and practitioners of MECC from 13 countries of the SADC and IOC Regions, including Mauritius, where the national MECC Policy Paper was presented as a key achievement towards managing MECC.
