WLGA’s Geneva Highlights: Engaging with UNHCR, IOM, and UNITAR
WLGA Director David Tyler visited Geneva in July to have separate meetings with the United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR), the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) and the United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR). Mr Blaise Edja, the WLGA Safety and Business Improvement Goal Chair, accompanied David at the meetings.
The meetings with WLGA observer member UNHCR focused on the partnership with the Association that supports the transition from traditional fuels to LPG in the largest refugee camps in the world in Bangladesh. Talks on the partnership started in Geneva in 2017 after the Rohingya refugees arrived from Myanmar. Since then nearly 1mn refugees have transitioned from using wood to LPG for cooking. The successful transition to LPG also required the support of WLGA members in Bangladesh including Total Energies, Omera and Hexagon Ragasco (with Beximco).
The IOM also overseas operations in Bangladesh and they confirmed they are keen to engage more with the WLGA in their international operations. The new IOM strategic plan 2024-2028 recognises innovation and learnings as key enablers to achieve its strategic objectives.
- Saving lives and protecting people on the move
- Driving solutions to displacement
- Facilitating pathways for regular migration
The IOM works with partners to conceive and scale transformative and novel approached based on a deep understanding of systems and their dynamics. Their efforts in Mozambique to build a market place for sustainable energy aims to create an inclusive and sustainable marketplace in Sofala Province. Targeting five resettlement sites, the initiative addresses the energy needs of displaced people affected by recent cyclones. The focus is on affordability, accessibility and varied uses such as cooking and lighting. The approach promotes scalable solutions tailored for displaced populations.
The United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR) has a goal to provide innovative learning solutions to individuals, organisations and institutions to enhance global decision-making and support country-level action for shaping a better future. All three organisations work closely with the WLGA, particularly in the pursuit of transitioning the 2bn+ people in the world who have no access to clean energy and where LPG can make a difference.
During the meetings Blaise Edja confirmed that in the past Oryx had supplied LPG to refugee camps in Tanzania and there may be opportunities to work together with the agencies to explore cooperation with other countries. One of the key WLGA publications shared with the agencies was the infographic that focuses on the role of LPG in humanitarian settings WLGA - The Role of LPG in Humanitarian Settings (fliphtml5.com)