Monday
November 2
2020

The Private Sector Can Help Light the Way for Forcibly Displaced People. Here’s How

Over the past decade, the global population of forcibly displaced people (FDP) grew substantially, from 43.3 million in 2009 to 79.5 million in 2019. Last year alone, an estimated 11 million people were newly displaced. Developing countries host 85% of FDP, and these nations are often already in need of development assistance. At the local level, host communities are also affected by the presence of the newly arrived. By any account it is a dire situation, and the trends do not bode well. A role for the private sector is emerging.
According to the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR), 97% of FDP have limited or no access to electricity in camps. As a result of constrained resources and short-term funding cycles, energy access is rarely considered in the country strategies, projects and budgets of the UN. This energy gap hinders the ability of FDP to access education, water, sanitation and health, gender equality, connectivity, income-generating opportunities and more. This might make it more likely they will become an economical burden to their host communities.
Photo courtesy of DFID

Source: World Economic Forum (link opens in a new window)

Categories
Energy
Tags
business development, migrants, refugees