Cutting down trees for survival: How women can provide an alternative source of energy

Author: Anais Mangin, Partnerships Specialist at SEED - Promoting entrepreneurship for sustainable development

"Then the refugees came and started to cut down trees and soon there was no forest left, (..) The locals also chopped trees and made charcoal to sell to the refugees." (UNHCR, 1996)

While this quote is almost 20 years old, it still describes the reality in and around many of the 23 refugee camps in Ethiopia and other African countries.

Besides negatively impacting the global environment through loss of biodiversity and carbon emissions, the collection of firewood destroys the basis of life for future generations by reducing soil fertility and the availability of forest products. Further, women and girls have to spend increasing hours to collect the firewood, risking assault while walking around alone, indoor air pollution from firewood is linked to health problems, and sometimes families have to skip meals to save money for firewood.

Ethiopia: Rising numbers of refugees in an already strained environment

Located next to the conflict-laden countries of South Sudan, Sudan, Somalia and Eritrea, more than 700,000 refugees are currently living in the country’s refugee camps. This is already the largest population of refugees in any African country, and given the unstable situation in the neighbouring countries, even higher numbers are expected for the future. Between January and August 2014 alone, Ethiopia received 200,000 refugees. (UNHCR)

Experiencing one of the fastest population growth rates in the world, deforestation is a main concern for the country: around one third of the forest area has been lost since 1990 (Conservation International). The situation is aggravated by the firewood collection close to refugee camps. These are not temporary shelters, but often turn into cities with inhabitants spending their whole life there, getting married, having children, but without well-established systems to supply water, energy, or other basic infrastructure. In addition, they lack meaningful ways to spend the months and years in the refugee camps and earn income.

Locally produced cookstoves as part of the solution

2015 SEED Winner, RK Renew Energy PLC, is changing the reality of several of these refugees by introducing ceramic, fuel-efficient stoves. The social enterprise does not only provide a more sustainable energy source - it also offers refugees a more affordable and healthier solution for cooking, as well as new employment opportunities in the surrounding communities.

The enterprise is using a decentralised production model: in addition to a central production workshop in Addis Ababa used to develop new prototypes and respond to the local demand, the company plans to set-up localised production sites next to the refugee camps, on fields where raw materials are easily accessible. Through two different product lines, the company is targeting both individual refugee families, and local institutions like NGOs which are directly working with the UNHCR and camp managers.

Reduced pressure on the environment

As soon as the enterprise reaches their target capacity of 55,000 stoves per year, they will help reduce carbon emissions up to 260,000 tons and 240,000 tons of fuel wood every year. In mid-2016, they aim to also introduce solar lighting for the refugee camps, offering a clean and renewable source for electricity generation.

Reduced demand for firewood does not only benefit the environment through reduced carbon emissions and less pressure on the forest surrounding the refugee camps, it also benefits customers. Less firewood means less time and money spend on each warm meal.

Benefits for women all the way through the value chain

Cooking and collecting firewood are often considered as female tasks. Led by two Ethiopian women the enterprise builds on this and includes female employees and customers along the value chain. The enterprise engages Ethiopian women from the host communities of refugee camps to produce improved stoves that are then sold in the refugee camps by other groups of trained refugee women. The approach not only provides training and empowers women in and outside the refugee camps, it also fosters communication among host communities and refugees.

The improved cook stoves also have another advantage for women: since they are less fuel-demanding, they reduce the need to gather fuel wood - which also means they diminish the risk of girls in refugee camps being victims of sexual violence during trips to fetch wood. In addition, they improve health and safety through reduced air pollution from cooking and fire incidents with improvised cook stoves.

A safer, healthier and economically stronger reality for refugee camps

With its innovative approach RK Renew Energy is set to provide a sustainable source of energy for those who need it the most, while protecting local resources. Their approach shows how reducing the impact of conflicts on the environment and the livelihoods of current and future generations can go hand in hand.

This blog is a part of the November 2015 series on Gender and Inclusive Business, which includes analysis, interviews and projects on how inclusive business is tackling gender inequality around the world. Join the discussion.