projects

Local agents of change for climate action

Completed
Climate Project in Bangladesh
Programme
UNHCR Innovation Incubator
Fund
Environment and Climate Action Innovation Fund | Incubator
Start Date
Total Project Cost
USD 124,652.000
Country
Bangladesh
Project Team
UNHCR Bangladesh , Energy and Environment team , NGO Forum for Public Health , Schneider Electric , Electriciens Sans Frotieres

Challenge

Many solar powered systems have been installed across camps in Cox’s Bazar to provide essential needs, but limited repair and maintenance support and lack of local capacity means many do not function adequately, contributing to e-waste issues.

Solution

Develop and train young energy ambassadors to lead energy infrastructure repair and maintenance as well as community-based learning to promote behavior change on sustainable energy use. These ambassadors could potentially be remunerated through CBI approaches.

Impact

Awareness raised across the camp to encourage environmentally friendly choices, and local capacity built to maintain solar energy systems, improving energy efficiency and longevity of energy infrastructure. 5,000 individuals directly benefit.

Project impact

258
Rohingya refugees trained in solar and electrical repair skills.
2258
e-waste items repaired and restored for reuse.
1
refugee opened a repair shop, and 20 others now earn income from repairs.

Other impact

Thanks to this project, 1,200 solar home systems have been repaired. Solar street lamps in the camp receive regular maintenance, ensuring the community benefits from more consistent lighting. Moreover, following devastating fires, repair desks were set up to help families recover more quickly from damage.