Bidibidi Refugee Settlement and surroundings – Uganda
Context:
The 250 km2 Bidibidi Refugee Settlement is located since 2016 in the Northwest of Uganda, in the district of Yumbe and is home to 270,00010 displaced persons, fleeing civil war, mainly from South Sudan. The camp currently has no access to the national electric power grid. The surrounding local population lives in a predominantly rural area with small towns and villages and its main activities are subsistence farming, livestock rearing and agriculture. There is an overall limited access to healthcare, education and low access to water and land, among other reasons due to the refugee settlement occupying land previously used for farming. The population in this camp lacks access to reliable and low-cost energy on all levels. Within the local host population, energy mainly comes from heavy fuel oil and biomass (wood fuels).
Demonstrated solutions:
SUNNY aims to demonstrate the viability and benefits of installing renewable energy technologies tackling challenges related to the WEF nexus in refugee camps and local host communities.
- Biogas digesters made with local materials and adapted to local waste management needs.
- Combined hydrogen and biogas cooking solution
- Solar-powered refrigerated food storage systems with extended power backup and IoT-enabled remote monitoring
- Smart solar irrigation and interoperability with other technologies
Objectives and target:
The project is expected to improve access to energy, food security, waste management and agricultural productivity, while enabling inclusive socio-economic development through capacity building and job creation. In addition, the integration of these technologies aims to align with the humanitarian and development nexus approach, promoting sustainable solutions that address both immediate needs and long-term development goals.