In December 2024, partner CTEN (Community Technology Empowerment Network) took a significant step in further strengthening the collaboration of the project consortium with local communities in Bidibidi Refugee Settlement. Through its inception and end-of-year feedback meetings, CTEN set the stage for the SUNNY project, which aims to drive community-based protection, education, and livelihood improvements through enhanced and sustainable access to energy services.

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About CTEN

CTEN, a Registered Refugee-Led Organization (RLO), that operates under the vision of fostering a healthy, informed, and peaceful community. With thematic areas spanning community-based protection, digital education, energy, environment, and livelihood support, CTEN is committed to empowering refugees and host communities alike.

The SUNNY Project: Setting the Foundation for Success

Bidibidi Refugee Settlement requires operational partners (OPs) and implementing partners (IPs) to conduct inception meetings for new projects to ensure alignment with government programs and effective coordination. On November 18, 2024, CTEN held an inception meeting in Zone 1 to introduce the SUNNY project. This project targets Zones 1-5 and seeks to integrate within the existing settlement framework to enhance collaboration and efficiency.

On November 22, 2024, an end-of-year feedback meeting was held with key stakeholders, including the Office of the Prime Minister (OPM), Refugee Welfare Councils (RWCs), Religious and opinion leaders, and other RLOs. This meeting provided an opportunity to reflect on achievements, challenges, and lessons learned over the past six months.

Objectives of the Inception Meeting

The inception meeting aimed to:

• Introduce the SUNNY project to all stakeholders and highlight its alignment with the settlement’s operational framework.
• Present approved work packages, deliverables, and timelines for effective implementation.
• Define roles, responsibilities, and reporting structures for consortium partners.
• Gather feedback from the community on activities conducted by CTEN in collaboration with TUB, ReFuse, and UMAK.

Attendance and Engagement:

The two meetings attracted 41 participants comprising representatives from government, community leadership, and refugee-led organizations. The gender distribution included 28 males and 13 females, achieving approximately 70% attendance of the targeted stakeholders.

Key Achievements:

During the past six months, CTEN made notable strides in:

1. Increasing awareness of renewable energy solutions and waste management.
2. Encouraging active participation of local communities in workshops and surveys.
3. Identifying priority waste sites for intervention.
4. Strengthening collaboration between stakeholders and community representatives.

Challenges Identified:

Despite the achievements made, several challenges emerged:

• Limited resources to scale up waste management interventions.
• The need for more practical demonstrations and pilot projects.
• Gaps in technical capacity among local community members.

However, these challenges are not insurmountable. With continued engagement from partners and the valuable feedback from the community, SUNNY is implementing strategies to address these issues effectively. Increased resource allocation, practical training sessions, and strengthening local capacity will help overcome these obstacles, ensuring the long-term success of the project. These challenges also present opportunities to further engage communities and drive innovative solutions tailored to local realities.

Community Feedback and Lessons learned

Community leaders shared valuable insights:

• Appreciation for the positive impact the SUNNY project is expected to bring to livelihoods.
• A call for increased training programs on renewable energy maintenance and business development.
• The need for broader engagement of youth and women in project activities.

Through the engagement process, several lessons emerged:

1. Local knowledge enhances the relevance of waste mapping data and ensures sustainability.
2. Hands-on, practical training is essential for effective capacity-building.
3. Sustained collaboration with local government improves project implementation.

Critical Observations and recommendations for future activities

Some notable observations included:

• Awareness of sustainable energy solutions remains relatively low, necessitating ongoing sensitization.
• Collaboration with local authorities facilitated smoother implementation.
• Some community members had expectations of monetary incentives for participation.

To ensure the continued success of the SUNNY project, the following recommendations were made:

1. Increase the frequency of training sessions and workshops.
2. Implement more practical demonstrations on waste management and renewable energy.
3. Strengthen partnerships with local government and private sector actors to enhance sustainability.

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The inception meeting successfully laid the groundwork for the SUNNY project, bringing together key stakeholders who demonstrated a shared commitment to its success. The end-of-year feedback meeting provided critical insights that will shape future activities, emphasizing the need for continuous engagement, technical capacity building, and sustainable collaboration.

As CTEN moves forward, it remains dedicated to empowering communities through digital inclusion, renewable energy education, and waste management initiatives, ensuring that refugees and host communities alike become more self-reliant and resilient.

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