Grant Request for the Innovation, Environment and Resilience Fund (Discussion: Post First)
Background. The UN Refugee Agency provides innovation grants to increase the resilience of communities. As their website says: the UN Refugee Agency wants to promote novel ideas and ways of thinking to tackle global climate and environmental crises. These complex crises require us to move beyond just responding to disasters but anticipating challenges and building resilience among refugee and host communities. The following five challenges are currently active:
- Settlement: How might we improve or design settlements to make them more environment-friendly and able to withstand extreme weather and climate events? How might we reduce environmental hazards and sustainably benefit from the surrounding natural environment, while safeguarding its health and diversity?
- Housing solutions: How might we design dignified, affordable, and sustainable housing solutions that respect a circular materials and ecosystem approach, and are adapted to environmental and climate conditions that might worsen in the future?
- Water: How might we design eco-friendly and efficient water, sanitation, and hygiene technologies (high- or low-tech) for a healthier environment for refugees and host communities?
- Energy: How might we create affordable, reliable, and sustainable energy technologies (high- or low-tech) and/or sustainable and protection-oriented business models for refugee settlements and nearby host communities, promoting the use of clean fuels and renewable energy?
- Supply chain and process innovation: How might we improve UNHCR’s business processes and supply chains to contribute to a more sustainable and respectful use of natural resources and minimize negative environmental impacts?
