Supporting Green Innovations through Challenge Funds

Access and sustainable management of natural resources are challenging for refugees and host communities. For instance, firewood remains one of the main energy sources with associated protection, health and deforestation risks. Environmental degradation may also fuel community tensions.  

Supporting environmentally-friendly solutions is thus a priority and Uganda counts many such innovations : see our Green Innovations Catalogue here.  

In 2019-2020, RIL Uganda supported 5 clean-energy access innovations to pilot in the refugee settlement of Bidibidi in partnership with Mercy Corps and SNV. 

RIL is a part of the Smart Communities Coalition that contributes to pushing the clean energy agenda in the refugee response and disseminates learning on experiences of public and private sector partners.  

In 2020-2021, RIL further supported investment in this field by facilitating the 3rd call of the Dutch Relief Alliance Innovation Fund – allowing an investment of EUR 2 million in locally-led innovative proposals. See more about this locally-driven approach to funding innovation and the great solutions that emerged here.