Welcome to CENFACS’ Online Diary!
27 April 2022
Post No. 245
The Week’s Contents
• FACS, Issue No. 75, Spring 2022: Energy Security for Those in Most Need
• Protection Key Note 4 for Week Beginning 25/04/2022: Protection against the Cost-of-Living Crisis
• CENFACS’ Cube of Protection against Coronavirus: Evaluation for Learning and Development
… And much more!
Key Messages
• FACS, Issue No. 75, Spring 2022: Energy Security for Those in Most Need
The 75th Issue of FACS, CENFACS’ bilingual newsletter, which deals with the problem of available energy sources (that is; materials producing energy) at an affordable price and without interruption, approaches energy security from the perspective of small-scale local development that directly benefit individual households and small communities, especially in rural and sub-urban areas. From this perspective, the 75th Issue does not deal with energy security at national level although it may sometimes appeal to macroeconomic concepts of energy security.
The 75th Issue refers to the multidimensional energy poverty index in order to get a good understanding of the energy security problems faced by those in most need. It also uses the international energy security risk index to measure and understand the vulnerability of energy poor to the upheavals and shocks of the global energy market.
The 75th Issue considers the constraints of interstate fracture of economic and trade relations brought by the Russia-Ukraine conflict, and how these frictional relations could impact the energy security of the poor. In this respect, it takes into account the geopolitics of energy security and its impact on the energy poor.
The 75th Issue highlights the political and economic interests of energy actors within Africa, and how their interests impact energy poverty reduction in Africa.
The 75th Issue does not only discuss the energy security dimensions of those in most need. It as well offers ways of working with them, especially CENFACS‘ users and Africa-based Sister Organisations; so that together we can develop solutions to energy security or poverty for those in most need within the CENFACS Community and the communities that our Africa-based Sister Organisations serve.
In those ways of working together, the 75th Issue proposes nature-based solutions to energy security problems as way of aligning to net zero carbon development. As such, the 75th Issue provides a better insight and is a good starting point in the direction of building forward better together greener, cleaner and safer from the legacies of the current energy crisis.
Like any newsletter, the 75th Issue finally provides information about what is happening inside and around CENFACS, updates about our ongoing projects and forthcoming events.
To get to grips with energy security issues raised in the 75th Issue, please read the key summaries under the Main Development section of this Blog post.
• Protection Key Note 4 for Week Beginning 25/04/2022: Protection against the Cost-of-Living Crisis
We started our Month of Protection with Protection in the Context of Rising Cost of Living, because of what has been happening with the prices of energy, food, transport, shelter, etc. The prices of these necessities of life have gone up to leading to what one may call the cost-of-living crisis. Now, our Month of Protection has reached its last note, let us call back what we argued about the cost of living and the crisis relating to it.
• • What is the cost-of-living? What is the cost-of-living crisis?
• • • What is the cost-of-living?
According to the ‘ecnmy.org’ (1) website,
“The cost of living is a measure of how much money it costs to live a fairly average quality of life. Economists measure the cost of living by looking at different cities or countries and adding up the prices of the goods that people need to live an average life – food, housing, transport, energy and healthcare and taxes. They then look to see where prices are on the whole are the most expensive”.
For example, the website ‘expatistan.com’ (2) provides calculation for the cost of living. As of April 2022, it has estimated that the cost of living in London (UK) for a family of four estimated monthly costs is £4,924, whereas the cost of living in Kinshasa (Democratic Republic of Congo) for the same family is 8,356,870 Congolese Franc. According to the same website, the cost of living in London (United Kingdom) is 75% more expensive than in Kinshasa (Democratic Republic of the Congo).
If this cost of living goes up as it is the case now and people’s income does not increase to match it, then there could be a cost-of-living crisis.
• • • What is the cost-of-living crisis?
The Institute for Government (3) defines the cost of living crisis as
“The fall in real incomes (that is, adjusted for inflation and tax) that the UK has experienced since late 2021. It is being caused by a combination of high inflation outstripping wage increases and upcoming tax increases that have squeezed incomes for many households”.
In these circumstances, there is a need of protection to help and support those who are failing to meet the rise in the cost of living. To support and work with those members of the CENFACS’ Community who are failing to meet their cost of living, we have identified some areas of protection work with them.
• • Ways in which CENFACS can work with the community to protect it from the cost-of-living crisis
There is a number of ways in which CENFACS can work with the community to enhance protection against the cost-of-living crisis. One of these ways is through our newly designed the Hexagon of Protection.
• • • What is CENFACS’ Hexagon of Protection?
It is a 2 dimensional project or model of working together that tackles poverty linked to the high cost of living or cost-of-living crisis. The model considers the cost of living indexes which include expenses such as those on food, shelter, transportation, energy, clothing, healthcare and childcare, etc. The model helps to alleviate the high cost of living that can settle in the long term.
The model complements what we said last week about Advisory Support for the Impacted of the Cost-of-Living Crisis. This model is used when a user approaches us for support against the cost-of-living crisis.
For those who are looking for support against the cost-of-living crisis, CENFACS is ready to help, provided their need or demand of protection falls within the scope of the service we can provide on this matter. Where our capacity is limited, we can refer or signpost them to relevant services and organisations to deal with their problems.
The above is our Protection Key Note 4. For any further details about Protection against the Cost-of-living Crisis and CENFACS’ Month of Protection, please do not hesitate to contact CENFACS.
• CENFACS’ Cube of Protection against Coronavirus: Evaluation for Learning and Development
• • What is CENFACS’ Cube of Protection against the Coronavirus?
CENFACS’ Cube of Protection against the Coronavirus (4) is a cuboidal system that enables us to defend ourselves and the community against harms, dangers, threats and risks from the coronavirus and its associated health and socio-economic impacts. This cube, which was set on 15 April 2020 to enable us to fight the coronavirus, brings together coronavirus-related initiatives that are intended to help poor, vulnerable people and incapacitated Africa-based organisations. This cube is now under evaluation.
• • Evaluation: What are the Lessons and Experiences from this Cube?
We are currently evaluating this Cube of Protection and looking into what lessons and experiences we can draw from its use. The evaluation will help to know if our response has been appropriate. In particular, we are assessing how helpful and relevant it has been in the fight against the coronavirus. We are doing this evaluation since we now are in the phase of ‘Living with COVID-19’ in England and most COVID-19 restrictions have been lifted.
In this study on the lessons and experiences about the Cube of Protection, we would like those of our members who have been able to use the cube and or its sub-cubes, to tell us what they think.
To tell your experience or join this evaluation activity about the lessons and experiences about the Cub of Protection, please contact CENFACS.
Extra Messages
• Coming in May 2022: Volunteering Stories of Building Forward Better from the COVID-19 Disaster
This year’s All in Development Stories will be about how people and communities are trying or have tried to build forward better from the coronavirus disaster and its variants.
This year’s stories are those of:
∝ restoration to original or near conditions
∝ recovery forward better cleaner, greener and safer
∝ transformation to cope with the new realities and post-coronavirus economy
∝ aligning poverty reduction work with long-term greenhouse gas emissions reduction goals.
They are the tales of human, physical, social, environmental and economic building forward better.
Besides that, we would like to consider stories of coping with the cost-of-living crisis. In particular, we would like to hear tales of how the cost-of-living crisis is jeopardising the process of building forward better together greener, cleaner and safer.
For further details including the agenda for this year’s May Stories, please contact CENFACS.
• Fundraising while Gaming for Poverty Reduction
For those who are playing the CENFACS Poverty Relief League, they can use the opportunity of playing to introduce a giving feature in their game. They can ask those who are involved in the game with them to support good causes in African countries making part of their fixtures and tables. In this way, they can help revolutionise the game with a fundraising element while entertaining through the game with or without others.
They can as well journal if they are writing a Journal of Poverty Relief League. The journal will help them to capture the moments of their game via expressive writing and story. It can have other benefits such as setting goals, tracking or measuring your progress on the game, recording and celebrating achievements and gaining both general and specific perspectives of their game.
However, they must remember that the aim of the CENFACS’ League of Poverty Relief is to help African countries reduce poverty by finding out the best performer amongst them in terms of poverty reduction. The aim of this league is not to raise money.
For those who may be having or are experienced some problems in installing a fundraising feature in the game, they can speak to CENFACS.
Please remember that CENFACS’ League of Poverty Relief is the world’s only league without relegation. Those countries that do not perform well in terms of poverty reduction get help, not a punishment.
To discuss your progress in the game, the fundraising feature in the game or any other issues relating to All Year Round Projects (Triple Value Initiatives), please do not hesitate to contact CENFACS.
• Protection of Children Victims of the Cost-of-living Crisis
From 2019 until now, the world has been battling against COVID-19 crisis. Now, we have another crisis, which is the cost-of-living crisis. The two crises are standing on the way of realising sustainable development goals and of achieving protection goals for children.
As part of the Month of Protection, we are as well looking at what can be done in terms of protection to reduce or nullify the cyclical impact of the current cost-of-living crisis on children’s protection. The coronavirus crisis has led us to speak about the ‘Pandemial Generation‘. The “Pandemial Generation” or “Pandemials” are defined by the economist Federico Dominguez (5) as
“those young people who are entering the world of work along with the coronavirus crisis”.
So, the children generation of the sustainable development goals (that is, children born between 2015 and 2030 during the life time of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals) could one day become the “Pandemial Generation” because of the long lasting legacies of the coronavirus pandemic.
However, there is no need to label children victims of the current cost-of-living crisis. Instead of labelling them, it is better to explore and identify solutions that can help them for not to be the victims of another crisis like the cost-of-living crisis. CENFACS’ Reflection Day (to be held on 27/04/2022) will go in depth by reflecting on what can be done to shield these children from the cost-of-living crisis.
For those who would like to work with us on this matter of Protection of Children Victims of the Cost-of-living Crisis or share their ideas with us, they are welcome to contact CENFACS.
Vient de paraître:
FACS, numéro 75, printemps 2022 : La sécurité énergétique pour ceux ou celles qui en ont le plus besoin
Le 75e numéro de FACS, le bulletin bilingue du CENFACS, qui traite du problème des sources d’énergie disponibles (c’est-à-dire des matériaux produisant de l’énergie) à un prix abordable et sans interruption, aborde la sécurité énergétique du point de vue du développement local à petite échelle qui profite directement aux ménages individuels et aux petites communautés, en particulier dans les zones rurales et suburbaines. De ce point de vue, le 75e numéro ne traite pas de la sécurité énergétique au niveau national, bien qu’il puisse parfois faire appel à des concepts macroéconomiques de sécurité énergétique.
Le 75e numéro fait référence à l’indice multidimensionnel de précarité ou pauvreté énergétique afin de bien comprendre les problèmes de sécurité énergétique auxquels sont confrontés ceux ou celles qui en ont le plus besoin. Il utilise également l’indice international des risques pour la sécurité énergétique pour mesurer et comprendre la vulnérabilité des pauvres en énergie aux bouleversements et aux chocs du marché mondial de l’énergie.
Le 75e numéro examine les contraintes de la fracture interétatique des relations économiques et commerciales provoquée par le conflit russo-ukrainien, et comment ces relations frictionnelles pourraient avoir un impact sur la sécurité énergétique des pauvres. À cet égard, il examine la géopolitique de la sécurité énergétique et son impact sur les précarités énergétiques.
Le 75e numéro met en lumière les intérêts politiques et économiques des acteurs de l’énergie en Afrique et l’impact plus ou moins négatif de leurs intérêts sur la réduction de la pauvreté énergétique en Afrique.
Dans la présentation de l’analyse de la sécurité énergétique, le 75e numéro n’épargne pas l’économie politique des grands acteurs sur le marché de l’énergie contre les populations locales pauvres en énergie. Parmi ces populations se trouvent des personnes avec lesqulles le CENFACS travaille.
Le 75e numéro ne traite pas seulement des dimensions de la sécurité énergétique de ceux ou celles qui en ont le plus besoin. Il offre également des moyens de travailler avec eux/elles, en particulier les utilisateurs/utilisatrices du CENFACS et les organisations sœurs basées en Afrique; afin qu’ensemble, nous puissions trouver des solutions à la sécurité énergétique pour ceux ou celles qui en ont le plus besoin au sein de la communauté CENFACS et des communautés desservies par nos organisations sœurs basées en Afrique.
Dans ces façons de travailler ensemble, le 75e numéro propose des solutions fondées sur la nature aux problèmes de sécurité énergétique comme moyen de s’aligner sur un développement net zéro carbone. En tant que tel, le 75e numéro fournit un meilleur aperçu et un bon point de départ dans la direction de construire mieux ensemble plus vert, plus propre et plus sûr des effets parfois douloureux de la crise énergétique actuelle.
Pour vous familiariser avec les questions de sécurité énergétique soulevées dans le 75e numéro, veuillez contacter le CENFACS pour une copie de ce numéro.
Main Development
• FACS, Issue No. 75, Spring 2022: Energy Security for Those in Most Need
The contents and key summaries of the 75th Issue of FACS are given below.
• • Contents and Pages
∝ Key energy concepts (Page 2)
∝ Russia-Ukraine conflict as a factor of energy insecurity for those in most need (Page 2)
∝ De-weaponization of energy to increase energy security outcomes for those in most need (Page 3)
∝ Energy as a an economic, environmental and social security for those in most need (Page 3)
∝ Africa-based Sister Organisations enhancing energy security for those in most need in Africa (Page 4)
∝ Africa-based Sister Organisations working with locals in most need to address energy insecurity in Africa (Page 4)
∝ Ce que les organisations africaines peuvent faire pour que les conséquences des hausess de prix énergétiques ne s’installent pas dans la durée au sein de leurs usagers (Page 5)
∝ Que peut-on faire pour que la crise énergétique ne fragilise pas les budgets de ménages en Afrique? (Page 5)
∝ Comment on peut éviter la pauvreté induite par l’insécurité énergétique au sein des populations locales en Afrique (Page 6)
∝ Sortir des conséquences directes de la flambée des prix énergétiques sur la sécurité énergétique en Afrique (Page 6)
∝ Africa-based Sister Organisations keeping energy security for their locals in most need during critical situations (Page 7)
∝ The dilemma between natural resources security by multinational corporations and energy security for those in most need in Africa (Page 7)
∝ International energy geopolitics and energy security for those in need in Africa (Page 8)
∝ Political economy analysis, energy security analysis and poverty reduction in Africa (Page 8)
∝ Say, Question, Support, Workshop, Top Tool, Information and Guidance, Activity and Giving (Page 9)
∝ Energy Security Project (Page 10)
• • Key Summaries
Please find below the key summaries of the 75th Issue of FACS from page 2 to page 10.
• • • Key Energy Concepts (Page 2)
There are three concepts that will help the readers of FACS to better understand the contents of the 75th Issue. These concepts are: energy security, multidimensional energy poverty index and energy security risk index.
Let us briefly explain each of them.
• • • • Energy security
Energy security can be defined in many ways. In the context of the 75th Issue, we are referring to what the International Energy Agency (6) argued. The latter defines energy security as
“The uninterrupted availability of energy sources at an affordable price”.
The same International Energy Agency argues that
“Energy security has many aspects: long term energy security mainly deals with timely investments to supply energy in line with economic development and environmental needs. On the other hand, short term energy security focuses on the ability of the energy system to react promptly to sudden changes in the supply-demand balance”.
In this 75th Issue, we have contextualised this concept of energy security by bringing it closer to energy insecure people, amongst them are our users and some of the local people with whom our Africa-based Sister Organisations work.
• • • • Multidimensional energy poverty index
When dealing with people experiencing energy insecurity, to better understand their experience one may need to bring in energy poverty. And energy poverty has multiple facets or dimensions. These facets or dimensions can be measured using metrics. One of the metrics is multidimensional energy poverty index. What is multidimensional energy poverty index (MEPI)?
According the website ‘tandfonline’ (7),
“Multidimensional energy poverty index, which consists of three broad categories of energy use (that is; lighting, cooking and additional measures), is calculated to formulate the energy security status of households” (p. 303)
The metrics of MEPI will be used in the 75th Issue to understand the energy security status of households making the CENFACS Community and the communities that our Africa-based Sister Organisations work with.
• • • • Energy security risk index
This index helps to assess the risk associated to people’s vulnerability to the upheavals of the global energy market. To measure this risk, the Global Energy Institute (8) argues about an international energy security risk index. According to the Global Energy Institute,
“The index is made up of 37 different measures of energy security risk in nine categories: global fuels; fuel imports; energy expenditures; price and market volatility; energy use-intensity; electric power sector; transportation sector; environmental sector; and basic science and energy research and development”.
The energy security risk index will be used to assess the vulnerability of those in most need in our community to the upheavals of the global energy market.
• • • Russia-Ukraine Conflict as a factor of energy insecurity for those in most need (Page 2)
The Russia-Ukraine conflict has so far negatively impacted the energy security of those in most need, including those living in Africa. Referring to this impact, Katie Auth and Todd Moss (9) argue the following:
“…In many African countries, the price of oil … has enormous impacts on electricity generation. In West Africa, diesel generators account for more than 40 percent [PDF] of total electricity consumed; Senegal currently relies on oil for half its electricity generation. This has enormous economic impacts: as fuel prices soar across the continent, businesses in countries like Nigeria – which has seen the cost of diesel increase by more than 200 percent – are struggling to stay afloat. The rising cost of natural gas also makes utility-scale electricity generation much more expensive in markets like Ghana, Cote d’Ivoire, and Nigeria”.
So, like in any conflicts or crises, it is always the poor (here the energy poor) who bear the brunt of this energy crisis or insecurity.
• • • De-weaponization of energy to increase energy security outcomes for those in most need (Page 3)
Using energy as a security weapon can adversely impact those in most need. To highlight this adversity, Todd Royal (10) points out this:
“Since oil, natural gas, and coal are now intertwined with geopolitics, international relations, foreign policy, realist balancing that pits nation against nation, and macroeconomic monetary policy, energy and electricity are now coupled with national security. Russia and Iran use fossil fuel, nuclear power plants, and renewable energy as weapons – hence the term the weaponization of energy”
Although Todd Royal uses the example of Russia and Iran, it could be another country or locality of the world. Whoever weaponizes energy, this weaponization can be at the detriment of the energy security outcomes for those in most need of energy. This is why there could be a need to de-weaponize energy to improve energy security for the poor.
• • • Energy as a an economic, environmental and social security for those in most need (Page 3)
a) Energy as an economic security means that scarce energy resources can be allocated to meet unlimited needs of those in need. As Jiangquan et al. (11) put it:
“Energy economic security is described as a state in which energy supply can meet the energy demand of economic development, energy resources can be reasonably allocated and effectively utilised, sustainable development of energy assets can be fully considered, and regional and intergenerational equity of energy resources allocation can be guaranteed”.
b) Energy as an environmental security relates to the quality of life for those in most need as human beings and for other organisms (like plants and animals). It is also about how human beings use natural resources to produce energy for their own needs. In other words, human beings should not deplete or cause environmental insecurity through the process of exploiting natural resources to secure energy.
c) Energy as a social security means that energy is provided for the welfare and wellbeing of people in society. In this respect, energy can help to live with others as friends, families and community. Energy can assist in reducing poverty linked to loneliness or solitary. It could be finally a system in which members of the community pay into a common energy fund to buy energy and share the cost of having energy. If you are in most need and cannot afford pay by yourself energy, energy as a social security could be an option for you.
These three attributes of energy can be used to work with those in need in our community so that they can have the security of their energy.
• • • Africa-based Sister Organisations enhancing energy security for those in most need in Africa (Page 4)
Africa-based Sister Organisations (ASOs) are working in a number of initiatives and activities to support their locals in most need secure energy. These initiatives and or activities include the following:
√ Raising awareness and increasing people’s access to modern cooking fuels such as liquefied petroleum gas, kerosene, biogas and ethanol gel fuel
√ Reduction of dependence on biomass
√ Distribution of cookstoves
√ Promotion of cookstoves that burn biomass more efficiently (i.e. clean-burning stoves)
Etc.
These initiatives and activities can help them to secure continuous availability of energy in varied forms, in the quantities they need, and at reasonable prices.
• • • Africa-based Sister Organisations working with locals in most need to address energy insecurity in Africa (Page 4)
ASOs are not only enhancers of energy security. They also address energy insecurity through their promotion work. They promote small-scale renewable energy sources (e.g. solar power, solar photovoltaic, etc.); just as they encourage reuse and recycling items and judicious energy consumption. They explore renewable sources that can be affordable and safe energy supply for those in most need in Africa.
• • • Ce que les organisations africaines peuvent faire pour que les conséquences des hausess de prix energétiques ne s’installent pas dans la durée au sein de leurs usagers (Page 5)
La montée des prix produits énergétiques tels que le pétrole et le gaz ne peut qu’heurter ceux ou celles qui souffrent déjà de manque de moyens pour subvenir à leurs besoins d’électricite, d’eau potable et du charbon. Dans ce contexte pénible et inflationniste des prix, les organisations africaines de bienfaisance qui sont du domaine de CENFACS sont en train de travailler avec leurs bénéficiaires afin que ceux-ci ou celles-ci soient à même d’accéder aux énergies de base pour fonctionner.
Ce travail porte sur la fourniture d’aide financière et réelle pour faciliter l’accès à l’eau potable, à l’électricité ou au charbon ou encore au bois pour préparer les aliments aussi bien que pour entretenir la santé corporelle. Ce travail s’étend aussi à leur assister à mieux comprendre les diverses informations et ressources produites by the autorités locales sur la sécurité énergétique.
• • • Que peut-on faire pour que la crise energétique ne fragilise pas les budgets de ménages en Afrique? (Page 5)
La crise énergétique a affaibli la manière dont les ménages pauvres ou modestes en Afrique se démènent pour financer leurs budgets, en mettant à rude épreuve les dépenses des ménages liées à la consommation d’énergie.
Il existe des moyens de contenir, d’anéantir ou de réduire les effets pervers de la crise énergétique sur les budgets des familles moyennes et pauvres. Pour ce faire, les organisations africaines s’appliquent en calculant le coût de la crise énergétique pour leurs utilisateurs et en travaillant au cas par cas avec les bénéficiaires.
• • • Comment on peut éviter la pauvreté induite par l’insécurité énergétique au sein des populations locales en Afrique (Page 6)
On peut y arriver en développant des alternatives aux sources d’énergie traditionnelles. L’une de ces alternatives est le développement d’énergies durables, propres et accessibles. Ces énergies doivent être accessibles at tout le monde, en particulier à ceux ou celles qui souffrent de précarité énergétique ou la pauvreté liée à l’insécureté énergétique.
Cela demande la transmission et le partage des connaissances sur des énergies renouvelables. Pour ceux ou celles qui souffrent de la pauvreté ou précarité énergétique et qui ont besoin d’un soutien pour accéder à ces connaissances et technologies, ils ou elles auront besoin d’une assistance. C’est en les soutenant de cette manière que l’on peut éviter ou faire reculer la pauvreté induite par l’insécureté énergétique au sein des populations locales en Afrique.
• • • Sortir des conséquences directes de la flambée des prix énergétiques sur la sécurité énergétique en Afrique (Page 6)
Pour sortir de ces conséquences, il y a lieu de procéder aux actions suivantes:
√ réaliser des progrès dans l’élimination progressive des combustibles fossiles (c’est-à-dire le charbon, le gaz et le petrole)
√ accélérer le déploiement des énergies renouvelables
√ réduire les prix des fossiles combustibles
√ progresser dans l’innovation en matière d’énergies propres
√ prévenir la pénurie d’énergie
√ stopper d’utiliser l’énergie comme une arme de guerre dans les négotiations internationales
√ éliminer la fracture interétatique des relations économiques et commerciales sur l’accès à l’énergie
√ développer des ecosystèmes d’innovation énergétique florissants
√ promouvoir la recherche et développement énergétique sur les produits non fossiles
√ pallier aux distortions artificielles sur les marchés de l’énergie.
Les initiatives ci-haut permettront de sortir à court, au moyen et long terme des conséquences néfastes directes de la flambée des prix énergétiques sur la sécurité énergétique en Afrique.
• • • Africa-based Sister Organisations keeping energy security for their locals in most need during critical situations (Page 7)
During critical situations (like of COVID-19 crisis and energy crisis), ASOs are working with locals in most need to access solar energy, hydropower like in the Democratic Republic of Congo, and other types of energy (such as gas generated power, coal, wind and geo-thermal).
As energy security keepers, they are working with them to access light so that they can improve their healthcare, education and economic opportunities. This helps their locals improve their energy consumption and access.
• • • The dilemma between natural resources security by multinational corporations and energy security for those in most need in Africa (Page 7)
There is an energy security dilemma between multinational corporations and people in most need in Africa. Africa-based Sister Organisations can work with both sides so that the voices of those who are energy insecure and poor heard. They can advocate so that the policies and practices of those multinational corporations searching for lucrative energy resources and contracts reflect or contain the interests of local energy insecure poor people and communities.
There has been some progress on this area of contracts about exploitation of natural resources (e.g. mining contracts). However, more can be done to improve energy security for the poor locals.
• • • International energy geopolitics and energy security for those in need in Africa (Page 8)
The interests and behaviour of powerful energy players and countries can be looked at so that they do not inflict energy security of those in need in Africa. Africa-based Sister Organisations working in those areas of geopolitics can work with those influent players and countries so that in their strategy to secure energy resources for their interests takes on board energy insecure poor people’s needs where those resources are located.
This is vital to avoid that these people become the victims of these geopolitical interests. For example, the expansion of the exploitation of oil and other energy resources in Sub-saharan Africa by some of these global geopolitical players and powers should not be done at the expense of energy insecure and poor locals.
• • • Political economy analysis, energy security analysis and energy poverty reduction in Africa (Page 8)
Energy security analysis in Africa shows that often the political and economic interests of energy actors within Africa collides with energy poverty reduction in Africa. If one wants to reduce or end energy poverty and improve energy security in Africa, then there is a need to make sure that the political economy of these actors (like in the case of the Inga Dam in the Democratic Republic of Congo) including their interests do not conflict energy insecure and poor to the extent of denying them their basic human rights.
• • • Say, Question, Support, Workshop, Top Tool, Information and Guidance, Activity and Giving (Page 9)
• • • • Have your Say
How the current rising prices of energy are affecting your energy security status?
Please tick (√ ) as appropriate.
You can share with CENFACS your experience about how you are coping from rising prices of energy.
• • • • Question
Is energy security a priority for you?
• • • • Ask CENFACS for Energy Security Support
You can ask for support to control your energy under the Advisory Support for the Impacted of the Cost-of-Living Crisis.
• • • • Mini Workshop
Boost your knowledge and skills about energy security via CENFACS.
To enquire about the boost, please contact CENFACS.
• • • • Top Tool of the 75th Issue: Energy Security Risk Indicator
Energy Security Risk Indicator can help you assess your household vulnerability to the upheavals of the global energy market.
For further details about this tool, please contact CENFACS.
• • • • Information and Guidance on Energy Security
You can request from CENFACS a list of organisations and services providing help and support in the area of energy security.
To make your request, just contact CENFACS with your name and contact details.
• • • • Spring Activity
How to use Energy Security Risk Index to work out your own household energy security risk
The index will help you find out your risk-aversion and vulnerability to rising prices of energy.
To take part in this activity, please contact CENFACS.
• • • • Readers’ Giving
You can support FACS, CENFACS‘ bilingual newsletter, which explains what is happening within and around CENFACS.
FACS also provides a wealth of information, tips, tricks and hacks on how to reduce poverty and enhance sustainable development.
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To support, just contact CENFACS on this site.
• • • • Energy Security Project (Page 10)
Energy Security Project (ESP) is an energy poverty-relieving initiative that will help assess the energy security needs of energy insecure and poor, and work together with them in order to explore and identify energy security options for them while developing the kind of energy safety net and protection they need.
ESP will further assist in increasing resilience to energy shocks or crises while accessing quality affordable, reliable and secure energy services where beneficiaries live.
To support or contribute to ESP, please contact CENFACS.
For further details including full project proposals and budget about the Energy Security Project, please contact CENFACS.
The full copy of the 75th Issue of FACS is available on request. For any queries and comments about this Issue, please do not hesitate to contact CENFACS.
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• References
(1) https://www.ecnmy.org/learn/your-home/consumption/cost-of-living (accessed in April 2022)
(2) https://www.expatistan.com/cost-of-living/comparison/kinshasa/london? (accessed in April 2022)
(3) https://www.institutefor government.org.uk/explainers/cost-living-crisis (accessed in April 2022)
(4) CENFACS’ Cube of Protection against the Coronavirus at cenfacs.org.uk/2020/04/15/protection-of-modest-incomes
(5) Federico Dominguez (2021), La Rebelión de los Pandemials, Editores Argentinos
(6) https://iea.org/topics/energy-security (accessed in April 2022)
(7) https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/pdf/10.1080/10246029.2020.1843509 (accessed in April 2022)
(8) https://www.globalenergyinstitute.org/sites/default/files/2020-10/024036% (accessed in April 2022)
(9) Auth, K. & Moss, T., (2022), How Russia’s Invasion of Ukraine Will Impact Africa’s Energy Transition at https://www.cfr.org/blog/how-russia-invasion-ukraine-will-impact-africa-energy-transition (accessed in April 2022)
(10) Royal, T. (2019), Russia, Iran and Weaponization of Energy at https://www.americanthinker.com/articles/2019/04/russia_iran_and_the_weaponization_of_energy.html? (accessed in April 2022)
(11) Wang, J., Wang, J., Shahbaz, M. & Song, M., (2021), Evaluating energy economic security and its influencing factors in China at https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/s0360544221008872?via%Dihub (accessed in April 2022)
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Help CENFACS keep the Poverty Relief work going this year
We do our work on a very small budget and on a voluntary basis. Making a donation will show us you value our work and support CENFACS’ work, which is currently offered as a free service.
One could consider a recurring donation to CENFACS in the future or as a New Year resolution.
Donate to support CENFACS!
FOR ONLY £1, YOU CAN SUPPORT CENFACS AND CENFACS’ PROJECTS, JUST GO TO :Support Causes – (cenfacs.org.uk)
Thank you for visiting CENFACS website and reading this post.
Thank you as well to those who made or make comments about our weekly posts.
We look forward to receiving your regular visits and continuing support throughout 2022 and beyond.
With many thanks.
