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We Care Solar
awarded
US$1 million
UN-CEFC Energy Grant
The China Energy Fund Committee (CEFC)
and United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs
announced the first recipient of the
Powering the Future We Want energy
grant.
The grant, which provides one million
US dollars to fund energy-related sustainable development
programs, is awarded to individuals, institutions, or
partnerships for achievements, leadership, and innovation in
advancing energy for sustainable development. The first
recipient of the grant,
is
We Care Solar.
We Care Solar has developed and
distributed a portable power supply system specifically
designed to assist medical procedures for childbirth. Nearly
half a million women die each year due to childbirth-related
complications, with enormous repercussions for families and
communities. Unreliable or lacking access to electricity,
which results in unlit operating rooms and non-functioning
medical equipment, is attributable to nearly half of these
preventable tragedies.
We Care Solar’s “Solar Suitcase”
brings a solar power kit to health clinics in a lightweight,
durable, and affordable package. The suitcase supplies power
necessary for delivery and operating room lighting, and
includes equipment necessary for a variety of obstetric
medical procedures. Now five years running, the solar
suitcase program has been successfully fielded in a number
of countries. The grant will allow We Care Solar to expand
the scale and reach of their program.
Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon,
President of the General Assembly Sam Kutesa, Under
Secretary-General Wu Hongbo, and Nikil Seth, the Director of
the UN Division for Sustainable Development, were among the
many dignitaries who attended the award ceremony. Dr.
Patrick Ho, CEFC’s Deputy Chairman and Secretary-General,
represented CEFC at the award ceremony.
Secretary General Ban Ki-moon
discussed the context and importance of the award in his
opening remarks. Energy, he said, underpins many of the
world’s development objectives, including eliminating
poverty, enhancing food security, providing health services,
and increasing access to education. For Secretary General
Ban, the award ceremony served not only to announce the
winner of the grant but also to honor, recognize, and
showcase the work being undertaken around the world to
achieve sustainable energy for all.
CEFC’s Deputy Chairman and Secretary
General, Dr. Patrick Ho, said that the UN-CEFC Energy Grant
is intended to encourage and commend excellence in the field
of global energy. Individuals and organizations working to
promote sustainable development should be recognized, he
said, because they contribute
to a better life for all mankind.
More than 200 organizations and
individuals applied to the Energy Grant. After several
rounds of evaluation, ten finalists were selected. Among
these, We Care Solar was chosen as the recipient of the
million dollar grant. Masdar, the United Arab Emirates’
comprehensive sustainable energy project, was recipient of a
Special Award, while BYD – an IT, rechargeable battery, and
vehicle manufacturer – received a special recognition.
Masdar received the Special Award for
its efforts to promote the adoption and application of
renewable energy. Masdar’s activities in renewable energy
are renowned and extensive. In addition to developing its
own renewable energy program, Masdar has helped to develop
and service a number of renewable energy projects in
developing countries. Masdar has also focused on advancing
both renewable energy technology
and education.
BYD received its special recognition
for its work in developing and fielding sustainable
transport technologies. BYD’s electrified vehicle fleets
have been adopted in over 150 cities and 36 countries.
The ten finalists of the grant were:
Eco-Fuel Africa, the Electricity Regulatory Authority of
Uganda, MicroEnergy International, the Pact Institute,
Powerhive, the Self-Employed Women’s Association – Bharat (SEWA
Bharat), SolarAid, the Solar Electric Light Fund (SELF), the
Strathmore Energy Research Centre (SERC), the Centre for
Research in Energy and Energy Conservation (CREEC) and
Village Energy, and We Care Solar.
The Energy Grant is awarded jointly by
the United Nations and CEFC. CEFC is proud to represent
Chinese philanthropic efforts in the international
community, and to encourage and assist efforts to further
the development of sustainable energy.
The China Energy Fund Committee is a
non-governmental, non-profit civil society organization. It
serves as a high-end strategic think-tank engaged in energy
strategy research, energy and public diplomacy, and
promotion of global energy cooperation and cultural
exchange. CEFC holds special consultative status with the
United Nations, and is the sole sponsor of the Powering
the Future We Want Energy
Grant.
The Energy Grant’s website is
available at
https://poweringthefuture.un.org/.
Further information on CEFC’s work is available at
http://www.cefc.org.hk/ . |