SAFE Humanitarian Working Group

Mission

The mission of the SAFE Humanitarian Working Group is to facilitate a more coordinated, predictable, timely, and effective response to the fuel and energy needs of crisis-affected populations.

Vision

The SAFE Humanitarian Working Group members envision a world in which all crisis-affected populations are able to satisfy their fuel and energy needs for cooking, heating, lighting, and powering in a safe and sustainable manner, without fear or risk to their health, well-being, and personal security.

Membership

Membership in the SAFE Humanitarian Working Group is open to all relevant stakeholders contributing to safe access to fuel and energy for crisis-affected populations. Member organization representatives are typically from (but not limited to) the organization's headquarter offices.

The membership is divided into three tiers, with different levels of engagement for each.

How To Join

New Steering Committee and Associate members may join by submitting our online application, which will be submitted to the to the current chair(s) of the SAFE Humanitarian Working Group. New community members may simply send a request to info@safefuelandenergy.org. 

Membership in the SAFE Steering Committee requires a simple majority approval vote by the current membership. For Associate membership, if the applicant can meet the requirements as outlined, the chair(s) will approve and notify the applicant of its new member status.

Objectives and Key Activities

The SAFE Humanitarian Working Group activities fall under six main objectives, to which all SAFE members will contribute their relevant expertise:

1. Improve coordination and share information and knowledge

• Exchange and share information during regular monthly teleconferences and twice yearly in-person strategic planning meetings.
• Maintain and update mapping of the 4Ws (Who is Where, When, doing What) in all of the key areas related to safe access to fuel and energy for crisis-affected populations.
• Update information for the SAFE knowledge sharing and information management website hosted by the Global Alliance for Clean Cookstoves at the UN Foundation (safefuelandenergy.org).
• Identify and document key achievements, best practices, lessons learned, and other information on effective mechanism to address energy needs and challenges, and utilize the information for future planning and programming.
• Update the SAFE Global Interagency Working Group's terms of reference and strategy as necessary, but should be revisited at least once annually.
• Prepare a plan of action each year.

2. Commission research and build evidence through standardized monitoring and evaluation (M&E)

• Develop standardized indicators and an M&E framework for SAFE that can be used to evaluate programs and build evidence on impacts.
• Document and share lessons learned.

3. Provide technical support, tools, and guidance for implementation

• Serve as a technical resource to governments, non-governmental organizations, inter-governmental organizations, and practitioners using the best practices and principles including the IASC SAFE Guidelines (matrix and decision tree) and other resources developed by the global SAFE WORKING GROUP.
• Advise implementing organizations and practitioners on good practices and approaches.
• Provide recommendations for quality programming based on IASC SAFE Guidelines and lessons learned and captured through the SAFE project mapping exercise.
• Provide technical support to the field working groups in the process of developing, implementing and monitoring Standard Operating Procedures for all actors involved in SAFE-related activities.
• Develop and host a SAFE Roster of Experts.
• Disseminate relevant guidance and tools to practitioners to member and relevant non-member groups.
• Work with partners to develop and/or revise SAFE materials according to local context and implement relevant training sessions for multi-sectoral prevention and response on SAFE.
• Develop new guidance and tools, as needed, to facilitate quality program design and implementation.

4. Build human resource capacity of partners and key stakeholders

• Conduct trainings and hold workshops on SAFE for relevant stakeholders including field staff (e.g. program officers), donors, partners, and government officials.
• In collaboration with experts, support the capacity building of relevant stakeholders and suppliers.
• Support the enrollment of partners into GBV related courses and learning programs.

5. Conduct advocacy

• Increase the organizational, political, and financial prioritization of SAFE in humanitarian settings through targeted advocacy messaging and education.
• Support the field working groups in conducting advocacy at the local level, such as through community mobilization, supporting behavior change, and developing communication materials.
• Develop and leverage strategic partnerships with trusted advocacy organizations and journalists.
• Implement the SAFE Steering Committee advocacy strategy.

6. Mobilize resources

• Explore sources of funding and build contacts with relevant donors as a Working Group.
• Collaborate on joint proposals for SAFE coordination, research, and implementation.
• Provide information to SAFE partners about funding opportunities, requirements, and processes.
• Educate donors on SAFE needs, gaps, and opportunities.
• Provide relevant information and recommendations to the donor community on how and where donor funds for SAFE activities can be most effective.

Please contact info@safefuelandenergy.org for more information.