Answers

Name:

Elin Wrzoncki

Organisation:

Danish Institute for Human Rights

Response:

COMMENTS TO RENEWED DANISH SUPPORT TO THE WORLD BANK ENERGY SECTOR MANAGEMENT ASSISTANCE PROGRAM (ESMAP), 2025-2030 The Danish Institute for Human Rights welcomes the Danish Support for the Energy Sector Management Assistance Program (ESMAP) with a view to ensuring universal access to affordable, reliable, and modern energy services by 2030, accelerating the transition towards a sustainable, just and net zero energy system; and ensuring the resilience of the energy sector to adapt to impacts of climate change. While energy access is critical to the realisation of many human rights such as the right to health, the right to a clean and healthy environment, the right to education etc., energy generation and transmission projects may also have adverse human rights impacts. Therefore, the focus on the principles of a human rights-based approach (articulated as PANT) are welcome, however it is suggested human rights risks could also be identified more clearly in the Programme and human rights mainstreamed into the Programme. In relation to Electricity Access Program in Sub-Saharan Africa in particular, special attention needs to be given to impacts of energy production and transmission on indigenous and pastoralist communities. More specifically, recognition of their rights, including to Free Prior and Informed Consent (FPIC), recognition of their territorial and cultural rights, and to an adequate and fair compensation in cases of economic and physical displacement should be articulated. A large proportion of renewable energy resources, such as wind and geothermal, are located in territories inhabited by indigenous peoples, traditional and pastoralist groups that are strongly depended on the resources and are the most affected by climate change. Also, it is important to request special attention on access to energy to precisely these groups, and the intersectional challenges of indigenous and pastoralists women and girls when designing access to energy and clean cooking programs. It is also strongly recommended to strengthen and upgrade the grievance mechanisms of the projects and programs supported by ESMAP and the WBG in order to ensure that access to remediation and justice is accessible to those persons and groups impacted. A timely identification of unintended negative impacts and inequalities can prevent the escalation of conflict and avoidable harm to local communities. Also, it is important that such redress mechanisms are gender responsive and culturally adequate. EMF could request WBG and ESMAP to consider impacts on gender and human rights of energy projects, especially in those implemented in areas of conflict, and/or characterized by extreme poverty and the presence of indigenous, traditional and pastoralist groups.

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