Geneva, Switzerland - Following the launch of the Lives in Dignity Grant Facility and the first call for proposals in June 2021, the European Union (EU) has allocated €12m for a second call for proposals to support local, innovative and development-oriented projects working to assist displacement-affected communities in three additional acute displacement crises. Forced displacement remains one of the world’s greatest sources of human suffering – according to UNHCR’s Mid-Year Trends Report 2021, global displacement looks set to exceed 84 million by mid-2021, an increase from 82.4 million reported at the end of 2020, with 85 per cent of those displaced hosted in developing countries. The impact of climate change is likely to accelerate the scale of this crisis. Following the launch of the first call for proposals in June 2021, projects have been selected in central America, the Sahel and countries affected by the Afghanistan crisis. The projects span local initiatives run by local NGOs to government-led programmes and national and international partnerships. They range from building climate-sensitive infrastructure for displaced communities at risk of extreme weather, supporting and growing livelihood opportunities among displaced and host communities, developing water, sanitation and health systems in areas of inadequate service provision, to relocation programmes in areas at severe risk of disaster. Each project will be formally announced in the coming weeks on the Lives in Dignity Grant Facility web pages. The second call for proposals will focus on projects in countries that have been impacted by the displacement crises in the Horn of Africa, and related to Myanmar and Venezuela. In alignment with the first call, proposals are expected to draw upon and develop new forms of collaboration between humanitarian, development and peace actors, with an emphasis on the engagement of affected populations and local leadership. Potential partners are asked to submit a concept note for the project they wish to have funded by the 23 January 2022 deadline – expanded proposals will then be requested from those who are shortlisted. European Commissioner for International Partnerships Jutta Urpilainen said: “The first call for proposals from the Lives in Dignity Grant Facility has demonstrated the value of a more local approach to forced displacement. Each selected project offers new and innovative ways to support communities’ resilience and empower their members through livelihoods and basic services. The second call for proposals focuses on some of the world’s most challenging displacement crises. It is our hope that this call too will spur approaches and solutions that make a concrete difference in the lives of displaced people and their hosts.” The Call for Proposals The second Call for Proposals focuses on the following countries: South and Southeast Asia: countries affected by both the Myanmar forced displacement situation and disaster/climate-related displacement: (Bangladesh, Malaysia, Myanmar and Thailand). Horn of Africa: Countries highly relevant to the Sudan–South Sudan situation (South Sudan, Sudan and Uganda). Americas: Countries highly affected by the Venezuela displacement situation (Aruba and Curacao, Colombia, the Dominican Republic, Ecuador and Peru). The deadline for submission of a concept note is Sunday 23 January 2022. Find out more about the Lives in Dignity Grant Facility and download the call for proposals.   About DG INTPA, European Commission: The Directorate-General for International Partnerships is responsible for formulating the EU’s international partnership and development policy, with the ultimate goal to reduce poverty, ensure sustainable development, and promote democracy, human rights, and the rule of law across the world. Read more: https://ec.europa.eu/info/departments/international-partnerships_en About UNOPS: UNOPS’ mission is to help people build better lives and countries achieve peace and sustainable development. We help the United Nations, governments and other partners to provide peace and security, humanitarian and development solutions. Read more: www.unops.org

​​​ETP will bring light to the issues faced in energy transition in SEA to the discussions at the 2021 United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP26), as it continues to mobilize and coordinate the necessary technical and financial resources to create an enabling environment for renewable energy, energy efficiency and sustainable infrastructure in the region.  In the first event, held jointly with the OECD today, the partnership will bring together experts from governments, intergovernmental organisations and the private sector to explore opportunities for further leveraging limited domestic and international public funds to mobilise clean energy finance and investment; discuss country progress and consider opportunities to enhance collaboration that catalyses greater investments in emerging economies and highlight international experience and recent developments in supporting clean energy development and mobilising capital for the private sector.  The event will advocate for more targeted application of public funding as well as international climate and development finance to increase the pipeline of bankable clean energy projects in emerging economies. The role of international support and collaboration can help to redouble investor opportunities, de-risk projects and leverage the large amount of private capital needed to achieve clean energy and climate ambitions in emerging economies.  The second event on Thursday will deliver a panel dialogue and discussion session by bringing together governments and international donor community on the challenges and opportunities to a low carbon energy system in the region; and the key role of international support to help the region achieve the ambitious Nationally Determined Contributions targets. The session will specifically explore the key role of international support in  (1) supporting an improved delivery environment to accelerate the energy transition in Southeast Asia, (2) improving coordination between other relevant initiatives in the region, including capital investments and technical assistance, and (3) where possible and appropriate, to promote communication and knowledge sharing among stakeholders in the region on energy transition. Moreover, it will explore the role of regional development partners aiming to bring leadership in the region together to accelerate the energy transition and tackle the barriers to the clean energy transition in Southeast Asia. The events will emphasize the role of development partners in unlocking the most imminent energy transition needs to achieve the ambitious climate commitment goals. As with the broader work of ETP, the discussions will facilitate donor efforts to support countries in Southeast Asia transition towards an energy system that simultaneously ensures environmental sustainability, economic growth and energy security.  Speaking ahead of the events, Director for SEA ETP, Sirpa Jarvenpaa said: “The ETP events at COP26 reflect our broader work, of bringing the right technical and financial resources together to create an enabling environment for renewable energy, energy efficiency and sustainable infrastructure in the region.” “Meeting clean energy and climate ambitions in emerging economies will require a massive increase in investments, channelling commercial capital to clean energy projects and attracting overseas investors. We are glad to be a part of these discussions, facilitating donors to support countries to unlock the most imminent energy transition needs across the region and achieve ambitious climate commitment goals.”  Notes to the editors:  Speakers at the first event include:  Airlangga Hartarto, Minister, Co-ordinating Ministry for Economic Affairs, Indonesia, National actions to unlock finance for climate action Ajay Mathur, Director General, International Solar Alliance, Enabling finance and investment in solar energy in emerging economies Shintya Roesli, Finance and Risk Management Director, PLN Norbert Gorißen, Deputy Director General Federal Ministry for the Environment Nature Conservation Building and Nuclear Safety (BMU), “The climate finance from bilateral and international donors to accelerate low carbon economy” Mason Wallick, Director, Southeast Asian Clean Energy Facility, “Private sector fundings and BF instruments to support public fundings in the energy transition (Indonesia story)” Michael Hugman, Director Climate Finance of Children Investment Fund Foundation (CIFF), “Role of philanthropy in energy transition in Southeast Asia” Speakers at the second event include:  Ms. Manelle Ait Sahlia, Deputy Head of Energy Department and the Chair of Southeast Asia Energy Transition Partnership (ETP), AFD DG Dadan Kusdiana, Director General, New Renewable Energy and Energy Conservation, Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources, Indonesia USEC William Felix Fuentabella, Undersecretary, Planning, Renewable Energy, Power, Investment, Media Affairs, Department of Energy, the Philippines Nguyen Hong Dien, Minister HE, Ministry of Industry and Trade, Viet Nam Edwin Syahruzad, President Director of PT Sarana Multi Infrastruktur (Persero) Lloyd Bautista, Academic Researcher and Lecturer,  Ateneo School of Governance Nhien Ngo, Executive Director of Vietnam Initiative for Energy Transition Simon Rolland, Energy Programme Director, GIZ Liz Mckeon, Head of Portfolio, Climate Action, IKEA Foundation Sirpa Jarvenpaa, Fund Director, Southeast Asia Energy Transition Partnership Live streams of the events can be found here: Event 1: Live streamed through this link Event 2: live streamed through this link Press contact details: For media inquiries, and to arrange interviews with authors please contact:
Yuchong Nam, Energy Transition Partnership - yuchongn [@] unops.org About Southeast Asia Energy Transition Partnership:  The Southeast Asia Energy Transition Partnership is a five-year, multi-donor partnership formed by governmental and philanthropic partners to accelerate sustainable energy transition in Southeast Asia in line with the Paris Agreement and Sustainable Development Goals. We combine the best of the public and private sector with the UN to help mobilize and coordinate technical and financial resources to build the foundations for renewable energy, energy efficiency and sustainable resilient infrastructures. With an initial focus on Indonesia, Vietnam and the Philippines, ETP helps countries to transition towards an energy system that simultaneously ensures environmental sustainability, economic growth and energy security. UNOPS is the fund manager and host of ETP Secretariat. Read more about ETP here and about UNOPS here.

On 25 and 26 October, 1,295 displaced persons in Ban Tham Hin Temporary Shelter in Suan Phueng District, Ratchaburi, received their first dose of COVID-19 vaccines, thanks to the effort of Thai Red Cross and its network partners. Administration of second dose is scheduled for November 2021. The pilot vaccination in Tham Hin camp by the Thai Red Cross is a vivid testimony of Thailand’s firm commitment to the principle of inclusivity without leaving anyone behind”, stated Giuseppe de Vincentiis, UNHCR representative while welcoming the commencement vaccination of vulnerable displaced persons in Thailand. The vaccination rollout was marked with launching event, presided by Dr. Apichart Chinwanno, Assistant Secretary General for Externals Relations of Thai Red Cross Society with participation of the governor of Ratchaburi, Mr. Ronnapop Luengpairote; Deputy Permanent Secretary of the Interior Ministry, representatives from UNHCR, Thai Red Cross Society (TRC), the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC), the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) and the International Rescue Committee (IRC). The Tham Hin campaign targets priority populations: individuals with chronic illness, with disabilities, elderly, and women with more than 12 weeks of pregnancy. Volunteers and health professionals jointly conduct vaccination. Htoo Htoo, an IRC volunteer, shared how thrilled he is to be part of this activity made possible thanks to close cooperation between TRC, Ministry of Interior, Ratchaburi province, Suan Pheung Hospital, IRC, and UNHCR. “I am also going to get vaccinated, and I am a bit nervous too”, said Htoo Htoo. “Still, I am hopeful vaccination will alleviate the challenges brought by COVID-19 for residents of temporary shelter”. Although COVID-19 impacts everyone, refugees and asylum-seekers can be particularly vulnerable due to challenges they may face in meeting basic needs, accessing information about COVID-19 and obtaining hygiene items or medical support. This pilot vaccination programme by the Thai Red Cross further builds on previous pilot projects launched by the Chulabhorn Royal Academy (CRA). During September-August, the CRA implemented a pilot vaccination programme which has benefitted 374 urban refugees. CRA has also allocated 20,000 doses for up to 10,000 refugees with already over 4,000 refugees having received first dose of vaccine in Mae La temporary shelter. UNHCR appreciates the generosity of Thailand in helping the most vulnerable have access to vaccines and continues to endeavour to engage all displaced communities in awareness-raising efforts to the furthest extent possible by integrating COVID-19 risk communication messages into its ongoing outreach activities, ensuring that materials and messages are shared in a culturally appropriate manner way and in relevant languages. Original press release published on UNHCR Thailand.

Bangkok, Thailand - The United Nations expresses full support for Thailand’s ban of electronic cigarettes, known as e-cigarettes, and urges the Government to take strong measures, as appropriate to the national context, to protect the people in Thailand, especially youth from the harms of tobacco use. “Evidence suggests that e-cigarettes are harmful to health and are not safe. E-cigarettes put young people at risk of lifelong nicotine addiction and can turn current users into dual users,” according to a letter issued today addressed to H.E. General Prayuth Chan-o-cha, Prime Minister of Thailand. The use of tobacco products kills approximately 70,000 people in Thailand every year, the World Health Organization (WHO) has reported, costing the economy an estimated 93 billion Thai baht or 0.65 per cent of the GDP. Renaud Meyer, UN Resident Coordinator ad interim to Thailand, said: “E-cigarettes pose a threat to Thailand’s tobacco control efforts and can reverse gains made over many decades. Especially worrying is the increasing use of e-cigarettes among adolescents aged 13-15 in recent years from 3.3 per cent in 2015 to 8.1 per cent in 2021.” Dr. Renu Garg, WHO representative ad interim to Thailand, commended recent efforts in tobacco control but also emphasized: “It is recommended to further enact comprehensive evidence-based tobacco control measures to reduce nicotine addiction and tobacco use, to fulfill Thailand’s obligations under the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control.” Responding to unproven health claims about e-cigarettes, she added: “WHO has never stated that e-cigarettes are 95 per cent less harmful to health than conventional cigarettes.” An earlier statement by WHO has confirmed the need to promote smoking cessation, citing tried and tested interventions, including brief advice from health professionals, quit lines, mobile text messaging, nicotine replacement therapies and non-nicotine pharmacotherapies.   For more information and media requests, please contact:  Amy Thaweeporn KUMMETHA (kummethat@who.int)