General
10. In some emergency contexts where WHO is working, a lack or absence of quality infrastructure - and particularly electrical installations - is very often a common reality. This may be due to damage caused by a conflict or natural disaster or simply because it is not available due to economic or social circumstance or an unreliable or unavailable public electricity network. A constant electric power supply in any emergency is crucial. Any interruption is problematic for the project itself, as well for the security of staff and equipment.
Energy Principles
20. Values and Principles: Most of the operational activities in emergencies require energy to function. Therefore, efficient electrical installations in the field must ensure operativity of electrical equipment and reliable lighting installation in alignment with the following principles:
- Ensuring safety from the risk of electrocution in all structures supervised by WHO.
- Protecting equipment and distribution circuits on these sites.
- Ensuring a continuous electrical supply to the concerned WHO structures.
- Optimizing energy consumption to control the cost and to reduce the environmental impact of the projects.
30. Intervention limits: While, the World Health Organization's (WHO) principals and ethical values provides a wide range of energy option for its public health interventions, the operational mandate, staff technical capacity and financial resources may limit activities. However, energy needs in the premises under WHO's supervision (both operational and team accommodation) should be clearly identified and energy types should be selected and dimensioned to respond to the needs and/or tailored to the context without jeopardizing security and safety requirement. WHO should therefore ensure the electrical system installed is regularly tested and maintain by a professional and competent personnel.
40. Energy/electricity implementation Process: The key principle for emergency energy support is a "rapid infrastructures deployment and quick systems installation". Therefore, predefining emergency requirements and processes can facilitate and ensure the rapid operational intervention of energy system installation so that frontline teams are capacitated to provide appropriate operational support in emergencies.
Energy sectors definition
50. Personal electrical Safety: One of the first Operation Support and Logistics (OSL) support priorities relates to energy and electricity demands, is to assure peoples' safety by reducing the risks of electrocution and fire. As such systems will be adapted, designed and implemented to meet the response specifics requirements and will follow the following five safety features: appropriate insulation, designed distribution board, conform protective mechanisms against overheating and short-circuits, a main system for cutting off power, system earthing, and differential blocks.
60. Equipment protection: As well as protecting people, OSL technical support is engaged in protecting the electrical equipment and devices. Three main measures should be put in place a). installing and ensuring thermal overload switches for faults detection, b). lighting protection to avoid critical equipment damage, and c). voltage stabilization to protect devices against voltage variations which may damage them, with the appropriate configuration (country voltage and frequency).
70. Energy supply continuity and storage: The continuity of the operations undertaken in the field cannot be guaranteed without a good quality electric network. Therefore, the electrical network must be adapted to consumption requirements, reliable, available and quickly repairable in case of a breakdown. OSL procures the appropriate balance between energy production, consumption and storage, independent and reliable supply source (even as a backup solution), flexible enough to adapt it in an evolving operational context.
80. Energy systems costs and performance, environmental impact: OSL provides technical and operational support for energy systems requirements. By doing so it ensures that there is a high quality cost effective system setup. It also keeps records of consumption and electrical peaks to better adapt the system to needs, and monitors and checks the circuits to improve efficiency and safety. This results in rational use of electricity, without jeopardizing operational needs. It can then also minimize the environmental impact of WHO emergency activities.
Emergency Energy Deployments
90. OSL is responsible for assuring WHO standards for Energy/electricity requirements in the structures under its responsibilities during the emergency response phase while supporting operational needs. Support may be provided in different ways, remote or onsite technical assistance, the development of specific emergency operational kits and modules, and/or improving local capacity building through training.
100. OSL HQ: OSL HQ leads the technical support in coordination with Regional and Country offices if capacitated. OSL HQ provides guidance on kits/modules, guidelines and policy development OSL/HQ also provides surge capacity when an emergency grading process requires it.
110. OSL Regional Office (OSL RO): RSL RO supports technical human resources requirements from the region and promotes technical standards across the different Country Offices. It is also responsible for building capacity in the region and disseminating guidelines, tools and kits.
120. OSL Country Offices: When capacitated, OSL COs provide local technical support and is responsible for upholding standards in the emergency activities. OSL CO is usually the first responder and is, therefore, often responsible for conducting the first needs assessment.
