Sharjah: The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) and Sharjah Research Technology Innovation Park (SRTIP) have established the first Energy and Water Knowledge Hub in the MENA region.
This Hub aims to find innovative solutions for pressing humanitarian challenges in the field of water and energy and hopes to emerge as a key regional platform for dialogue and action.
The Energy and Water Knowledge Hub, located at the SRTIP, will host in-person classes and provide technical laboratories to train ICRC staff and other organizations. Furthermore, this hub will nurture expertise in sustainable energy solutions, notably renewable energy.
Climate change has global repercussions, but those in fragile environments feel its harshest impacts. The dual challenges of climate change and conflict exacerbate inequalities and suffering. This kind of collaboration with our UAE counterparts underscores the power of pooling expertise and best practices to amplify our collective ability to address humanitarian challenges together.
Ms. Clare Dalton, ICRC’s Head of Delegation in the UAE, said,
The holistic training facility in the UAE will integrate advanced renewable energy training with foundational humanitarian operation modules. This facility will target a diverse audience from various sectors, such as academia, the private sector, development, and other humanitarian organizations.
They all run energy projects and face similar challenges in finding innovative sustainable solutions that draw on new technologies.
The Hub’s strategic partners, Schneider Electric, Grundfos, the Paul Due Jensen Foundation, and SRTIP, have also contributed to this initiative.
The first training session for ICRC engineers from the region kicked off on November 6, 2023, with further sessions lined up for the subsequent years, which are open to interested partners and organizations to train and have their staff trained.