Hi!

My name is Iwona and I’m an independent energy access consultant, working on the nexus of modern cooking and electrification, and clean and modern cooking provision in low-income and humanitarian settings. Formerly, I was a Research Associate at the Modern Energy Cooking Services (MECS) programme based at Loughborough University. There, I focused on researching energy access in displacement settings and work closely with the Global Platform for Action on Sustainable Energy in Displacement Settings (GPA) on questions around data and financing for, as well as inclusive approaches to, modern energy cooking for refugees, internally displaced and other forcibly displaced people. I also managed our activities focusing on access to clean and modern energy for cooking in Rwanda, including overseeing existing partnerships and collaborations, and on-going pilot and research projects. Prior to joining MECS, I was a Consultant at Chatham House where I worked on the harmonisation of energy indicators for humanitarian energy access, and concurrently a Research Associate at University College London, involved in projects on informal settlement upgrading in South Africa and post-disaster recovery and access to infrastructure in Indonesia. Previously, I was managing the research department at Bboxx- a next generation utility company specialising in off-grid solar solutions. I have also managed projects and programmes on energy, water and sanitation projects in Sub-Saharan Africa, Asia and Latin America with Engineers without Borders; water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) projects with Water & Sanitation for the Urban Poor (WSUP) in Sub-Saharan Africa and Asia, as well as community development and livelihoods projects in Madagascar (SEED) and Ecuador (Phoenix). My background is in sociology, anthropology, development planning and engineering. I earned my undergraduate degree from the University of Glasgow, my Masters degree from the Development Planning Unit at University College London (UCL) and my PhD in Energy at UCL.

My key interests are in energy access and particularly access to renewable energy sources in off-grid and displaced communities across Rwanda, East Africa and wider Sub-Saharan Africa and South-East Asia, as well as access to clean and modern energy for cooking across low-income settings. I strongly believe energy is an enabler and a human right, just like access to water and sanitation is. It's a necessary service for the creation of social and economic prosperity and well-being. That's why I'm passionate about it. 

You can learn more about my work by reading my blogs and learning about the projects I have worked on, in addition to checking out my publications.

Should you wish to contact me, please click on the contact tab in the top or bottom panel for my contact details.

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