Tag: Hervé Gouyet

Hervé Gouyet, former president of Electriciens Sans Frontières, writes to Défis Humanitaires

“As president of Electriciens sans frontières, I would like to express my support for Défis Humanitaires. At a time when humanitarian action is being undermined by unfavorable political decisions and a steady decline in funding—even as crises have never been so numerous or so severe—we need, more than ever, spaces that foster free, demanding, and collective discourse. Défis Humanitaires serves as a platform for information, a tool for reflection, intellectual engagement, and resistance in the face of the decline in international solidarity.

In a sector that is all too often compartmentalized, it is important to build bridges between actors, disciplines, and generations, and to foster concrete synergies. It is important to give a voice not only to those working on the ground but also to those who question the excesses and contradictions of the humanitarian system. For Electriciens sans frontières, which is committed to the vital issue of access to energy, Défis Humanitaires serves as a platform to advocate for a responsible humanitarian approach without neglecting its sometimes highly technical aspects.

Given the current context of drastic cuts to humanitarian aid, it would be dangerous to give up. It is imperative to remind people that humanitarian aid is neither a budgetary adjustment variable nor a luxury; to document the very concrete consequences of financial and political decisions; to fuel advocacy; and to strengthen the capacity of stakeholders to speak with a stronger, more audible voice.

I expect Défis Humanitaires to continue to fulfill this role as a watchdog and catalyst: a space where we dare to speak out, ask questions, propose solutions, and defend a demanding vision of humanitarian action. In a world marked by climate, energy, social, and geopolitical crises, strengthening our humanitarian ecosystem is essential. Défis Humanitaires contributes fully to this effort, which is why it deserves to be supported, read, and widely shared.

Hervé Gouyet, President of Electriciens sans frontières, May 22, 2026.

A trained engineer, Hervé Gouyet, 63, began his career as a researcher in EDF’s Research and Studies Department, where he launched his work with Electricians Without Borders to support electricity access projects in Morocco, Vietnam, and Palestine. Since 2000, he has served as a project manager in EDF’s Regulatory Affairs Department, focusing particularly on renewable energy development. He then joined the board of directors of Electriciens sans frontières before becoming its president in 2010. Hervé Gouyet is one of the founders of the Cicle network (Climate and Energy Cooperation Network), a director of the CHD, and a member of the GRUPC.

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