The
International Network
for Sustainable Energy
Updated: July 2006
Call
for Proposals
As a practical result of the EU Energy Initiative, the EU Commission
has issued a call for proposals for the EU - ACP
Energy Facility
EU Energy Initiative
In order to respond to unmet needs for energy services, the European Union developed the Initiative for Poverty Eradication and Sustainable Development, was launched at the WSSD. It demonstrates the commitment of the EU Member States and European Commission (EC) to support improved access to sustainable energy services in developing countries.
Three years after the launch of the EU Energy Initiative for Poverty Alleviation, this initative is gradually starting to operate. Its one-person secretariat in the EU Commission's General Directorate for Development (DG Development) has been expanded gradually to three persons. With the initiative's first major conference in Nairobi, November 20-21, '03 the focus on Africa is affirmed.
The EU Energy Initiative focuses on achieving poverty eradication and
sustainable development by improving access to adequate sustainable energy
services in rural, peri-urban and urban areas. It will work with a menu
of technical and institutional options, including:
_Rural electrification
_Enhanced
energy efficiency (including cleaner, more efficient fossil fuel technologies
and more efficient use of traditional biomass)
_Decentralised energy systems
_Increased use of renewable energy (such as hydropower, biomass, solar
energy, wind power, tidal, wave, or geothermal energy)
_Institutional capacity building and restructuring policy, planning
and transfer of knowledge and skills.
It works through a demand-led approach that involves both government-to-government
liaison and local participation.
The government-to-government liaison is based around dialogue, formalisation
of responsibilities and action from national governments.
Local participation will be encouraged from end-users, communities,
businesses and other stakeholders in both the planning and implementation
stages.
The EU is taking the Initiative forward through open dialogue with
partner governments at country level.
An important first step is working with developing countries to highlight the role of energy within their development strategies, such as National Poverty Reduction Strategy Papers, and other development strategy documents.
EC and EU Member State co-operation agencies contribute financing, following
the procedures and priorities established with respect to development
strategies.
In addition, the Initiative will strive to attract a major contribution
from private sources.
This will set the framework for EU development assistance for the coming years. How energy will be integrated into these revisions is crucial. Will energy be given higher priority? Even more important: will the energy priorities be effective in helping to reduce poverty? National discussions will be crucial for these decisions, and NGO inputs can make the difference.
Read INFORSE-Europe article about ACP-EU Energy Inititiative, which is the latest development of the Initiative for poverty eradication and sustainable development here
Read also the EUEI website: www.euei.org