IDB, UNDP, AND ECLAC TO COORDINATE EFFORTS IN UNIQUE PARTNERSHIP FOR SUSTAINABLE ENERGY FOR ALL IN THE AMERICAS

Washington, February 25, 2015.- Three regional multilateral institutions -the IDB, ECLAC, and the UNDP- met in Washington on February 23, 2015 to jointly commit their unique knowledge and resources in support of the UN's Sustainable Energy for All initiative in the Americas.

The SE4All initiative has ambitious goals, and this partnership is part of reaching the ground level for action that will help countries achieve these goals. The three institutions intend to create a joint work plan where the work of each organization complements the mission of the others in order to support the goals of Sustainable Energy for All in the Latin American and Caribbean regions. The three goals of the initiative are: (i) Ensuring universal access to modern energy services, (ii) Doubling the global rate of improvement in energy efficiency; and (iii) Doubling the share of renewable energy in the global energy mix, all by the year 2030.

This partnership is expected to implement strategic objectives on behalf of SE4All Americas, including the creation of knowledge products, help with planning for universal access to energy, coordination with national and international partners, monitoring of the status of SE4All in LAC countries, policy analysis, and improved project preparation and access to finance for projects that support the goals of SE4All. Increased coordination related to sustainable energy will help catalyze major new investment opportunities in order to speed-up the transformation of the world’s energy systems, help eliminate energy poverty, and increase prosperity.

Kandeh Yumkella of SE4All said, "This new partnership further strengthens SE4All's regional hub for Latin America and the Caribbean. Closer coordination increases our fire-power, meaning even greater support to policymakers and other stakeholders, and an even more effective catalyst for increased investment”.

Susan McDade of UNDP stated, “Now is the time for governments and private sector in the region to invest in sustainable energy alternatives—not only to encourage growth while reducing emissions, but also to ensure access to clean energy to around 24 million people who still live in the dark”.

Hans Schulz, Vice President of the IDB, commented that, “We have a chance to do something unique in the energy sector in Latin America and the Caribbean, and our advances can improve the daily lives of citizens”.

Antonio Prado, Deputy Executive Secretary of ECLAC, pointed out that, “The access to modern energy is part of the necessary action to deal with poverty in its multi-dimensional factors: ECLAC has provided technical assistance in this area to 21 countries of the region, has produced over 30 publications and organized over 20 regional conferences on topics related to sustainable energy”.

The IDB, ECLAC, and the UNDP are supporting this partnership to make a sustainable energy future a reality in the LAC region. They recognize the importance of increasing coordination with partners in the region to do this, and by joining forces their synergy will help promote the goals of SE4All.

By coordinating resources and knowledge on sustainable energy practices, this partnership will provide the region with the necessary tools to achieve the goals of SE4All by 2030. Specific potential objectives include: 1) providing resources that support policy and institutional reforms and regulatory frameworks that encourage the development of sustainable energy production and use; 2) the comprehensive mapping of regional energy programs run by regional stakeholders; and 3) determining indicators and data that will be collected from all countries.

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