Energy Access

Background

Projects

Publications

News

Events

Videos

In Focus

Links

Contact

Energy is central to sustainable development and poverty reduction efforts. It affects all aspects of development - social, economic, and environmental - including livelihoods, access to water, agricultural productivity, health, population levels, education, and gender-related issues. None of the Millennium Development Goals (MDG) can be met without major improvement in the quality and quantity of energy services in developing countries.

The UNDP Environment and Energy team provides support to policy makers and communities promoting access to sustainable energy services. The team supports the formulation of policy responses for securing energy access in energy budgets and development plans and programmes, and provides country gap analyses that brings out factors limiting energy access in Asia Pacific.

The UNDP Environment and Energy team has recently supported the development of project proposals in Mongolia, Bangladesh, Malaysia and Indonesia; and provided policy, technical advisory, knowledge and advocacy related services in Bhutan, Cambodia, China, Nepal, Timor-Leste and Sri Lanka. We have also been publishing several reports and policy studies on energy in Asia and the Pacific.

 

Background

UNDP APRC activities on energy access are implemented under the Regional Climate Change, Energy and Ecosystems Project (RCCEEP). Implemented during 2008-2012, RCCEEP is a successor to the Regional Energy Programme for Poverty Reduction (REP-PoR, 2002-2007).

 

Current UNDP-Supported Energy Projects in Asia and the Pacific

Afghanistan	Bangladesh	Cambodia	China	DPR Korea
Fiji	India	Indonesia	Malaysia	Mongolia
Nepal	Pacific Islands	Pakistan	Thailand	Regional

View all Projects

 

Publications

• Towards an 'Energy Plus' Approach for the Poor (2012)
  Between 2009 and 2011, the UNDP Asia-Pacific Regional Centre led a collaborative review of 17 energy access programmes and projects implemented by governments, development agencies and the private sector in Asia-Pacific. By examining complex issues surrounding energy access, the review contributes to the ongoing discussion on universal access to energy, and suggests pathways towards achieving it. The review collates knowledge of policies and practices in dissemination of low-emissions technologies, financing, market development, entrepreneurship, institutional strengthening and policy development that can be converged to make energy services affordable for the poor.
  
  
• Country Gap Assessments Linking Energy and Poverty (2007)
  This series of 10 country-specific publications reports on national energy sectors and their linkages to poverty concerns, identifies gaps and suggests solutions. It aims to facilitate the inclusion of strong energy components into national socio-economic development programmes. The series also depicts experiences of UNDP and its partners in designing and implementing energy projects.
  
  Other publications (2007-2009)

 

News

• Team Aims to Mobilize Action Towards Universal Access, Doubling of Renewable Sources, Energy Efficiency Rates, United Nations, 19 April 2013
• SE4ALL for global population, The Nation, 3 March 2013
  
  Energy News Archive
  

 

Events               

• 2013 International Conference on Alternative Energy in Developing Countries and Emerging Economies
  30-31 May 2013, Bangkok, Thailand
• Asia Clean Energy Forum 2013
  25-28 June 2013, Manila, The Philippines
  
  View past events    

 

Featured Videos

• View trailer from UNDP/Discovery Channel documentary 'One Simple Solution.'
  Premiere date: Wednesday 5 June 2013 on Discovery Asia

One Simple Solution
Micro-hydro power plants bring energy and big changes to mountain communities in Nepal

 

UNDP Public Service Announcement 'Access to Energy for the Future We Want'

   

Also view Renewable Energy for Rural Livelihood in Nepal

 

In Focus

• UN Sustainable Energy for All Initiative
  United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon made sustainable energy one of his five priorities that will guide his second 5-year term. Specifically, he will direct the United Nations to extend energy’s reach in order to combat endemic poverty.
  

 

Links

• UN Sustainable Energy
• UN Energy Knowledge Network
• Energy for All Partnership (managed by Asian Development Bank)
• Energy for All 2030 Project (funded by the European Union)

 

Contacts:

Thiyagarajan VELUMAIL, Regional Technical Advisor for Energy

Faris KHADER, Regional Technical Specialist for Climate Change

Rakshya THAPA, Regional Technical Specialist for Climate Change Mitigation

Butchaiah GADDE, Regional Technical Specialist for Climate Change Mitigation, Carbon Finance and Energy Access

Thomas JENSEN, Regional Technical Adviser for Energy and Climate Mitigation