UNDP'S APPROACH TO ENERGY

The United Nations Development Program (UNDP) is the UN's global development network, advocating for change and connecting developing countries to the knowledge, experience, and resources that will enable people in developing nations to build better lives for themselves. UNDP is active in 166 countries, working with these countries to provide their own solutions to the international and national development challenges they face. As these countries develop local capacity to address such challenges, they draw on the people of UNDP and its wide range of partners.

UNDP's efforts in energy for sustainable development support the UN Millennium Development Declaration's (Millennium Declaration) goal (millennium development goal (MDG)) of reducing the proportion of people living in poverty by 2015 by half. None of the agreed upon MDGs can be achieved without significant improvements in energy services in the developing world. UNDP's experience with integrated development solutions gives it a unique perspective for addressing the multiple social, economic, and environmental aspects of sustainable energy approaches. As the development coordinator within the UN system, UNDP works to identify strategic entry points for enhancing policy frameworks through developing local capacity, assisting with grants, and providing technical support for pilot projects.

UNDP supports sustainable energy activities through global, regional, and national level projects and programs. UNDP's Thematic Trust Fund on Energy for Sustainable Development (Thematic Trust Fund), launched in the fall of 2001, defines UNDP's corporate energy priorities. It also serves as a vehicle for mobilizing additional resources to support national activities.