1. Programming for Rural Energy Services
 2. Energy and Rural Development
 3. Defining Productive Uses of Renewable Energy
 4. Eligibility for GEF Funding
 5. Guiding Principles for a PURE Approach
 6. Designing a UNDP-GEF PURE Project
 7. Lessons Learned from Rural Energy Programmes with PURE approaches
 8. Contacts 9. Definitions

Programming for Rural Energy Services

This UNDP-GEF programming site on Productive Uses of Renewable Energy aims to provide guidance on programmes eligible for GEF funding under GEF Operational Programme 6 'Promotion of Renewable Energy by Removing Barriers and Reducing Implementation Costs' and GEF Strategic Objective 2 : Promoting Renewable Energy for Rural Energy Services [ link to new programming paper ] The focus of the guidance provided on this programming site is on market development for Renewable Energy Technologies (RETs) through promotion of productive uses of renewable energy.

Productive uses of energy is an important topic from the viewpoints of both poverty reduction, through creating opportunities for income generation, and energy supply, as income generation increases the ability to pay for energy services. Many development programmes of governments and development agencies assume these positive linkages between energy supply, income generation and poverty reduction, thus seeking win-win solutions. However, little is known about the nature of such linkages to underpin operational strategies.

The GEF focuses on promoting renewable energy for rural energy services. In particular, 'productive uses' of renewable energy has opened a window for explicit mainstreaming of GEF resources into UNDP regular programming for sustainable development in rural areas for:

  • agriculture (cultivation and agro-processing)

  • powering small industry and commercial services

  • electricity production for social services:

  • household use

  • providing drinking water

  • education

  • health care facilities

The role of UNDP-GEF's rural energy interventions is explored by analyzing recent research in the field and the lessons from past and current efforts . The analysis was further developed during an expert meeting held in Bangkok, 2005. The programming site is expected to help shape future renewable energy programmes, generally in off-grid rural areas of developing countries. The guidance provided will be further supported by a UNDP-GEF knowledge management project on Productive Uses of Renewable Energy, which will start during 2006.