Latin America and the Caribbean

a women sitting in front of a solar panel

Where we work

Latin America and the Caribbean

Our Impact

97

percent

of people in the region have access to electricity

≈ 10

percent

of people still lack access to clean cooking

43

percent

of the region’s greenhouse gas emissions come from energy

64

percent

of electricity is generated from clean sources

Our Focus

UNDP is at the forefront of driving sustainable energy solutions in Latin America and the Caribbean, providing expertise and tailoring interventions to country-specific needs.

Our work is anchored in three building blocks: promoting a just energy transition through long-term strategies and planning, ensuring clean and reliable energy access for households, and enhancing energy resilience for communities affected by crises, conflicts and natural disasters. These efforts prioritize the interplay between energy, biodiversity and local economies, and centre on gender equality, Indigenous rights and youth empowerment.

Key strategic actions include unlocking capital through blended finance, introducing green and sustainable debt instruments, advancing innovation through public-private dialogues, and implementing reforms that support clean transport and reduce fossil fuel subsidies. UNDP supports integrated clean energy solutions in vulnerable areas, including the Amazon region, by aligning energy access with bioeconomic opportunities. Together, these initiatives propel the region towards a low-carbon, equitable and prosperous energy future.

Featured initiatives

MOVÉS: Sustainable Mobility in Uruguay

Funded by the Global Environment Fund (GEF) and implemented by UNDP with the government of Uruguay, MOVÉS promotes a sustainable low-carbon efficient and inclusive mobility system, through the improvement of institutional capacities, the development of adequate regulations, the application of innovative technologies and the promotion of a cultural change.

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Women training to be solar engineers in Peru

e-Mujer, the Energy School for Women in Peru

E-Mujer trains women to set up and commercialise clean energy technologies. Funded by the Global Environment Facility and implemented in the regions of Cusco and Cajamarca, where the training is focused on improved cookstoves, and Puno and Loreto, where the focus is on solar energy, e-Mujer is now looking to scale up at the national level.

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Deployment of Renewable Energy and Improvement of Energy Efficiency in the Public-Sector in Jamaica

Funded by the Global Environment Facility and implemented by the Ministry of Health and the UNDP Multi Country Office in Jamaica, the project supports health facilities across the countries to save on energy bills and operate more efficiently. It focuses on solar energy installations, energy efficient retrofits including bulbs, and capacity building through training for maintenance teams across the health sector.

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NAMA Pilot Project for the Transfer of Technology in the Industrial Sector in Colombia

Funded by the GEF, this project supported the implementation of energy efficiency plans for 162 companies, 124 of which implemented industry best practices and low-carbon technologies. Together, these actions and investments achieved savings in annual energy consumption of 78,728 MWh/year and in accumulated emission reduction of 59,725 tCO2 over the course of the project . The project leveraged ca. 11 million cofinance and built capacities of 1774 people.

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