ESCWA Publication: E/ESCWA/CL1.CCS/2024/Toolkit.1
Country: Arab region, People’s Democratic Republic of Algeria, Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, Lebanese Republic, Republic of Tunisia
Publication Type: Reports & studies
Cluster: Climate Change and Natural Resource Sustainability
Focus Area: Climate change, Governance & enabling environment, Natural resource sustainability
Initiatives: Climate Resilience through Regional Cooperation, Arab Centre for Climate Change Policies, Development challenges, REGEND
SDGs: Agenda 2030, Goal 7: Affordable and Clean Energy, Goal 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities, Goal 13: Climate Action
Keywords: Algeria, Arab countries, Capacity building, Communication policy, Development projects, Distance education, Economic aspects, Electric power distribution, Energy technology, Environmental impact assessment, Gender mainstreaming, Governance, Jordan, Lebanon, Legal aspects, Manuals, Partnership, Political aspects, Renewable energy sources, Risk assessment, Rural areas, Rural development, Social aspects, Sustainable development, Tunisia
Regional Initiative to Promote Small–Scale Renewable Energy Applications in Rural Areas of the Arab Region (REGEND): Best practices toolkit
October 2024
While the Arab region boasts a high rate of access to electricity, the largest share of the population without reliable electricity is found in rural areas. Access to financing, employment, high-level education and training, and clean cooking fuels constitute some of the other challenges that rural communities face. Small-scale renewable energy systems are transformative for rural development, as they enhance livelihoods and economic conditions, support productive activities and contribute to energy, water and food security. They also aid in poverty reduction and help lower unemployment. However, they cannot be the solution to every challenge in rural communities, which underscores the importance of an integrated and multi-sectoral approach that uses renewable energy systems, capacity-building, productive equipment for income-generating activities, and policy guidelines. The Regional Initiative to Promote Small-Scale Renewable Energy Applications in Rural Areas of the Arab Region (REGEND) best practices toolkit sheds light on a diverse range of best practices and lessons learned. It also disseminates and showcases knowledge and information generated from REGEND at the policy and technical levels to support initiatives that stimulate private sector investment, entrepreneurial development, poverty reduction, and women and youth empowerment. By focusing on job creation and developing robust value chains, REGEND promotes just and inclusive energy transitions that leave no one behind.
Related content
Climate change
, Governance & enabling environment
, Natural resource sustainability
,
While the Arab region boasts a high rate of access to electricity, the largest share of the population without reliable electricity is found in rural areas. Access to financing, employment, high-level education and training, and clean cooking fuels constitute some of the other challenges that rural communities face. Small-scale renewable energy systems are transformative for rural development, as they enhance livelihoods and economic conditions, support productive activities and contribute to energy, water and food security. They also aid in poverty reduction and help lower unemployment. However, they cannot be the solution to every challenge in rural communities, which underscores the importance of an integrated and multi-sectoral approach that uses renewable energy systems, capacity-building, productive equipment for income-generating activities, and policy guidelines. The Regional Initiative to Promote Small-Scale Renewable Energy Applications in Rural Areas of the Arab Region (REGEND) best practices toolkit sheds light on a diverse range of best practices and lessons learned. It also disseminates and showcases knowledge and information generated from REGEND at the policy and technical levels to support initiatives that stimulate private sector investment, entrepreneurial development, poverty reduction, and women and youth empowerment. By focusing on job creation and developing robust value chains, REGEND promotes just and inclusive energy transitions that leave no one behind.
