Initiatives
- Defining a private sector-led development agenda
- Promoting research networks and capability in the Pacific
- Disaster management for microfinance institutions
- Rural development
- Worker remittances
- Partnerships for microfinance products
- Microfinance networking
- Technology for development
- Local Economic Development
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"Financing Village‐Level Energy for Development in Asia‐Pacific"
Workshop 9‐11 April 2008
ADB headquarters, Manila, The Philippines.
Hosted by:
The Foundation for Development Cooperation (FDC)
Asian Development Bank (ADB)
GVEP International
FDC coordinated the workshop on "Financing Village-Level Energy for Development in Asia-Pacific",
held in Manila in April 2008, in cooperation with the Asian Development Bank (ADB) www.adb.org and GVEP International www.gvep.org. There is growing awareness of the potential for cleaner and more renewable energy to provide an environmentally sustainable and relatively cheap means of supplying off-grid access to energy for the poor, particularly in developing countries. An estimated 1.6 billion people in developing countries, 1 billion of whom are in the Asia-Pacific region, do not have access to modern energy services for basic cooking, heating and lighting.
Craig Wilson, Executive Director of FDC, explained that efforts to expand the provision of clean/cleaner/more renewable energy at the village level in Asia and the Pacific now depend less on technology and more on improved financing models to make this energy accessible and affordable at the village level across the Asia-Pacific region. The workshop showed that several innovative microfinance institutions (MFIs) – and other financial institutions – are taking up the challenge represented by this lack of access through making available microfinance loans specifically designed to fund alternative sources of energy. In some cases, MFIs have themselves provided in-house energy lending and have become energy suppliers as well as lenders. In other cases, MFIs have partnered with energy suppliers and retailers to develop energy and loan products that are tailored to the needs of the poor and micro-entrepreneurs.
FDC would like to extend sincere thanks to all the speakers, chairs, participants, rapporteurs, sponsors and supporters who each contributed to the success of the workshop in Manila. FDC also acknowledges the financial assistance provided by the Asian Development Bank and GVEP International to enable the participation of some key stakeholders, project facilitators and other experts from the region. The quality of the presentations, and the vast experience of the participants, contributed to a comprehensive assessment of the status of the various projects and initiatives currently active in the region. The challenges of scaling these up and powering disconnected poor communities will remain as a driver for more substantial efforts, resources and cooperation. FDC commits to actively pursue ongoing collaboration on several fronts, and with all relevant stakeholders, not least to complement the ADB Energy for All initiative.
The following links provide access to all the workshop presentations, case studies, session summaries and participants list.