To promote sustainable energy development in developing countries and to co-operate on electricity sector issues, the e8 works directly in partnership with many organisations, development banks, institutes, and foundations in both developing and developed countries. The e8’s current partners are:
International
Asian Development Bank (ADB)
ADB-e8 relations continued to be fruitful in 2001 with the completion of the e8 Network’s capacity building project in Bangladesh, with the ADB’s assistance. In October, the e8 had its annual meeting with the ADB at their headquarters in Manila, Philippines to discuss future collaboration opportunities. In December, the ADB invited the e8 to the their Third Consultation Meeting with Japanese NGOs in Tokyo. Two e8 experts continued to sit on the ADB Advisory Panel for the Indicative Master Plan for Power Interconnection in the Greater Mekong Sub-Region. The e8 Network was also invited to participate in several other activities organised by the ADB.
Climate Technology Initiative (CTI)
The e8 continues to explore avenues for collaboration under a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) previously signed between the e8 and the CTI.
Energy Sector Management Assistance Programme (ESMAP)
Following the e8’s participation in the ESMAP/USAID meeting with the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) on “International experiences on the development of regional electricity markets and interconnections” in Dakar, Senegal, the e8 collaborated with ESMAP by providing an e8 expert to assist the Technical Working Group on various technical studies for the West African Power Pool Interconnection Project. In the interest of continuing collaboration under the 1998 e8-ESMAP MOU, in July 2001, representatives from the e8 and ESMAP met in Montreal to discuss possibilities for further co-operation. As a result, the e8 participated in the ESMAP Donor’s Interim Consultative Group meetings in November in Lisbon, Portugal to discuss the organisation’s future business plan.
Global Catalyst Foundation (GCF)
In 2001, the e8 began exploring ways to collaborate with the GCF in implementing distance education and communications technology systems powered by renewables in isolated communities in developing countries.
Global Environment Facility (GEF)
In late 2001, the e8 Network and the GEF opened discussions on possible future areas of collaboration. As the first step, the e8 was invited to attend the early 2002 high-level roundtable on energy to provide recommendations for the WSSD and the GEF assembly of member states.
L'institut de l'énergie et de l'environnement de la Francophonie (IEPF)
The e8 Network and IEPF collaborated in adapting the e8’s EIA Manual to the African context and on translating the document into French.
International Electric Research Exchange (IERE)
In 2001, the e8 Network of Expertise and the IERE discussed opportunities to work together in the future.
International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN)
The e8 Network of Expertise signed an MOU with the IUCN’s Director General in the Spring of 2000 defining the framework for future collaboration.
United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs
An MOU was signed between UN DESA and the e8 during the World Summit on Sustainable Development held in Johannesburg, South Africa, in September 2002. In September 2004, UN DESA and e8 conducted a Joint Workshop on the Clean Development Mechanism. A Seminar on Electricity Interconnection is currently in the planning stages.
United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)
A general MOU between the UNDP and the e8 Network was signed in 1994 emphasising the complementary roles of the two organisations. During 2001, the e8 and the UNDP signed another MOU to initiate a project to re-power Ecuador’s Galapagos Islands with wind energy. The e8 continued its work with the UNDP in defining a small hydroelectric project in Bolivia.
United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO)
The e8 is collaborating with UNESCO in the implementation of a conservation pilot project in one of Africa’s largest fauna reserves by providing photo-voltaic systems to community facilities around the W Park, which is shared by the three western African countries of Benin, Burkina Faso, and Niger. The e8 was also invited to participate in the Steering Committee of the UNESCO/UNEP/GEF Project related to the protection of bio-diversity in West Africa’s dry lands, an area concerning the six Biosphere Reserves in West Africa.
United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP)
In June, UNEP invited the e8 to prepare the electricity sector report on behalf of the industry as part of a multi-stakeholder dialogue process for the Summer 2002 World Summit on Sustainable Development. The e8 accepted the offer and prepared the report in collaboration with its partner utilities. In October, e8 representatives participated in a UNEP Division of Technology, Industry, and Economics multi-stakeholder workshop for the water management sector and a multi-stakeholder dialogue session for the electricity sector in December. A Joint Seminar on Rural Electrification is scheduled for the first quarter 2005.
United Nations Foundation (UNF)
At the end of 2001, the e8 and the United Nations Foundation initiated discussions about possible avenues for collaboration.
World Bank
In 2001, the e8 Network and the World Bank discussed opportunities to work together on studies concerning regional electricity co-operation and integration, particularly in West Africa.
Regional Organisations
Comisión de Integración Eléctrica Regional (CIER)
An e8 expert on regional electricity co-operation and integration was invited to make a presentation at this Latin American organisation’s “International Workshop on the Electrical Interconnection in the Andean Region”. The e8 and CIER continue to explore other opportunities for collaboration.
Organización Latinoamericana de Energía (OLADE)
The e8 and OLADE have been working in close collaboration to help the e8’s initiation of a renewable energy project in Ecuador. The e8 also facilitated the invitation of an OLADE representative to participate as an electricity sector stakeholder in a multi-stakeholder dialogue session organised by UNEP’s Division of Technology, Industry, and Economics in preparation for the World Summit on Sustainable Development.
South African Power Pool (SAPP)
The e8 Network continued to assist the SAPP in the development of environmental guidelines for hydroelectric projects, transmission lines, and thermal generation, for eventual implementation by its member companies. In September, e8 representatives met with the SAPP while attending the SADC Conference to discuss the current e8 project and the SADC Energy Activity Plan.
United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP)
In 2001, the e8 Network of Expertise began discussions with ESCAP’s Environment & Natural Resources Development Division (ENRDD) about the possibility for e8 capacity building on transmission and distribution in certain Asian countries.
United States Agency for International Development (USAID)
In lieu of the e8 and USAID’s complementary activities in Western and Southern Africa, the e8 began building a relationship with the Agency to explore opportunities for collaboration, particularly in providing human capacity building in priority areas of Africa.
ENDESA
In 2001, the e8 and the ENDESA, a Spanish electric utility, initiated discussions on possible co-operation with the e8 on a large spectrum of activities, particularly in activities associated with climate change. ENDESA experts have participated actively in both meetings of the e8 Climate Change Working Group and UN DESA-e8 Joint Workshop on the Clean Development Mechanism.
ESKOM
In 1996, the e8 Network of Expertise and ESKOM, the South African utility, signed an MOU for co-operation on capacity building in Africa. Since that time, two projects have been completed under this initiative.
