The Network facilitates two broad categories of activities:
* Regional & Global Activities: Multi-country activities are those that generally aim at raising awareness, increasing knowledge and learning, and disseminating good practices about policies, programmes, and approaches on energy for sustainable development. These activities may include establishing knowledge sharing mechanisms (such as seminars) and databases linking energy planners, policy makers, and investors; mainstreaming sustainable energy indicators; and developing guidelines and other tools that advance collective know-how. Proposals for these activities can originate from any Member of the Network.
* Country-Specific Activities: The GNESD can also provide support to country-specific activities. Proposals will typically originate from Member energy centres and be sponsored by at least one donor of the GNESD.
The following is a list of some of the activities that might be undertaken by Network Members, and that would be strengthened by the Network:
(a) Building knowledge and sharing lessons learned:
* assist in analysis of energy policies and business models for sustainable development;
* assist in evaluation of sustainable energy technologies;
* promote activities that raise awareness, disseminate information, and create a global base of knowledge on "best practices"; and
* build communities of practitioners on specific issue areas, such as power sector reform, policy and governance issues in energy, development, and environment, interdisciplinary policies on energy for rural development; application of information technology for promotion of sustainable energy, and climate change mitigation, by means of ad-hoc working groups.
(b) Improving capabilities (capacity building on multiple levels):
* provide thematic support to governments and the private sector, as requested, on sustainable energy policies, approaches, technologies, partners and programmes;
* build capacity among all major stakeholders, and share the lessons and knowledge acquired in formulating and implementing sustainable energy approaches.
(c) Facilitating development of new approaches and projects:
* help developing-country governments, as requested, strengthen their policy frameworks as a necessary foundation for sustainable energy projects, programmes and investments;
* help design or conduct national and sectoral energy planning studies;
* assist energy authorities in outlining finance and investment strategies, including those involving partnerships with private sector investors
* assist project developers and entrepreneurs in developing sound business models
* assess and provide advice on renewable energy/energy efficiency policies and projects.
(d) Generating knowledge (through targeted energy policy research projects):
* identify key research/study activities to be commissioned and supported by the Network: It is anticipated that the participating institutions will gradually undertake interdisciplinary research activities in order to gain a better understanding of how sustainable energy can be promoted, including but not limited to comparative studies of previous experiences. Through these efforts, the networking structure is expected to generate increased inter-regional experience exchange and learning; and
* collaborate on applied research studies that conceptualise and operationalize approaches to sustainable energy policies, and analyse experiences.

Energy Access was in November 2002 launched as the first 'theme' of the GNESD. Member Centres in eight developing countries prepared reports investigating power sector reform options with regards to securing the Poor's access to electricity. This work has been based on extensive case studies in each Centre's region. A Policy Summary and Compilation Report have been published targeting policy makers in the various regions.

The Energy Access theme work was continued in a Dissemination and Implementation phase focusing on disseminating findings on policy recommendations and approaches for poverty alleviation through improved access to electricity. This has included regional workshops in Rio, Bangkok and Nairobi during 2005 in collaboration with IEA, UNEP and UNDP.

In 2005 the Steering Committee launched a Renewable Energy Technologies (RETs) theme to determine the contribution of RETs to poverty alleviation and to provide concrete policy guidance to overcome barriers to RETs. The GNESD Centres have publised regional reports and a Compilation Report and a Summary for Policy Makers is being finalised.

The GNESD Secretariat at Risř National Laboratory, Denmark has managed the Network in conjunction with UNEP DTIE since November 2002. GNESD's Steering Committee has two co-chairs (Ogunlade Davidson of Uiversity of Sierre Leone and Thomas B Johansson of iiiee, Sweden).

GNESD is currently made up of 11 developing country Centres and 10 Centres from industrialized countries giving the Network a good geographic coverage. A Network web site can be found at www.gnesd.org, which is also being used to exchange information between Centres via an accompanying intranet. The outcomes of Network activities can be downloaded free of charge from the "Publications" section of the website. All material is uploaded as soon as it is finalized.

34 Network Partners have signed a Statement of Commitment expressing their willingness to work for the goals of GNESD. Network Partners gain access to draft documents and reports and have the possibility of commenting on the work carried out by the Centres (the Members).

The Global Network on Energy for Sustainable Development got off to good start after the World Summit on Sustainable Development (WSSD) and has been able to maintain speed and has secured funding to carry out the current 2005-2007 workplan. The Network is via its activities contributing to a better understanding of policies and approaches that help achieve the goal of energy for Sustainable Development and the Millennium Development Goals.

24 Jan. 2006

The GNESD consists of 21 Centres of Excellence - called Network Members, a broader group of Network Partners, a Steering Committee, and a Secretariat. Network Members in developing countries are the focus of the knowledge generation activities and substantive work of the Network. Institutions meeting specific criteria are invited by the Steering Committee to join the Network.

In inviting existing institutions to become Members of the Network, the Steering Committee takes into consideration the need to maintain a geographic balance amongst the Members. 10 of the Member Centres are located in developing countries.

The Network's knowledge generation activities are structured around selected thematic issues, which can be suggested by any member but must be endorsed by the Steering Committee. Ad hoc Working Groups are formed from amongst those Network Members interested and able to contribute to developing knowledge about a particular thematic issue. Working Group members collaborate on information exchange, analytical studies, policy support, and capacity building. Industrialised country Member Centres can join any ad hoc Working Group where they are able to make a substantive contribution to the work, both intellectually and by providing in-kind services or by funding specific components of the work.

Network Partners are those parties in both developing and industrialized countries that are able and willing to contribute substantively to the goals of the Network and who have expressed an interest in being partner to the GNESD.

The Network Assembly, consisting of all Members and Partners of GNESD, is the body responsible for overall policy, management, and guidance of the GNESD. The Network Assembly meets annually or at such other intervals as are deemed appropriate by the Assembly.

On behalf of the Network Assembly, the Steering Committee guides and oversees Network activities between meetings of the Assembly. A small secretariat supports the Network Members in implementing the Network's overall mandate. The secretariat provides the Assembly, Steering Committee and Network members with technical support, and undertakes tasks as requested by the Network Assembly and Steering Committee.

GNESD complements a number of on-going activities launched at WSSD, for example, the Global Village Energy Programme (GVEP), the EU Energy Initiative (EUEI) and the Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Partnership (REEEP).

The GNESD is a UNEP facilitated initiative and is implemented as a UNEP Project Activity.

Amount in US$: 2000000

Source(s): Government
Sufficient funds were in 2002 obtained (approximately US$2 million) to start the activities. Pledges were recived from a number of donor governments that allowed the initiative to start for an initial 30 month period (March 2003 - August 2005). The GNESD was in 2005 extended to the end of 2007 and additional funds of around US$ 1000000 have been secured to support activities in this period. The nature of the Network is such that more funds will allow Members to undertake additional activities. There is no upper limit.

Type(s): Office space

Source(s): Government
Risř National Laboratory, Denmark offered to host the GNESD Secretariat. The Secretariat is located in two office rooms and has a meeting room at its disposal.

Required Amount in US$: not specified

Source(s) already approached: The operations of the Network is funded by both cash and in-kind contributions. Cash support is needed both for operational activities related to distinct projects or activities agreed by the Network members, and for a small core operational budget.