International Energy and Climate Policy - Energy and Development - Projects - JEPP

About JEPP

Background
The UN World Summit on Sustainable Development (Johannesburg, 26th of August - 4th of September 2002) concluded that access to affordable and reliable energy is a prerequisite for meeting the UN Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). This prominently puts energy on the political agenda and several initiatives are being taken to address energy in the framework of combating poverty. The Netherlands has formulated the goal to provide modern energy services to 10 million poor people by 2015. A national action plan has been drawn up which outlines the government’s policy to achieve this target. The action plan was discussed in January 2003 at a stakeholders meeting in the Netherlands, attended by representatives from the private sector, research organisations, the government and NGOs. One of the conclusions of this meeting was the need for a platform that can be used as a means to exchange information and experience in the field of energy and poverty eradication.

The Energy research Centre of the Netherlands (ECN), ETC Energy, the National Committee for international cooperation and Sustainable Development (NCDO) and Electricité de France (EDF) have established the Johannesburg Energy & Poverty Platform (JEPP). This platform is meant to assist parties working in the field of energy and poverty eradication. Membership of JEPP is free and open to all interested parties but registration is required.

Aims of JEPP
The main objective of JEPP is to keep its members updated on developments in the field of energy and poverty eradication in relation to the outcomes of the Johannesburg Summit. JEPP aims to:

• Provide information on national and international developments and activities with regard to energy and poverty eradication.
• Promote discussion and exchange of information and experience among its members.
• Stimulate new initiatives that contribute to the improvement of access to modern energy in the developing world.

Means of communication of JEPP
JEPP members all have different objectives and needs, therefore they are interested in different types of information. JEPP will give a range of options to inform its members about relevant issues in various levels of depth and frequency. The platform secretariat will facilitate the following means of communication:

Website
The JEPP website is the main information channel for more in-depth information, with updates on recent developments in the field of energy and poverty eradication, and on studies and publications by JEPP members. The Website aims to gather and make available key information on energy and poverty issues. The website can for example be used by private parties to identify opportunities for co-operation with public parties. Public parties could publish invitations for events. The website will be updated regularly, with regard to the needs of the members of JEPP.

Mailinglist
The goal of the mailing list is to - in an interactive way - stimulate the debate and the exchange of information and expertise on energy and poverty eradication in the follow-up of Johannesburg. All participants can use the mailing list to disseminate interesting information or announcements (about meetings or conferences for example). The list can furthermore be used to launch a discussion on a specific issue.

Broaden public support for the theme energy and poverty
Public support is essential to keep the energy and poverty issue high on the political agenda and to secure public funding needed to achieve the Johannesburg objectives. To this end, it is important to regularly inform the general public on the role energy can play in reducing poverty, in such a way that the message is easily understood by people who are not familiar with this topic. JEPP will participate in the development of a documentary that shows the various aspects related to access to energy in developing countries. The documentary will be broadcasted in 2005.

Stakeholder meetings
To further stimulate the discussion about current developments in the field of energy and poverty eradication, it is envisaged to organise a stakeholder meeting in March 2005. The purpose of the meeting is to explore possibilities for participants to actively contribute to energy and poverty alleviation strategies and to present and discuss the results of projects carried out in this area.

Initiators

• Ministry of Foreign Affairs The Netherlands
• Netherlands research Centre of the Netherlands ECN
• Electricite de France
• ETC 
• The National Committee for international cooperation and Sustainable Development NCDO

Description of the organisation
The EDF Group is made up of Electricit? de France (EDF) and a network of affiliates and companies established in Europe and around the world. EDF and the Group network carry out energy-related activities focused on the core businesses of generation, trading, transmission, distribution, supply and services. The EDF Group has made energy for development one of the watchwords of its Sustainable Development policy.

Almost 400,000 people in developing countries have been provided with access to energy through projects which have been either created or supported by the EDF Access Programme.

Energy is today considered to be a vital need and as one of the largest electricity companies in the world, the EDF Group cannot ignore that one third of the world's population does not have access to electricity. The company has therefore decided to contribute to increasing this access and in this way to help in reaching the Millennium Development Goals which were set by the United Nations in the year 2000. EDF's commitment led to the creation of a specific programme in 2001, the Access Programme, to initiate, develop and coordinate actions in rural and peri-urban areas in developing countries.

Description of the organisation
ETC Energy is specialized in sustainable energy and development. Energy is essential for socio-economic development. A better life and an improved standard of living are fundamental aspirations. But for billions of people a better life means getting access to basic needs such as food, health services, housing and clean water. None of these basic needs can be provided without energy.

Energy is crucial, but in the search for solutions it is important to understand that energy supply is not a goal in itself, but only a means through which people?s needs can be met. People don?t need kilowatts or joules, they need heating, lighting, the ability to cook food, and the ability to move themselves and their goods

Approach
The provision of energy is a complicated subject so ETC Energy?s approach is multidisciplinary and integrated. We judge energy options not only by technological and economic criteria. We include also institutional, socio-economic, cultural, political and environmental criteria. The energy problem goes beyond the need to meet energy demand or the need to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and is interlinked with issues such as gender, agriculture, rural health, and water use.

A great many people lack the ability to make informed choices in relation to the use of energy. The reasons for this can be complex and may include, for example, the level of transparency and good governance - or the level of participation that is permitted - within a given country or region. ETC Energy?s activities are grounded in a participatory approach that has become a trademark of the ETC organization as a whole. Specifically in relation to energy this entails energy end-users? participation in technology development.
More specifically our approach involves: the principle that technologies or services should be based on (perceived) needs; the recognition that the incorporation of expectations and wishes, skills and resources in project design can lead to design alterations or even third options; and the need to make linkages between energy users, NGOs, implementing bodies, policy makers, and producers, through various channels, including the building of networks.

Description of the organisation
The NCDO aims to involve more people in the Netherlands in international co-operation and achievement of the Millennium Goals. The NCDO therefore supports and collaborates with organisations and individuals that organise public support-enhancing activities such as campaigns, public debates, exhibitions, documentaries etc. The NCDO furthermore involves organisations and individuals in policy (areas) and the implementation thereof. Together with KIT, the NCDO set up the programme ?Partnerships for Sustainable Development?, which aim is to:
(1) make information on Dutch stakeholders involvement in/and international partnerships accessible
(2) facilitate and stimulate dialogue, debate and mutual learning between different (groups of) stakeholders
(3) promote the participation of Dutch stakeholders in international partnerships.

Another JEPP related activity, is ?Business in Development (BiD)?. Aim of this programme is to promote sustainable business in developing countries by stimulating Dutch companies to invest actively and sustainably in developing countries.