Zambia
The overall objective of GVEP Zambia is to identify in a consultative manner how the energy sector can support the national PRS (Poverty Reduction Strategy) process and establish an Energy Action Plan/investment program. A series of activities have been undertaken by the GVEP Zambia Secretariat formed after the multi-country regional Energy-Poverty workshop sponsored by ESMAP (Energy Sector Management Assistance Programme) and the World Bank in Ethiopia, in 2002. GVEP has been working to raise awareness of the value of improved access to energy, holding consultations to define necessary activities to promote access to energy in all relevant sectors and drawing up a precise action plan to deliver the investments identified.
GVEP has now established a more specific focus for its in country activities, which are made up of two strands of action. At the request of the Zambian Minister of Energy and Water Development, and with the support of ESMAP, it was agreed that GVEP would focus on supporting the development of an implementation strategy for the Zambian National Energy Strategy (NES) – which was the highest priority for the country. The second strand of GVEP activity is developing a ten-year implementation based EPRAP (Energy for Poverty Reduction Action Plan). The EPRAP, which will be developed through multi-stakeholder consultations, will define activities to promote access to energy in all sectors (health, education, agriculture, and SMEs) and draw up a plan to identify the required investments for priority projects. The GVEP EPRAP will be incorporated into the NES.
The NES will be an implementation plan that outlines the priority areas, provides detailed implementation mechanisms, recommends institutional arrangements and responsibilities, and suggests a timetable for the implementation of the Fifth National Development Plan and the revised Zambia national energy policy. The NES will pay particular attention to electricity sector reform, rural electrification, the petroleum sector, renewable energy, and household fuels. The implementation strategy aims to provide practical guidance to policymakers and will be aligned with the World Bank IAES (Increased Access to Energy Services) program in Zambia, which is now underway.
For further information on activities in country please contact Sarah Adams at sarah.adams@gvep.org.
Concept note for Zambia
28 October, 2005
The proposal aims to help the GVEP Zambia team carry out a national consultation process to identify activities and investment opportunities in energy services that will have the highest impact on poverty reduction. This will be done by mobilizing multiple stakeholders from various sectors and developing an Energy for Poverty Reduction Action Plan that will be a key building block of the Zambia PRSP implementation plan. Click here for full document.