Energy and Poverty Reduction : Proceedings from a Multi-Sector and Multi-Stakeholder Workshop - How Can Modern Energy Services Contribute to Poverty Reduction?

Abstract

This report summarizes the proceedings
 from a workshop, the first in the region designed to foster
 a multi-sectoral approach to development energy services for
 poverty reduction, held at the Hilton Hotel in Addis Ababa,
 Ethiopia, October 23-25, 2002. It was co-organized by the
 World Bank-UNDP sponsored Energy Sector Management
 Assistance Program (ESMAP) and the World Bank Africa Energy
 Unit, and others. The report focuses on the key issues
 raised in the presentations and discussions which were
 structured around the following three themes: (a)
 Understanding the Energy-Poverty situation in the different
 countries as reflected in the Poverty Reduction Strategy
 Papers (PRSPs) of each country and clarified by the
 Ministers and country delegates; (b) Understanding the role
 of Energy in meeting priority objectives in the social and
 economic sectors of health, education, water, agriculture
 and development of small to medium enterprises (SMEs); and
 (c) Designing appropriate response initiatives in the form
 of draft country action plans outlining the priority energy
 interventions required to enhance the effectiveness of
 poverty reduction strategies.