Renewable Energy for Rural Economic Development

This project represents a second, follow-on project to the first Energy Services Delivery project. That first project, to close in December 2002, targeted solar home systems, grid-based small hydro, small hydro village mini-grids, and energy efficiency, and has been one of the most successful projects in the GEF portfolio to date. This second project continues to expand markets for solar home systems and grid-based power generation, adds biomass and wind technologies for village mini-grids, emphasizes new approaches to income generation and social services ("cross-sectoral applications"), explicitly targets poverty reduction, and supports policy frameworks for energy efficiency and DSM. Total project $133 m. IDA $75 m., GEF $8 m., other cofinancing $50 m (private investors, banks, community borrowers) [updated June 6, 2002].