SECO contribution to the Energy Sector Management Assistance Program (ESMAP)

In the context of a rapidly changing global energy landscape, the primary objective for the international community is to achieve progress on the triple challenge of providing increased energy supply and security, making it affordable for the poorest segment of the population, and mitigating impact on climate change. Countries face a wide range of choices when it comes to planning the future of their energy sectors.

ESMAP engagement in the energy sector is designed to generate global expert knowledge and advise countries to secure and implement affordable, reliable, and sustainable energy supply strategy and policy. It contributes to the reduction of the extreme poverty and promotion inclusive growth, since energy is an important engine of economic growth, on which both poverty reduction and shared prosperity depend.

ESMAP has organized its support into four main focus areas:

Clean Energy

Energy Access

Energy Efficient Cities

Energy Assessments and Strategies

With the support of ESMAP, it is anticipated that countries are able to deliver better-substantiated energy strategies and investment decisions, while implementing innovative solutions.

More specifically the Swiss financing focuses on the initiative concentrating on energy efficiency in cities and on fossil fuels subsidy reforms (FFSR). Both issues are closely related to climate-friendly growth. Estimates suggest that cities are responsible for 75% of global CO2 emissions, with transport and buildings being among the largest contributors. And the FFSR challenge is enormous, not only with USD 543 billion spent in 2014, but also in terms of GHG emissions (which could be reduced by 6 to 13% through the removal of fossil fuel subsidy to consumers).

Expected results:  

The core of ESMAP?s work program is conducted through grants to World Bank?s regional energy units for analytical and advisory activities linked to the World Bank?s country strategy.

Some activities are also carried out directly by client countries. From a broader point of view, ESMAP acts as an internal think tank accommodating, in one single program of the WBG, instruments for pilot projects and approaches in the energy sector.

Phase 1 01.07.2015 - 30.06.2020   (Completed)