UNDP | Environment and Energy | Sustainable Energy

UNDP | Environment and Energy | Sustainable Energy: "6 November 2006 - Energizing Poverty Reduction: A Review of the Energy-Poverty Nexus in Poverty Reduction Strategy Papers - This report examines to what degree energy-poverty dynamics are reflected in the current policies and plans set forth in national poverty reduction strategies. Using 54 Poverty Reduction Strategy Papers as the basis of its analysis, the report concludes that although energy’s centrality to the MDGs is well accepted at the conceptual level - as evidenced by its recognition in various international and intergovernmental forums, including the recent 2005 World Summit – the same cannot be said so easily at the operational level, where energy is still by and large seen as a single-sector, ‘hardware’-driven issue, with limited linkages between energy service delivery and impacts on poverty reduction and the achievement of the MDGs. The present treatment of the energy-poverty nexus as observed in the reviewed PRSPs - particularly the lack of energy targets with specific timelines and the low levels of public investment being made in energy - suggests that many PRSPs fall short of supporting the achievement of national MDGs. Urgent attention is needed to redress this situation as countries try to integrate the MDGs into their PRSPs and other national development strategies."