The UN Development Programme (UNDP) and the Asian Development Bank (ADB) signed two agreements to work together in Nepal and Papua New Guinea to explore the use of alternative sources of energy for rural communities.

In Nepal, the ADB is providing a USD 1.5 million grant under the off-grid component of the South Asia Sub-regional Economic Cooperation (SASEC) Power Extension Project. With this funding, the UNDP will work with the Alternative Energy Promotion Center (APEC), the focal agency for renewable energy under the Ministry of Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation (MoEWRI) to promote renewable energy in Nepal.

The purpose of the technical assistance provided by UNDP is to produce hydro and solar power for remote off-grid communities in the Himalayan nation. Under this partnership, the UNDP will also provide additional co-financing of USD 0.8 million and technical support to APEC through its Renewable Energy for Rural Livelihood (RERL) project. The SASEC project is supporting rural communities to develop nine mini hydropower subprojects and 10 solar mini grids which will give 30,500 households access to reliable, affordable and quality electricity. The project provides critical support to Nepal’s ambition to give clean energy to all, particularly those living in hard to reach locations in the mountainous country.

In Nepal, as of 2015, 75% people have access to electricity and the government aims to ensure universal access by 2030. A significant number of people (74.7%) still use firewood, coal and other traditional sources for cooking. And share of renewable energy in the total energy mix is just 11.9%.

In Papua New Guinea (PNG), the ADB will provide  funding under its “Building Resilience to Climate Change Project”, to enable the Government and UNDP to   help communities in remote atolls and coastal areas improve food security, better prepare for climate-driven natural disasters and reduce  vulnerabilities.

UNDP has a long partnership with the Government of PNG and the communities in their efforts to combat climate change. In 2017, with support from the UNDP, the Government endorsed its National REDD+ Strategy (2017-2027), an important milestone to address deforestation and forest degradation.

The country's climate plans are captured in its Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC) to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change. Through the ADB “Building Resilience to Climate Change Project”, UNDP will continue to work with the Climate Change Development Authority in its efforts to successfully achieve the Governments climate goals. In Papua New Guinea, it is evident that people in rural communities are affected by king tides, rising sea levels, change in weather patterns and natural disasters, such as, volcanic eruptions and earthquakes. . The causes and consequences of climate change stretch far beyond individuals and governments. For countries like PNG, actions against climate change require continued and long-term commitment. Effective efforts require at local, national and international levels.

UNDP values these tripartite (Government-IFI-UNDP) partnerships as this type of collaboration can further the progress of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGS).  During the Decade of Action it is important to continue to develop more partnerships like these to respond to development needs in the 170 countries that UNPD operates.