Arab States

Where we work

Arab States

Our Impact

≈ 9

percent

of people lack access to reliable electricity

11

percent

of people lack access to clean cooking fuels and technologies

7

percent

of the region’s power flows from renewable energy

55.7

million

million people need humanitarian assistance, including 26 million forcibly displaced people

Our Focus

UNDP supports countries and communities to advance an energy transition that leads to both low-carbon economies and more just, stable and thriving societies. A forward-looking UNDP offer for the Arab region builds on results in scaling up renewable energy, enhancing energy efficiency, closing the energy gap for the poor and marginalized women, and advancing energy resilience, particularly in crises. It prioritizes energy investment and finance, and backs efforts to dismantle political and institutional obstacles to national and global targets.

UNDP works with Arab countries to develop capacities for faster progress on four energy pillars: expanding energy access, strengthening energy resilience, driving energy transitions and accelerating energy finance through transformative partnerships.

Cross-cutting activities include policy and thought leadership, digital transformation, technological innovations and SDG integration. By mainstreaming gender equality, improving energy governance, mobilizing finance and advancing social protection, UNDP backs a holistic approach that aligns national progress with sustainable development.

Featured initiatives

CEDRO Project: Supporting Lebanon’s Energy Transition

Lebanon has been exposed to several crises including political instability, national currency collapse, fuel shortages, unsustainable grains import, and intermittency of energy access. With funding from the European Commission, UNDP’s Community Entrepreneurship for Distributed Renewable Opportunities (CEDRO) Project supports Lebanon to access climate finance, expand sustainable energy solutions and advance its energy transition to help communities recover from the crises.

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Enhanced Rural Resilience in Yemen Programme (ERRY)

Yemen has been one of the largest humanitarian crises in the world since the start of the conflict in Yemen in 2015. Since 2016, the Enhanced Rural Resilience in Yemen Programme (ERRY) has supported the deployment of decentralized renewable energy solutions for local communities and essential public services such health, education, and municipalities. ERRY is funded the European Union and the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (SIDA) and implemented in partnership by UNDP, the Food and Agriculture Organization 5FAO), the International Labor Organization (ILO), and the World Food Programme (WFP). The ERRY programme has been recognised internationally providing sustainable energy solutions and hope to frontline, conflict-affected communities.

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Sustainable Cities Impact project: building Low Carbon Cities in Morocco

Morocco is a one of the region’s renewable energy leaders. The GEF-funded Sustainable Cities Impact Sustainable Cities Impact project is a comprehensive initiative that supports the scale-up of existing activities related to biodiversity conservation, land restoration, greenhouse gas emissions reductions, and climate resilience.

Sustainable Urbanization and Resource Efficiency (SURE): promoting Jordan’s Energy Efficiency

This GEF-funded project promotes low-carbon buildings initially in the Greater Amman Municipality, with the objective of expanding to other municipalities, through the development of Building Energy Codes and the roll out of the 2016 National Energy Efficiency Action Plan and the 2016 National Green Growth Plan 2016.

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