Energy and Poverty Reduction : Proceedings from a Multi-Sector and Multi-Stakeholder Workshop - How Can Modern Energy Services Contribute to Poverty Reduction?

This report summarizes the proceedings
from a workshop, the first in the region designed to foster
a multi-sectoral approach to development energy services for
poverty reduction, held at the Hilton Hotel in Addis Ababa,
Ethiopia, October 23-25, 2002. It was co-organized by the
World Bank-UNDP sponsored Energy Sector Management
Assistance Program (ESMAP) and the World Bank Africa Energy
Unit, and others. The report focuses on the key issues
raised in the presentations and discussions which were
structured around the following three themes: (a)
Understanding the Energy-Poverty situation in the different
countries as reflected in the Poverty Reduction Strategy
Papers (PRSPs) of each country and clarified by the
Ministers and country delegates; (b) Understanding the role
of Energy in meeting priority objectives in the social and
economic sectors of health, education, water, agriculture
and development of small to medium enterprises (SMEs); and
(c) Designing appropriate response initiatives in the form
of draft country action plans outlining the priority energy
interventions required to enhance the effectiveness of
poverty reduction strategies.