Who we are
The Section's Policy Director, together with the Secretariat in Norad, serve as important focal points for the overall coordination of the initiative. Decision making and responsibility for the various budget lines involved remain within the different appropriating units of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Embassies, Norad and Norfund.
The Working Group
The working group of the Clean Energy for Development Initiative is a small group meeting approximately every second week to discuss strategic and operational matters related to the programme. The working group is headed by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, with participants from the Ministry of the Environment, the Ministry of Petroleum and Energy, Norfund, the Water Resources and Energy Directorate (NVE) and Norad.
The Secretariat – and Norad
The Clean Energy for Development Secretariat is led by the Head of the Energy section in Norad. The main tasks of the secretariat are to administer the activities of the working group, dissemination of information and results, and publish an annual report for the Initiative. Further the focus is to maintain and strengthen dialogue with embassies, regional energy advisers, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, multilateral players and civil society, and to provide analysis and tools for moving the initiative forward.
In addition to its responsibility for the Secretariat of the Initiative, Norad’s energy section also provides technical and expert advice on the various ongoing programmes and support within the Initiative. Quality assurance, as appraisals, legal advice, reviews and evaluations etc. are also performed or facilitated by Norad.
Norwegian Embassies
The Norwegian embassies play an essential role in the Clean Energy for Development Initiative. Budgetary responsibility and decision making for the bilateral portfolio rest with the embassies. The embassies hold valuable local and regional knowledge and network with government agencies, industry, civil society as well as international organizations and other donors in their respective countries.
Norfund
Norfund is the development finance institution that serves as the commercial investment instrument of Norway’s development policy. Through investment in profitable companies and the transfer of knowledge and technology, it contributes to reducing poverty and to economic progress in poor countries.
Key implementing partners
The Clean Energy for Development Initiative encompasses various programmes and initiatives of different size and focuses within clean energy. As noted above the embassies are the ones responsible for the bilateral programmes in their respective countries. In addition significant amounts of funds are channelled through various multilateral channels like the World Bank, the UN and also through some regional organizations and institutions.
Furthermore, the Initiative is depending on a range of other partners in order to carry out the various activities. The Norwegian Water Resources and Energy Directorate (NVE) and the Norwegian national transmission system operator (Statnett) are essential partners in implementing the Clean Energy for Development Initiative. They contribute with expertise in their field and are sought after partners when in comes to institutional cooperation. The International Centre of Hydropower also upholds a strong position as a capacity building institution in the field of developing clean energy projects.
Finally, support through the Initiative is also channelled through several civil society organizations and also through some higher education – and research institutions.
For a more thorough introduction to these various partners contributing in the Norwegian clean energy effort please see the Annual Report 2010 - Key Norwegian Partners and Programmes.