UNESCAP facilitates the establishment of an energy agency in the Maldives

Male, the Maldives, 23-25 February 2004

The Government of the Maldives is in the process of establishing an energy agency in order to increase the coordination and quality of efforts to improve the delivery of energy services in the country. On the request of the Government, UNESCAP provided guidance and recommendations on objectives and structure of such agency, and to facilitate initial stakeholders’ discussions and capacity-building.

In late 2003, UNESCAP sent an international expert to the Maldives to analyze institutional structures and capacity for energy sector development. Based on the analysis, the expert provided recommendations to the Government on the structure of an energy agency and proposed an action plan for its establishment. The recommendations were well received and promptly put forward to policy-makers for consideration. Within the scope of the new mechanism, two prospective energy agency staff members are currently undergoing overseas training on energy policy and energy technology.

The establishment of a small energy agency was recommended with the mandate to act on an advisory, coordinating and facilitating role. The new energy agency would depend heavily on well-functioning collaboration with energy stakeholders from other government institutions, the private sector and non-governmental entities, which would be main implementers of policies, programmes and projects developed or managed by the energy agency. On that background, UNESCAP in early 2004 also provided training to a group of stakeholders and facilitated discussions among them on strategic planning and management of the energy sector. These stakeholders are expected to be main partners of the energy agency, once established.

UNESCAP will continue its support to the Maldives during 2004.

The workshop participants

Planning scenarios

Setting objectives