Focus Group Meeting 2 on the Regional Initiative for Promoting Small-Scale Renewable Energy Applications in rural areas of the Arab Region in Jordan.

The Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA) is implementing the “Regional Initiative for Promoting Small – Scale Renewable Energy Applications in rural areas of the Arab region (REGEND)”. This regional initiative is a Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida) funded project and aims to improve the livelihood, economic benefits, social inclusion and gender equality of Arab rural communities particularly marginalized groups, by addressing energy poverty, water scarcity and vulnerability to climate change and other natural resources challenges in four targeted countries, including Jordan.

Within the framework of the Project REGEND, ESCWA is organizing, in collaboration with the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources of Jordan, the second  Focus Group meeting to discuss and assess (1) the results of the Baseline Study addressing the socio economic and political dynamics and environmental consideration linked to productive activities by sector, access to energy services requirements and availability of sources of energy supply, and associated technologies needed to support resilience in rural community; (2) the selection of the local communities where the project activities will be undertaken; (3) and the identification of the said activities. This will lead to the establishment of the Local Facilitating Team (LFT) and the nomination of its members.