The Sustainable Development Network (SDN) is in charge of advancing the World Bank Group's (WBG) agenda for sustainable development, ensuring that it takes into consideration evolving global challenges and client needs and demands, and that it is effectively mainstreamed in the Bank's country and global programs. SDN brings together people and programs in five anchor departments and six operational regions working on environment and natural resources, social development, agriculture and rural development; energy, transport and water; and urban development. The Vice Presidency also manages, jointly with the International Finance Corporation, global product groups that carry out the World Bank's work in information and communications technology and oil, gas, chemicals, and mining.
Since about 2004, the World Bank Group has rapidly expanded its assistance for renewable energy and energy efficiency. The World Bank Group financing of renewable energy (RE) and energy efficiency (EE) projects and programs rose 87% in FY08 to reach $2.7 billion with 95 projects in 51 countries. Total RE and EE commitments for the year ended June 30, 2008 accounted for more than 35% of total Bank Group energy lending. In addition, the Bank Group has already surpassed the commitment it made at the Bonn International Renewable Energies Conference in 2004 to increase support for new renewable energy and energy efficiency by $1.9 billion over the period 2005-2009.
This rapid expansion in support for renewable energy and energy efficiency was driven by the increased priority given to the sector by the Bank Group. The Bank Group was thus able to respond quickly to the uptick in demand by its clients, partly driven by the volatility of oil and other conventional energy prices, concerns about reliable access to adequate energy supplies, greater concerns about climate change, and the cost reductions and technology maturation in renewable energy and energy efficiency.
The SDN Vice Presidency is enhancing its energy practice drawing from the institution's 15 years of experience in this area, with a special focus on assisting developing countries make a transformational change to a low carbon energy development pathway. The WBG played a major role in promoting the Clean Development Mechanism and Joint Implementation under the Kyoto Protocol and has been instrumental in catalyzing the development of carbon market -- its Carbon Finance business currently manages about $2.0 billion in carbon funds.
Over the past two years the Bank launched several initiatives that have a strong bearing on its continued and expanded support for renewable energy and energy efficiency.
• Infrastructure Recovery and Assets (INFRA) – Acknowledging the fact that infrastructure investments and maintenance were the main casualty during and after the Asian financial crisis of the late 1990s and other similar recessions, the WBG has launched the INFRA platform to prevent a similar outcome after this recession. This platform will spearhead the WBG’s efforts to enhance investments in ongoing projects that are at risk of loss of financing; projects near closure whose financing has fallen through, and provide dedicated resources to maintain the current infrastructure spending for new assets and regular maintenance of assets since this provides higher returns than renovation and rehabilitation at the end of term.
• Climate Investment Funds (CIF) - consist of the Clean Technology Fund (CTF) with donor commitments of US$5.2 billion, and the Strategic Climate Fund (SCF). The CTF is designed to promote scaled up demonstration, deployment and transfer of low-carbon technologies in power sector, transportation, and energy efficiency in buildings, industry and agriculture. One of the funds in the SCF, Scaling Up Renewable Energy in Low Income Countries, is under development.(to reduce length)
• Recently the World Bank Board approved the “Development and Climate Change: A Strategic Framework for the World Bank Group”. This Strategic Framework serves to guide and support the operational response of the World Bank Group to new development challenges posed by global climate change. Under the framework, the Bank Group will increase financing for energy efficiency and new renewable energy by an average 30 percent a year, from a baseline of US$600 million in average annual commitments during FY05-07, and expand lending to hydropower, with the share of low-carbon projects rising from 40 percent in fiscal years 2006–08 to 50 percent in fiscal year 2011.
The World Bank Group is presently preparing its Energy Strategy. This Strategy will provide a framework for the Bank’s support to the twin objectives of improving access and reliability of energy supply and facilitating the shift to a more environmentally sustainable energy development path. This Strategy preparation is being developed by an underway extensive global consultation with all stake-holders.
The Sustainable Development Network, is seeking an internationally recognized leader who will provide strategic coherence and enhance the operational impact of the Bank's renewable energy and energy efficiency activities and uphold the institution's role as enabler of global dialogue on moving energy development to a more sustainable and cleaner pathway.
Note: If the selected candidate is a current Bank Group staff member with a Regular or Open-Ended appointment, s/he will retain his/her Regular or Open-Ended appointment. All others will be offered a 4 year renewable term appointment.
