UNIDO earmarks $1m for renewable energy

Jul 18, 2014

Poverty can be eradicated through inclusive and sustainable development, a senior UN official has said.

By Patrick Jaramogi        

Poverty can be eradicated through inclusive and sustainable development, a senior UN official has said.

Jean Bakole, the United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO) representative to the Africa Union and the Director of Regional office said UNIDO had earmarked funds to support Uganda start renewable energy for production.

“We have a $1m (sh2.5b). We are not here to invent a new will but to support the existing activities and to develop new activities to support the existing ones,” said Bakole.

He said UNIDO was in talks with Austria, Japan, India and China to raise funds for poverty reduction through productive activities.

He was speaking at a donor round table meeting with government and the and the private sector  held in Kampala on Thursday.

Trade minister Amelia Kyambadde attended the meeting.

Bakole said UNIDO will support Uganda to develop the energy sector. “It is only through energy provision that poverty can be addressed. If we don’t support people, they will continue cutting trees and hurt the environment,” he said. He said a section of the funds estimated to shoot to over $5m will also help in the utilisation of waste as a source of energy.

Kyambadde hailed UNIDO for the support and urged them to work with the private sector to see reality.

Dr. Maggie Kigozi, an entrepreneur and investment expert said the new initiative is relevant but emphasised the need for value addition on what already exists. “Let’s enable the micros to get market and if use this project to boost the production of renewable energy, we shall succeed,” she said.

Dr. Ben Mayindo the executive director, Uganda National Bureau of Standards (UNBS) called for the addressing of post- harvest losses as a means of boosting production.

Moses Ogwal, the director advocacy at the Private Sector Foundation Uganda (PSFU) urged UNIDO not to think too much on creating new initiatives but to improve on the existing ones.

“The initiative is good but let us improve on what we already have rather than creating new projects,” said Ogwal..

 

 
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