Regional Validation Workshop on the Establishment of the Hindu Kush Himalaya Centre for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency (HCREEE) -A SE4ALL Centre of Excellence

Background 

No other region in South Asia suffers as much climate change and a looming energy crisis as the remote, off-grid, high altitude mountain areas of the Hindu Kush Himalayas, where living conditions are harsh and many people are vulnerable and marginalised. Despite a strong demand for decentralized sustainable energy solutions in the HKH region, especially in the off-grid mountain areas, a broad range of barriers, including policy and regulatory obstacles, out-dated technology and a lack of capacity and of finance, have prevented the region from taking full advantage of existing and potential renewable energy sources.

To address these challenges, ICIMOD and the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) with financial support of the Austrian Development Agency (ADA) are partnering on the development of a potential Hindu Kush Himalaya Centre for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency (HCREEE).

The proposed ICIMOD centre will operate under the umbrella of the Global Network of Regional Sustainable Energy Centres and represents an innovative fusion of regional and international efforts and capabilities. Its design will leverage a network of intra and extra regional partnerships, serving as a “hub” for knowledge and technical expertise on matters related to sustainable energy in mountain areas. It is proposed that the centre becomes a think-tank and regional hub for the cross-cutting area SDG-7, SDG-9 and SDG-13 and will play a key role in creating economies of scale and a vibrant sustainable energy business and job sector in mountain regions. The centre could create spill-over effects between the countries in the areas of policy and legislation, capacity development, knowledge management, awareness raising, as well as promotion of investment, entrepreneurship and innovation

In this context, the consultative preparatory process for HCREEE was launched in July 2016 to determine the added value, feasibility and best technical and institutional design of the centre by commissioning an international consulting company to carry out the needs assessment and feasibility studies. To gain feedbacks from the regional stakeholders for the finalization of the draft study reports produced by the assigned consultant, ICIMOD jointly with the UNIDO and with financial support of the Austrian Development Agency (ADA) is organizing a two days regional validation workshop by bringing together around 40 key regional stakeholders and development partners.

The workshop aims to discuss and validate the draft Needs Assessment and Feasibility Study reports and agree on the roadmap for the establishment and operations of the HCREEE. It is expected that the workshop will contribute towards refinement and validation of the preparatory study reports while providing strategic roadmap and way forward for the scope of mandate, technical and institutional design of the centre including the resource mobilization strategy for its sustainability.

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