Armenian-European Policy and Legal Advice Centre
ABU Consult GmbH (Germany) in consortium with Centre for European Consultational Law (Greece), College of Europe (Belgium), Hulla & Co Human Dynamics KG (Austria)
BCEOM Societe Francaise d'Ingenierie (France) in consortium with Grant Thornton Amyot (Armenia)
DMI Associates (France) in consortium with Gopa Consultants (Germany), Ticon (Latvia), Avag Solutions (Armenia)
Ecorys Nederland BV (Netherlands) in consortium with Altair Asesores (Spain)
Icon-Institute Public Sector GmbH (Germany) in consortium with British Council (United Kingdom), Berlioz Consulting (France)
Planet SA (Greece) in consortium with GFA Terra Systems GmbH (Germany), Berenschot International Solutions (Netherlands)
Ramboll Management A/S (Denmark) in consortium with KPMG Armenia (Armenia), KPMG Baltics SIA (Latvia), WTI advisors (United Kingdom)
Sofreco (France)

Cross Border Co-operation (CBC) Program Support Unit (PSU)
Euroconsultants SA (Greece) in consortium with Louis Berger SAS (France)
Cross Border Kocks Consult GmbH (Germany) in consortium with RRI Rhein Ruhr International GmbH (Germany)
Mott MacDonald Limited (United Kingdom) in consortium with Crown Agents (United Kingdom)
Ove Arup & Partners International Limited (United Kingdom) in consortium with Charles Kendall & Partners (United Kingdom)
SAFEGE Consulting Engineers (France) in consortium with ECO 3 sprl (Belgium)

Girls Education Initiative (GEI): Monitoring & Evaluation (M&E) Council for Childhood and Motherhood - Children at Risk Program
Copenhagen Development Consulting AlS (Denmark) in consortium with Carl Bro International (Denmark)
GET German Education and Training GmbH (Germany) in consortium with FEMCONSULT (Netherlands)
Eurecna Spa - CNA Veneto International Services (Italy) in consortium with EPTISA International Group (Spain), CID (Egypt)
ICCS-NTUA (Greece) in consortium with PROMAN S.A (Luxembourg), North South Cons. Exchange (NSCE) (Egypt)
Span Consultants (Netherlands)
Arcadis BMB (Netherlands)
Life - Frauen entwickeln Oekotechnik (Germany) in consortium with Talal Abu - Ghazaleh & Co. International (Jordan), BBJ Consult Aktiengesellschaft (Germany)

Implementation of a Financial Facility to Improve Competitiveness of the Caribbean Rice Sector
Bank of Nova Scotia
Demerara Bank Ltd. (Guyana)
Guyana Bank of Trade and Industry (Guyana)
Landbouwbank Ltd (Suriname)
National Bank of Industry and Commerce (Guyana)
RBTT Bank (Trinidad & Tobago)

Institutional Strengthening of the National Associations of Municipalities (ANAM) and the Association of Mayors and Indigenous Authorities (AGAAI)
GFA (Albania) in consortium with Muni-kiat (Guatemala)
WDC (Spain) in consortium with ICG Internacional (Spain)
Agroconsulting Internacional, S.A. (Spain) in consortium with GSD Consultores (Guatemala), DUNA, S.A. (Guatemala)
Fundacion Centroamericana de Desarrollo (Guatemala) in consortium with CIFESAL (Spain), LGDK (Germany), ASIES (Guatemala)
EPTISA (Spain) in consortium with VHG (Netherlands)
CMA (Spain) in consortium with Fundacion Espanola para la Cooperacion, Solidaridad Internacional (Spain), H3000 Development Consult GMBH (Austria), LAF Consultores (Guatemala)
ICON-INSTITUTE (Albania) in consortium with FIIAPP (Spain), DRN (Belgium), ANCI (Italy), Fundacion DEMUCA (Croatia)
COTECNO S.r.l. (Italy) in consortium with Ideaborn Consultores - Llibreria Consultoria IDEA (Spain), IIG (Spain)

International Technical Assistance for the Program to Support the Health Sector (PASSE) in Ecuador
Agriconsulting (Italy) in consortium with CREDES (France)
CTB (Belgium) in consortium with Sher (Belgium), Lotti (Italy), Proman (Luxembourg)
EDUC TRADE (Spain) in consortium with Eptisa (Spain), Inwent (Germany), Alli Causai (Ecuador)
Escuela Andaluza de Salud Publica (Spain) in consortium with SANIPLAN (Germany)
GTZ (Germany) in consortium with Epos (Germany), Gopa (Germany)
Icon Institute (Germany) in consortium with Ramboll (Finland), Instituto de Medicina Tropical Principe Leopoldo (Belgium)
IMATHIA S.L. (Spain) in consortium with AFIES (Spain), PROGECO (Italy)
INYPSA (Spain) in consortium with AEDES (Belgium)

Municipal and Inter-municipal Planning
GTZ GmbH (Germany) in consortium with FUNCEDE (Guatemala), PROATEC (Italy)
GFA GmbH (Germany) in consortium with CIFESAL (Spain), ASIES (Guatemala)
SOLUZIONA, S.A. (Spain) in consortium with GRAFCAN, S.A. (Spain), GALILEO, S.A. (Spain), OEI (Spain)
EPTISA (Spain) in consortium with VNG (Netherlands), GOPA (Germany), URL (Guatemala)
EPYPSA (Spain) in consortium with TEA CEGOS (Spain), SERVICES TECHNIQUES GLOBAUX, S.A. (Belgium), TRADING CENTRE (Spain)
BDPA, S.A. (France) in consortium with HCG (Finland), INYPSA (Spain), FEMICA (Guatemala)
FUNDEMUCA (Croatia) in consortium with MUNI-KIAT (Guatemala), MUSOL (Guatemala), ARDEN & PRINCE CONSULTING (Panama)

Police Digital Radio Communication System
AAM Management Information Consulting Ltd (Hungary) in consortium with Devoteam BV (Netherlands), DND Telecom Center Ltd (Hungary), EuroComputer Systems A.D (Macedonia)
Austroconsult (Austria)
Diadikasia Business Consultants S.A (Greece) in consortium with CIVI.POL Conseil (France), COMARCH S.A. (Poland), WIK Consult (Germany)
FIRST Telecom Ltd (Greece) in consortium with EIR Development Partners (Greece), Ei COMgroup Konsing (Serbia & Montenegro)
Makedonski Telekomunikacii AD (Macedonia)
Mason Communications Limited (United Kingdom)
S&T Services Polska Sp. z o.o. (Poland) in consortium with TELE-COM Sp.z.o.o. (Poland), S&T Hermes Plus d.o.o.e.l (Macedonia)

Satellite Monitoring and Accident Prevention System (Phase II)
Fichtner GmbH & Co. KG (Germany) in consortium with Indra Espacio, S.A. (Spain)
AETS Application Europeene de Technologies et de Services (France) in consortium with Renco S.p.A. (Italy), ICCS-NTUA (Greece)

Support the Development of the Administrative Capacity of the Local Institutions and Structures Responsible for Implementing the Community Acquis on Free Movement of Workers and the Rules for the Co-ordination of the Social Security Systems
ADECRI (France) in consortium with Bernard Brunhes International (France)
Bestuur & Management Consultants (BMC) (Netherlands) in consortium with Social Insurance Bank (SVB) (Netherlands), Ministry of Social Affairs Employment (SZW) (Netherlands)
European Dynamics S.A. (Greece) in consortium with ABU Consult GmbH (Germany), NIRAS CONSULTANTS A/S (Denmark)
GVG - Gesellschaft fur Versicherungswissenschaft und gestaltung e.V (Germany)

Technical Assistance for Implementation of Road Safety Measures
EPTISA International (Spain) in consortium with Consitrans SRL (Romania)
IncoWest GbR (Germany) in consortium with EUROMETUDES SA (Romania)
LOUIS Berger SAS (France)
Pell Frishmann Consultants Ltd (United Kingdom) in consortium with Consilier Construct SRL (Romania)
Ramboll Denmark A/S (Denmark) in consortium with FinroaD Ltd (Finland), Ramboll (Romania)
SWEDISH National Road Consulting AB (Sweden) in consortium with TECNIC S.p.A Consulting Engineers (Italy)
WSP Group (United Kingdom) in consortium with Trapec SA (Romania), Politehnica University of Timisoara (Romania)
WYG International Limited (formerly IMC Consulting Ltd), (WYGI) (United Kingdom) in consortium with White Young Green Consulting Limited (WYGC) (United Kingdom), TRL Limited (TRL) (United Kingdom)

Technical Assistance for the Implementation of the Program to Support the Actions of the CEEAC on Peace and Security
AGRER (Belgium) in consortium with CESO CE (Portugal)
B & S Europe (Belgium)
ECONOVISION (Netherlands) in consortium with IPIS (Belgium), IPGD (Belgium), Pax Christi (Belgium), CRG (Belgium), UAO (United Kingdom), PEPSE (France), PBEPC (Belgium), IRRI (Belgium)
GTZ (Albania) in consortium with BIRD (Albania)
HUMAN DYNAMICS (Austria) in consortium with ECCP (Netherlands), ChR (Belgium), NPI (Kenya)
TRANSTEC (Belgium) in consortium with GRIP (Belgium), ECDPM (Netherlands)


DEPARTMENT FOR INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT SHORTLISTS May 25 - June 1, 2006

Capacity Building in the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS)
Deloitte Consulting PTY Ltd (Australia)
Enterplan Ltd (United Kingdom)
PLW Development Solutions Ltd (United Kingdom)
The Crown Agents for Oversea Governments and Administrations Ltd (United Kingdom)

Establishing an Integrated Communications System for Uganda Revenue Authority
Bushnet Limited (Uganda)
MTN Uganda Limited (Uganda)
SimbaNET (T) Ltd (Tanzania)
Uganda Telecom Limited (Uganda)
Venture Communications Group (Pty) Ltd (South Africa)

Support to Federal Public Service Reform
ATOS Consulting Limited (South Africa)
Adam Smith International Ltd (United Kingdom)
Enterplan Ltd (United Kingdom)
HTSPE Limited (United Kingdom)
PA Infrastructure and Development Services (UK) Ltd (United Kingdom)
PricewaterhouseCoopers (United Kingdom)
WYG International (United Kingdom)

Support to the Ministry of Mineral Resources
Ketelaar, Jan P J, Dr.
Management Systems International (United States)
RAMBOLL Management A/S (Denmark)

Supporting Implementation of the Social Welfare System Reform Strategy
ATOS Consulting Limited (United Kingdom)
Oxford Policy Management Ltd (OPM) (United Kingdom)
WYG International (United Kingdom)



CONTRACT AWARD ANNOUNCEMENTS: EU, DFID, WB
EUROPEAN UNION SERVICE CONTRACT AWARDS May 29 - June 1, 2006

B AND S EUROPE, Belgium in consortium with ABU Consult GmbH (Germany), Diadikasia S.A. (Greece) and SICI Dominus (Spain)
B-Brussels: Cards - Support to the Ministry of Local Government
Kosovo
EURO 998,640

BRITISH COUNCIL, DEVELOPMENT SERVICES, United Kingdom in consortium with Altair Asesores (Spain)
B-Brussels: Tacis - Strengthening Procurement Reform in Georgia
Georgia
EURO 749,970

CARL BRO A/S, Denmark in consortium with Iberica de Estudios e Ingenieria S.A. (Spain), Ingenieur-Gesellschaft fur internationale Planungsaufgaben mbH (IGIP) (Germany), Romair Consulting S.r.l (Romania)
B-Brussels: ISPA - Technical Assistance for Management, Supervision and Publicity of ISPA Contracts in Galati, Romania
Romania
EURO 3,807,422

EPTISA PROYECTOS INTERNACIONALES S.A., Spain in consortium with RPS Advies (NL)
B-Brussels: Phare - Developing Capacity in Implementation and Enforcement of Environmental Law through ECENA and IMPEL
Bulgaria, Croatia, Romania, Turkey
EURO 599,640

GFA CONSULTING GROUP GMBH, Germany in consortium PEM GmbH (Germany), EPRD (Poland), Institute for Rural Development (Germany)
B-Brussels: Tacis - SME Support Services in Priority Regions
Ukraine
EURO 2,754,550

GOPA CONSULTANTS, Germany
B-Brussels: Cards - Support to Vocational Education and Training Reform
Albania
EURO 1,346,960

LOUIS BERGER SAS, United Kingdom
B-Brussels: ISPA - Technical Assistance for Project Implementation and FIDIC Works Supervision
Romania
EURO 3,432,190

MVV ENERGIE AG, Germany in consortium with SHER Ingenieurs - Conseils SA (Belgium)
B-Brussels: ISPA - Technical Assistance for Project Preparation in the Waste Water and Drinking Water Sector
Romania
EURO 3,381,000

SOFRECO, France in consortium with Carl Bro (Denmark) and DIWI (Germany)
B-Brussels: EDF - Delegated Works Management for the Access to Drinking Water Program under the 9th EDF in the Republic of Chad
Chad
Firm phase: EURO 6,896,256 + conditional phase: EURO 1,874,780

TRANSTEC, Belgium
B-Brussels: EDF - Technical Assistance for the Private-Sector Support Project
Benin
EURO 4,380,600

UNIVERSITE PIERRE MENDES FRANCE (UPMF), France in consortium with Centre for public reform - Innsbruck University (CPR) (Austria), Panteion University (Greece), IBF International Consulting (Belgium), Louis Berger SAS (France)
B-Brussels: Tacis - Establishment of a Centre for European Studies at Tbilisi State University
Georgia
EURO 999,700


DEPARTMENT FOR INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT CONTRACT AWARDS May 25 - June 1, 2006

ATOS CONSULTING LIMITED,
Ministry of Justice and Internal Affairs Establishment
Kosovo
GBP 480,138

BRITISH COUNCIL, UK
Development Partnerships in Higher Education
Non-Specific Country
GBP 697,440

C3 MANAGEMENT AND ECONOMIC CONSULTING, UK
Public Administration and Civil Service Reform
West Bank and Gaza
GBP 1,324,277

EDUCATION FOR CHANGE LTD, UK
Governance / Financial Management Specialist for the Primary Education Development Project Phase II
Bangladesh
GBP 590,950

GBM SERVICES LTD, UK
Cleaning Services - DFID London
United Kingdom
GBP 145,481

GLOBAL SYSTEMS, UK
Provision and Management of Video Conferencing Communication Link
United Kingdom
GBP 144,000

HUDSON, UK
DFID Infrastructure Suppport
United Kingdom
GBP 127,000

INFOMATCH, UK
Quest WCM Migration Officer
United Kingdom
GBP 100,000

KPMG MOZAMBIQUE, Mozambique
Establishment of a Community Land Use Fund
Mozambique
GBP 2,344,609

OXFORD POLICY MANAGEMENT (OPM) LTD, UK
Poverty Reduction Strategy (PRS) Serbia
Serbia & Montenegro
GBP 448,452

SERVICETEC LTD, UK
Development Assistance for Application Development Team
United Kingdom
GBP 500,000

TFPL LTD, UK
Catalyst Business Analyst
United Kingdom
GBP 100,000

THE CROWN AGENTS FOR OVERSEA GOVERNMENTS AND ADMINISTRATIONS LTD, UK
Humanitarian Services To DFID and the Post Conflict Reconstruction Unit
United Kingdom
GBP 11,729,000


WORLD BANK CONTRACT AWARDS May 29 - June 1, 2006

ACCENTURE (SHANGHAI) COMPANY LTD., China
National Railway Project
China
US$ 728,000

ACIS, Guinea
Education for All Project
Guinea
US$ 662,000

AEDA, Guinea
Education for All Project
Guinea
US$ 725,000

AFFONSO CARDOSO PALMEIRO, Brazil
Roads and Bridges Management and Maintenance Project
Mozambique
US$ 59,000

AGETIPE, Guinea
Education for All Project
Guinea
US$ 826,000

AGFC, Guinea
Education for All Project
Guinea
US$ 766,000

AGUIDSER, Guinea
Education for All Project
Guinea
US$ 732,000

ANDERS UTNE, Madagascar
Mineral Resources Governance Project
Madagascar
US$ 75,000

BNP PARIBAS CORPORATE FINANCE, France
Privatization & Restructuring of Banks & Enterprises Technical Assistance Project
Serbia and Montenegro
US$ 83,000

BRGM, France
Mine Closure, Environment & Socio-Economic Regeneration Project
Romania
US$ 242,000

BRGM, France
Mine Closure, Environment & Socio-Economic Regeneration Project
Romania
US$ 425,000

CACID-UICN, THE WORLD CONSERVATION UNION, Central African Republic
Reversal of Land and Water Degradation Trends in the Lake Chad Basin Ecosystem
Africa
US$ 151,000

ENRIQUE ORTEGA, Spain
Mineral Resources Governance Project
Madagascar
US$ 75,000

FICHTNER, GMBH & CO.KG, Germany
Emergency Multisector Rehabilitation and Reconstruction Project
Congo, Democratic Republic of
US$ 6,943,000

FOREIGN AGRICULTURE SERVICES OF THE UNITED STATES DEPT IN MONGOLIA, Mongolia
Index-Based Livestock Insurance
Mongolia
US$ 92,000

HASKONING NEDERLAND B.V., Netherlands
Energy Transit Institution Building Project
Georgia
US$ 490,000

JBA ENGENHARIA E CONSULTORIA LTDA, Brazil
Consulting Services for Technical Control of Concrete and Soil
Brazil
US$ 348,000

LPPSLH (LEMBAGA PENELITIAN DAN PENGEMBANGAN SUMBER DAYA & LINGKUNGAN HIDUP), Indonesia
Third Urban Poverty Project
Indonesia
US$ 692,000

M/S AUDIO VISUAL SYSTEM (AVS)-JV WITH M/S COFFEE, MAXIM & ADDIN, Pakistan
Pakistan Earthquake ERC
Pakistan
US$ 562,000

M/S GREEN STAR SOCIAL MARKETING, Pakistan
HIV/AIDS Prevention Project
Pakistan
US$ 165,000

M/S NAI ZINDAGI, ISLAMABAD, Pakistan
HIV/AIDS Prevention Project
Pakistan
US$ 603,000

M/S PAKISTAN AIR CONDITIONING ENGINEERING CO. (PVT) LTD. (PACEC), Pakistan
Montreal Protocol Ozone Depleting Substances (ODS) Phase Out Project
Pakistan
US$ 29,000

MONTEC GMBH, Germany
Mine Closure, Environment & Socio-Economic Regeneration Project
Romania
US$ 596,000

NATIONAL DATABASE AND REGISTRATION AUTHORITY (NADRA), Pakistan
Pakistan Earthquake ERC
Pakistan
US$ 1,744,000

NPV PROKOM, Ukraine
Pension Administration Project
Ukraine
US$ 55,000

PC UZSUVLOYIHA, Uzbekistan
Drainage, Irrigation & Wetlands Improvement Project - Phase 1
Uzbekistan
US$ 46,000

PLAN GUINEE, Guinea
Education for All Project
Guinea
US$ 734,000

PT AMYTHAS EXPERTS & ASSOCIATES, Indonesia
Third Urban Poverty Project
Indonesia
US$ 1,897,000

PT ARKONIN MANGGALA PRATAMA, Indonesia
Third Urban Poverty Project
Indonesia
US$ 1,181,000

PT INTERSYS KELOLA MAJU, Indonesia
Third Urban Poverty Project
Indonesia
US$ 1,513,000

PT TERABUANA MANGGALA JAYA, Indonesia
Third Urban Poverty Project
Indonesia
US$ 988,000

PT WASECO TIRTA, Indonesia
Third Urban Poverty Project
Indonesia
US$ 799,000

RAVI VENKATARAMAN, Canada
Education Sector Development Project
Azerbaijan
US$ 60,000

SERGIJ GABRSCEK, Slovenia
Education Sector Development Project
Azerbaijan
US$ 137,000

TECSULT INTERNATIONAL LIMITEE, Canada
Mineral Resources Governance Project
Madagascar
US$ 225,000

THE URBAN INSTITUTE, United States
Private & Public Sector Institution Building Loan (PIPBL)
Romania
US$ 99,000

WISUTEC, Germany
Mine Closure, Environment & Socio-Economic Regeneration Project
Romania
US$ 96,000



Leader Profile: Anna Tibaijuka, Executive Director, UN-HABITAT

The United Nations Human Settlements Program (UN-HABITAT) is the UN agency for human settlements mandated by the UN General Assembly to promote socially and environmentally sustainable towns and cities, with the goal of providing adequate shelter for all. Anna Kajumulo Tibaijuka took over in her current position, as head of the agency, in September 2000.

As Executive Director, Anna works with all high-level bodies of the UN system, including the Senior Management Board of the Secretary-General. The budget of UN-HABITAT has more than doubled in 2004-2005 to US$ 44 million, supporting 154 technical programs and projects in 61 countries around the world and two major worldwide campaigns - the Global Campaign on Urban Governance, and the Global Campaign for Secure Tenure. Anna explained the importance of the agency's work asserting, "Human settlements is a very significant issue together with environment protection, as it bears on the interests of the common people of all countries in social development."

The connection between housing and development was highlighted during one of Anna's missions in another of her positions, as UN Special Envoy to Zimbabwe. She visited the country in 2005 to evaluate the humanitarian aspects of the eviction of about 200,000 poor people from their homes. "Operation Restore Order breached both national and international human rights law provisions guiding evictions, thereby precipitating a humanitarian crisis," she said. "The Government of Zimbabwe should set a good example and adhere to the rule of law before it can credibly ask its citizens to do the same."

Prior to joining UN-HABITAT, Anna was the Special Coordinator for Least Developed Countries, Landlocked and Small Island Developing Countries at the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD). She had previously worked as Associate Professor of Economics at the University of Dar-es-Salaam in her native Tanzania. She was the founding Chairperson of the independent Tanzanian National Women's Council and founding Chairperson of the Barbro Johansson Girls Education Trust, an organization dedicated to promoting high standards of education for girls in Tanzania and throughout Africa. Anna holds a Doctorate of Science in Agricultural Economics from the University of Agricultural Sciences in Uppsala, Sweden.

The work of UN-HABITAT in the immediate future will focus on meeting the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), and a new initiative has recently been launched to promote gender equality in access to housing. "In order to remove the barriers to gender equality in the human settlements sector, we must deal with housing laws and by-laws, urban planning regulations, laws dealing with property rights and inheritance rights, access to credit, and the list goes on," she said, "While policies purporting to address gender gaps have been put in place in many countries, the real political will of implementing those, including by providing adequate funding, is lacking."

Conference Spotlight: Ethics and International Development

On 19 - 22 June 2006, the International Development Ethics Association (IDEA), in association the Ethics and Public Management Programme of Makerere University, will hold its seventh international conference at Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda. The conference is subtitled, "Accountability, Responsibility, and Integrity in Development: The Ethical Challenges in Sub-Saharan Africa and Beyond".

The conference is based on six key themes: development ethics - theory and practice; accountability; responsibility and globalization, fostering accountability and integrity, peace and conflict in the developing world; and teaching of development ethics and ethics in public management. The conference agenda will include:

- Philosophical foundations of development ethics.
- Dilemmas of development.
- Participatory decision-making - problems and prospects.
- Empowerment of women.
- Accountability of NGOs.
- Gender aspects of governance and development.
- Globalization's impact on inequality.
- Corporate social responsibility.
- Overcoming impunity.
- Roles for the private sector, governments, and religion in peacebuilding.

Attendance costs US$ 200 for delegates from the north, or US$ 40 for participants from the South in professional positions, if reservations are made before 15th June 2006. Late applications will require the payment of an additional US$ 30 if before June 30th, or after US$ 50. Details are available from: www.development-ethics.org/document.asp?cid=5012&sid=0&did=1169.

For further information on the conference, contact Ms. Alice Wabule, Conference Coordinator at Makerere University. Email: wabulealice@yahoo.com. Information is available online from: http://www.development-ethics.org/default.asp?cid=5012&sid=5022.

Behind the News: Energy Alternatives for Poor Communities

In conjunction with the international conference on Rethinking Infrastructure for Development, held in Tokyo from 29 - 30 May 2006, the World Bank has highlighted the need to develop alternative energy sources for the poorest societal groups. For both environmental and economic reasons, re-thinking in the sector is needed, and the United Nations has advised that advances in the energy alternatives available to poor communities will form a vital part of development strategy if the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) are to be met.

Recent rises in petroleum prices have had a negative impact on the economies of some of the world's poorest countries. The World Bank's Director of Energy and Water highlighted that rising prices have created a cumulative economic loss of over three percent of gross domestic product (GDP) in net-importing sub-Saharan Africa countries - and has increased poverty in those areas by as much as four to six percent. Though none of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) specifically focus on energy, they do include environmental and economic aims, and have refocused efforts on developing country energy needs and access to energy services. The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) estimates that nearly 2 billion people depend on traditional energy sources - dung, firewood, and agricultural residues - for cooking and heating, filling their homes with unhealthy air. Indoor pollution kills an estimated 2 million people a year, mostly young children and women. The UNDP published a report, "Achieving the Millennium Development Goals: The Role of Energy Services," this month on the role of energy services in achieving the MDGs. Shoji Nishimoto, Assistant Administrator of the Bureau for Development Policy at the agency said, "Dependence on traditional fuels and fuel technologies barely allows fulfillment of the basic human needs of nutrition, warmth and lighting, let alone the opportunity for more productive activities."

The MDGs cannot be met without major improvement in the quality and quantity of energy services in developing countries, but more investment is needed to ensure the energy needs of the poorest are met in the future. World Bank figures indicate that private sector investment in the power sector within developing countries has fallen to US$ 14 billion, from US$ 47 billion in 1997. The aim of the current policy is to reduce the size of the environmental footprint left by energy production, and use renewable and energy efficient technology when possible. World Bank President Paul Wolfowitz commented, "Today, the global community is working to achieve a potential 'double dividend' - to meet the energy needs that are essential to fuel growth and to fight poverty on the one hand while preserving the environment on the other. Indeed these are not conflicting goals. It's very hard to fight poverty if you then, in the process, destroy the environment." Research carried out by the World Bank, at the request of the G-8 leaders after the Gleneagles Summit last July, indicated that renewable energy technology may be able to take the place of fossil fuels more quickly than previously believed. "We feel that there are enough technologies already available, so that if there's the political will to do it, we can make substantial differences," said World Bank Energy Economist Gary Stuggins.

The UNDP report, "Achieving the Millennium Development Goals: The Role of Energy Services" is available online from: www.energyandenvironment.undp.org/undp/indexAction.cfm?module=Library&action=GetFile&DocumentID=5761.

World Bank information on their energy-related operations is at: www.worldbank.org/energy.