20 October 2009: Two new projects developed by the UN Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) aim to help achieve a sustainable transformation of energy practices in South Africa and promote environmentally-friendly production in Tunisia.

The project in South Africa, which will be co-funded by the South African and Swiss Governments, will help to establish energy management standards, ensure their adoption by industries and introduce a system optimization approach, to achieve a shift in energy practices to promote energy efficiency. The project will also help formulate a policy framework, build institutional capacity and raise awareness through demonstration projects, in order to stimulate the demand for energy efficient services. It is expected that the project will lead to significant carbon dioxide emission reductions, as well as increased competitiveness of industries. A comprehensive system to monitor energy savings and productivity gains will be set up.
The project in Tunisia is being financed by the Government of Switzerland with the goal of promoting environmentally-friendly production in Tunisia. It is aligned with UNIDO’s new programme with the UN Environment Programme (UNEP), and will contribute to UNIDO’s Green Industry initiative. The project is intended to help increase the competitiveness of small and medium enterprises, strengthen the Tunisian National Cleaner Production Centre, and support the development of a regional network of similar centers in the Middle East and North Africa.
UNIDO Director-General Kandeh K. Yumkella and Swiss State Secretary for Economic Affairs Jean-Daniel Gerber signed an agreement in Bern on 20 October 2009, for the funding of the projects. [UNIDO press release]