17 April 2013: The World Bank’s Energy Sector Management Assistance Program (ESMAP) 2012 Annual Report highlights achievements including: support for the Sustainable Energy for All Initiative (SE4ALL); completion of Low Carbon Growth Country Studies; global deployment of the Tool for Rapid Assessment of City Energy (TRACE); and continued assistance to Lighting Africa.

ESMAP’s 2012 Annual Report includes chapters on: complex challenges, dynamic opportunities; accelerating the transition to clean energy and low carbon development; creating pathways to sustainable energy for all; fostering sustainable, energy efficient cites; and developing effective energy sector policies, practices and institutions. It notes that key achievements in 2012 included early analytical support of UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon’s Sustainable Energy for All (SE4ALL) initiative.

Additionally, the report notes that the Low Carbon Growth Country Series was completed, which assisted seven emerging economies to develop strategies to reduce greenhouse gas emissions while meeting national development objectives. It further notes that ESMAP’s Tool for Rapid Assessment of City Energy (TRACE) is now used in 12 cities to assess energy efficiency options. Finally, it highlights that the World Bank’s Lighting Africa program has continued to expand and has now helped provide over 4 million people in Sub-Saharan Africa with improved, clean, quality-certified off-grid lighting systems.

ESMAP is a global, multidonor technical assistance trust fund administered by the World Bank and cosponsored by 12 official bilateral donors. [ESMAP 2012 Annual Report]