Rome, 14-15 April 2004

1. At the initiative of the High Level Committee on Programmes (HLCP) an ad hoc task force, composed of UN system experts on energy, met in Rome 14-15 April 2004 under the Chairmanship of Mr. Mats Karlsson, Vice Chair of HLCP, to elaborate the terms of reference, functioning modalities, and work programme for a system-wide collaborative arrangement on energy. Participants expressed their appreciation to FAO for hosting the meeting.

2. The agenda for the meeting and the list of participants are attached at Annex III and IV respectively.

3. The ad hoc task force viewed this task in the context of energy issues related to achieving sustainable development that were identified by CSD-9 and confirmed at World Summit on Sustainable Development (WSSD) and in the Johannesburg Plan of Implementation (JPOI) on the basis of a note prepared by CEB Secretariat. It took note of the need for (i) increasing access to reliable, affordable, economically viable, socially acceptable and environmentally sound energy services and resources, (ii) improving energy efficiency, (iii) increasing the share of energy from renewable energy sources, (iv) diversifying energy supply through advanced, cleaner, more efficient, affordable and cost effective energy technologies and (v) implementing transport strategies for sustainable development.

4. It also took note of emphasis placed by WSSD on the relationship between access to energy and poverty eradication in both urban and rural areas as well as the importance of increasing the share of renewable energy resources in the total energy supply, and the importance of energy for achieving sustainable development. The JPOI focuses on implementation while acknowledging the important role of all stakeholders. The wide range of stakeholders involved, including the private sector, represents a major and critical challenge to the UN system’s efforts in support of sustainable development and requires a concerted and coordinated response to the follow-up of WSSD in this area. Due to the complexity of the issues, their interrelationships within the broader sustainable development framework and the diversity of mandates and approaches that exist, a significant further effort will be required to develop a coherent, collaborative and effective UN system response.

5. The ad hoc task force benefited from the following guidelines provided by HLCP in the context of an effective and integrated framework for follow-up to WSSD: (i) focus on implementation at all levels (global, regional, sub-regional and national); (ii) place WSSD within the context of other summit/conferences follow-up processes; (iii) take into account the two-year “implementation cycles” set out by CSD for reporting requirements and the sessions planned for 2006/2007; (iv) build on past efforts to coordinate UN energy activities; and (v) take due account of the flexible and results-oriented approach to coordination adopted by the Chief Executives Board (CEB) for Coordination.

6. In elaborating the terms of reference for a collaborative arrangement, the ad hoc task force considered the generic objectives as discerned by HLCP:

• Advocacy/Public profile: Promoting public profile of the issues through outreach to media, advocacy campaigns and the active involvement of a broad range of actors.
• Clearing-house function: Serving as a clearing-house for policy and programme information exchange, and for sharing lessons learnt and experiences. This could include preparation of a comprehensive annual report providing an assessment of the state of play. While this should be approached as a continuing function, the conveying of special annual meetings of all relevant actors, including bilateral donors, may prove desirable for sharing information and future plans.
• Policy coherence/development: Promoting policy coherence at all levels in line with the JPOI and identifying specific areas where there is a need/opportunity for further policy development.
• Promoting collaboration among actors: Encouraging and facilitating collaborative arrangements in relation to programmes and projects among relevant actors, in order to avoid duplication and ensure optimal utilization of resources.
• Strengthening the knowledge base: Establishing linkages among and with research centers, institutes, networks and other sources of knowledge related to a particular sector.
• Encouraging linkages: Serving as a link between global, regional and national level activities.
• Capacity building: Ensuring coordinated approaches to capacity building in developing countries.
• Monitoring and evaluation: Evaluating progress towards the achievement of goals/targets and harmonizing the reporting formats”.

7. The ad hoc task force reiterated that although no single entity in the UN system had the primary responsibility for system-wide collaboration in the area of energy, a coherent and consistent approach is needed. While cooperation on specific projects and activities exists, independent initiatives abound across the UN system. A review of activities undertaken prior to CSD-9 and WSSD show the potential for synergies within the system. Moreover, energy is an area where other development actors, particularly the private sector, play a major role and must be effectively engaged. The ad hoc task force recognized the need for a far more inclusive and broad-based approach in the light of the call for joint actions by the United Nations and by all stakeholders in the JPOI.

8. The task force agreed to the creation of UN-Energy and elaborated its terms of reference, see Annex I. It requested Mr. Mats Karlsson to chair UN-Energy and invited Mr. Gustavo Best to serve as its Vice Chairman.

UN-Energy Work Plan

9. The task force agreed on the following elements for elaborating a work programme for UN-Energy drawing upon key issues identified in the outcome of CSD-9 and the WSSD JPOI. The work programme will build on on-going work of the UN system organizations involved and strengthen synergies among them.

10. Initially the work of UN-Energy could include identifying linkages and synergies, further areas of cooperation as well as unmet needs for further action based on a review of relevant activities currently undertaken by the UN system and relevant non-UN entities on energy and sustainable development with a view to:

• Defining modalities for interaction with non-UN system stakeholders;
• Setting up means of communications and an electronic gateway to facilitate exchange of information and cooperation and collaboration within the group including the creation of a website; and
• Preparing a contribution of the UN system as an input to CSD14/15.

11. A draft proposal on a framework for UN-Energy Work Programme is attached as Annex II. This draft is to be further discussed during the first meeting of UN-Energy when specific collaborative actions/activities will be identified.