 Energy is central to sustainable economic, social and environmental development as well as to poverty reduction. The importance of energy to the provision of basic services cannot be undermined. It would be difficult to meet the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) without significant and sustainable improvement in the quality and quantity of energy services in developing nations.
The World Bank’s Strategic Response. In response to the regional challenges in the energy sector and consistent with its overall corporate strategy, the Bank’s primary focus in this sector centers on a few key strategic areas, including: (i) promoting the efficient and sustainable use of energy resources; (ii) assisting with implementing legal and regulatory reforms which separate policy-making, regulation and operations; (iii) assisting with the restructuring of the electricity sector; (iv) helping to improve the overall investment climate; (v) improving energy efficiency and reduction of energy intensity; and (vi) promoting the use of renewable energy resources.
To support the implementation of this strategy, the MENA Finance, Private Sector Development and Infrastructure Group makes full use of the range of instruments available from the World Bank Group. For countries still eligible for borrowing, these include technical assistance and investment loans. In addition, the sector uses Partial Risk and Credit Guarantees, assistance through the Global Environmental Facility (GEF) and the Prototype Carbon Fund (PCF) as well as a number of Bank-managed Trust Funds, when there is a fit.
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