Summary

 

Summary

This program will seek to pilot the ‘Climate Technology Program' in developing countries, working with infoDev and drawing on the experience of the Carbon Trust and other organizations. The aim of the low-carbon innovation program is to accelerate the development and commercialization of emerging clean technologies for national, regional or global deployment, thus supporting the transition to low-carbon development pathways in both low and middle-income countries.

Background

Purpose and objectives

Climate technology innovations commercialized by infoDev’s incubator network

• Fuel-efficient bread-oven (Rwanda)
• Wind turbines for “off-the-grid” communities (Mexico)
• Solar panels (Armenia)
• Potable river water using UV (Ecuador)

In 2009, infoDev, DFID and other partners will investigate the potential for establishing climate technology innovation, entrepreneurship and commercialization enabling programs in a number of pilot countries. The project will draw on the best local and international experience in supporting clean technology innovation, and will engage with key stakeholders in each country to define the low carbon challenges and opportunities and develop a strategy for further action.

The objectives are as follows:

The objectives are as follows:

1. To facilitate the development of a supportive enabling environment for low-carbon technology
   innovation, commercialization, entrepreneurship, and new enterprise creation.
   
2. To support enhanced global action on low-carbon innovation, including the transfer, adaptation and
   deployment of new and existing technologies.
   
3. To generate ideas and lessons to inform the post-2012 agreement on climate change that is being
   discussed in Copenhagen and beyond.
   
4. To pilot proposals and initiatives that could be eligible for future climate change financing as part of a
   broader low carbon, climate resilient development strategy.
   
5. To raise the profile of country-led low carbon innovation activities, with the aim of attracting finance
   from the private sector, multilateral institutions, bilateral donors, and host country governments.

Project description

This project is the first phase of a potentially three-phase program to:

• Phase 1: Investigate the value and scope of low carbon innovation programs in up to three pilot countries
• Phase 2: Establish and resource possible new programs (or expand pre-existing programs)
• Phase 3: Achievement of a sustainable source of capital or recurrent funding to finance the successful scale-up of each center and be part of an international network (Phase 3).

"The International Energy Agency estimates that developing countries will need an investment of $165bn per annum over the next thirty years to provide electricity to the 1.6bn people currently without access. The World Bank estimates that an additional $30bn per annum will be required for this to be provided through clean energy development[1]”

Phase 1

Phase one will involve an intensive 4-6 month stakeholder engagement program, coordinated by infoDev, to bring together all those with an interest in low-carbon innovation and development in each pilot country to identify gaps in the current institutional landscape, agree on needs, and share national and international experience on how these might be fulfilled.

The first phase of the program will also produce an analytical report on existing low-carbon innovation centers around the world to distill global best practices for developing countries looking to develop their own low-carbon development pathways. Future phases of this program involve the implementation of the plan of action including capacity building activities in each country depending on the needs identified in phase one.al donors, and host country governments

Funding opportunities

DFID and infoDev are calling for partners and financers for additional pilot country studies. It is projected that each country pilot study will be at a cost of up to USD250,000 with the potential opportunity of matching funds and in-kind donations from local country agencies and organizations.

About infoDev

infoDev will draw on its experience in supporting technology innovation and entrepreneurship in developing countries via its network of small business incubators to meet the above objectives. This global innovation and entrepreneurship network comprises over 175 business incubators in 75 developing countries. This network gives infoDev access to a burgeoning community of technologists, entrepreneurs, technology incubator managers, policymakers, financiers, academics, governments and donors dedicated to enhanced business opportunities for small and medium enterprises, wealth generation and job creation as tools for poverty reduction and development.

Situated in a joint department of the World Bank and IFC, infoDev is uniquely placed to support and add value to the World Bank Group’s on-going efforts in tackling the development dimensions of climate change, facilitating private sector development and creating investment opportunities and sustainable business in developing countries. This program will add to these existing WB and IFC efforts. infoDev will continually seek collaboration and partnership with relevant Bank and IFC programs as its program progresses.

About DFID

The Department for International Development (DFID) leads the UK Government’s fight against world poverty. DFID works on development programs and policies to eliminate the underlying problems that mean that one in five of the world’s population live in extreme poverty. One of DFID’s priorities is to support low carbon development in middle and low income countries – promoting new green jobs, industries and innovation, and generating local environmental, health and social benefits. Action by all countries is crucial if we are to avoid the severe risks of climate change, which will hit the poorest countries first and hardest.