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UN Development Account project: “Strengthening South-South cooperation to increase the
affordability of sustainable energy options in Asia and the Pacific”
PACIFIC REGIONAL DATA REPOSITORY FOR SE4All (PRDR for SE4All)
Drafti Concept Note
Background
ESCAP, with support from the UN Development Account (DA), is implementing a regional project
on “strengthening South-South cooperation to increase the affordability of sustainable energy
options in Asia and the Pacific” with a particular focus on countries with special needs, including
small island developing states (SIDS). In February 2013, an Expert Group Meeting was held in
parallel sessions in Bangkok and Suva. All participants – experts from government offices, the
private sector, NGOs and international organizations – discussed the concepts of South-South
cooperation, affordability and an enabling environment, specifically as it pertains to the project’s
main activities: a regional assessment report and 3 national/subregional pilot projects.
The group of Pacific experts gathered in Suva agreed that affordability is a complex issue without
a single definition and that in order to increase affordability of sustainable, high-quality and
reliable energy options, the foundation for this work needs to strengthened, i.e. the availability
and use of comprehensive, up-to-date energy data. Addressing this issue will be critical to the
Pacific region’s meaningful participation in the UN Secretary-General’s Sustainable Energy for All
Initiative (SE4All).
Brief problem analysis
The lack of information and specific energy sector data (e.g. on renewable energy, energy
efficiency, petroleum, power utilities, etc.) and managing existing information about energy
projects is a very important issue facing the Pacific. There is an information gap about the real
costs and benefits, including externalities, of both renewable energy and fossil fuel based energy.
Without this information, ascertaining affordability—however it is defined—is not possible, thus
more focus should be put on this area.
This problem of lack of data has many serious implications in the Pacific. On the one hand, much
time and financial resources are put into gathering and obtaining data that are either not readily
available outside the country (or even national statistics offices) or have not been collected to
begin with. The amount of effort required to form the baseline context and do a proper needs
assessment not only adds several months to the project period but also (often) means less project
funds are left for other uses such as investments in actual energy hardware and infrastructure. In
addition, insufficient data and the incomplete or incorrect understanding of the local/national
context have led to poor project results, for example solar PV equipment that does not match the
local technical specifications. At the global level, global databases and platforms such as those by
IEA, World Bank, BP, etc. more often than not do not have data on the Pacific. This significantly
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limits the visibility and inclusion of the Pacific in international dialogues and reduces the ability of
the Pacific countries to garner international support, especially funding, for energy initiatives.
The need for a comprehensive and up-to-date energy database has already been recognized in
the Pacific. “Towards an energy secure Pacific: A Framework for Action on Energy Security in the
Pacific” is a ten-year framework (2010-2020) led by the Secretariat of the Pacific Community
(SPC). The framework includes is ‘energy data and information’ as one of seven themes for
action, and proposes establishing a regional data repository. The current energy database
proposed under this project aims to support this approach by galvanizing political ownership and
seeking commitment from countries and development partners to share data and information.
Concept
The Pacific Regional Data Repository for SE4All (PRDR for SE4All) is envisioned as an online energy
database of both raw data and processed information (e.g. analytical reports, project documents)
that is user-friendly, accurate and comprehensive. Further details on the design and approach for
the concept will be developed through a consultative feasibility study process that will engage
countries and regional organisations and development partners. Emphasis will be placed on
developing a complementary approach that supports existing regional strategies and processes.
Given the many other initiatives on energy data underway, a partnership should be built with
relevant development partners. Several, such as UNDP, IRENA, GIZ, ADB and the World Bank,
have already been involved and/or informed of the PRDR for SE4All.
Features of the design could include a searchable database of data and information received from
both countries and development partners. The agreement will facilitate the sending of raw
energy-related data from various sources to the PRDR for SE4All (as well as relevant government
papers). From development partners, various studies and reports, e.g. feasibility studies, project
documents, monitoring and evaluation reports, etc. should be sent to the database.
The type of energy data and information to be covered and, moreover, the organization of this
data for user-friendly access and use will be the first activity to undertake in making the database
successful. In establishing this system, various stages of data collection, data transfer to the PRDR
for SE4All and public access to data need to be addressed. Capacity building and training should
be part of the process for raw data that is robust, timely and accurate.
Expected benefits
 Expedited process of project funding due to readily available baseline data
 More resources available for capacity building and hardware/infrastructure
 Application of lessons learned and sharing of best practices (systematic South-South
cooperation)
 Strengthened foundation for designing projects on sustainable energy for all, including efforts
to increase affordability
 Positive model for other developing countries facing data and information problems,
especially SIDS and subregions like the Caribbean
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Activities
Two parallel tracks of activities are proposed to be taken.
Track 1 - Political Ownership:
-
Several significant instances of political endorsement already exist for the PRDR for SE4All
(although the exact name is not yet agreed):

March 2013 Pacific Leaders Energy Summit, Nuku’alofa, Tonga:
8 Heads of Government agreed to set up national data repositories and asked ESCAP
to commence the process of a transnational data repository on energy, also including
development partners’ projects.

May 2013 Asian and Pacific Energy Forum (APEF), Vladivostok, Russian Fed.
(organized by ESCAP):
34 Delegations, including 19 Ministers, agreed to the APEF Declaration and Plan of
Action. In the latter document, there is specific mention of the database concept as
agreed among Pacific countries as 1 of 3 subregional action items, direct wording
below:
“Establishing a framework for acquiring energy data and information, such as
national energy plans, road maps, key baseline data, statistics and project
documents, to bridge the knowledge gap and apply lessons learned to
improve coordination and implementation among all partners and to better
measure achievement and conduct monitoring.”
-
Pacific member States have requested ESCAP to facilitate an event during the September UN
General Assembly session where Pacific leaders can sign an agreed document with the
Secretary-General proclaiming their support for the Sustainable Energy for All Initiative
(SE4All) and deciding to pursue the establishment of the PRDR for SE4All. Development
partners will also be invited to sign the agreement.
Track 2 – Feasibility and design:
-
At the working-level, utilizing the political ownership declared at the highest government
levels, the database needs to be designed as far as determining the data that is to be
collected. A Consultant will be nominated by both member States and ESCAP as the best
person to lead such an undertaking. The ToR is being processed (see timeline section for
more details on activities)
-
The study will include an analysis of existing/ongoing initiatives on energy data (SPC, ADB,
IRENA, SIDS Dock, etc.) and also proposals for the bidding process as well.
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-
Reference should be made to the regional assessment report currently being written for the
DA project vis-à-vis increasing affordability, strengthening South-South cooperation and
fostering an enabling environment.
-
Once the database manager (i.e. winning bidder) is decided, MOUs need to be signed
between this manager organization and the data sources in the countries.
Possible Timeline
August – December 2013
August – SPC meeting in Suva with development partners to discuss overall approach
End Sep 2013: PRDR for SE4All declaration event at UN GA 68th session
Aug – Dec 2013: Feasibility and design
Nov (first half): Meeting in Nadi with stakeholders to go over design and data sources info
and to make decision on initial database content and tender specifications
January – March 2014: Bidding process
Jan: Tender goes out
Mar: Winning bid announced and hand-over from ESCAP to database manager
April – June 2014: Establish PRDR for SE4All
Apr – Jun: Database manager implements plan to establish database system
April & May: Database design and MOUs Part 2: ESCAP will continue to support this stage
by working on MOUs to be signed between the manager and the data sources. The
Consultant will make country visits where necessary.
July - September 2014: Launch & PRDR for SE4All operational
Two key opportunities identified for launch – 3rd SIDS Conference in Samoa, August 2014
and the 69th UN General Assembly session in New York, September 2014.
Budget
Total budget available from ESCAP (under DA affordability project): USD 126,000
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To be finalized taking comments from SPC Energy Meeting 21st August, 2013, Suva
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