Within the framework of the “Regional Initiative for Promoting Small-Scale Renewable Energy Applications in Rural Areas of the Arab Region (REGEND)” Project, the UN Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA), in partnership with the National Agency for Energy Conservation (ANME) and the General Commission for Regional Development (CGDR), is organizing a National Policy Workshop on “Regulatory, Institutional and Financial Frameworks Needed to Promote Small-Scale Renewable Energy Technologies and Applications for Rural Development”.
 
The workshop will support the development of a policy case study for Tunisia and provide guidelines to conceptualize REGEND’s Policy  Toolkit as Regional Strategic Guidelines to improve the enabling environment for the private sector and women entrepreneurs to invest in income-generating activities by increasing the use of small-scale RE technologies and applications in productive activities in the rural areas.



As an increasing number of countries, including many developed countries, are struggling to cope with the outbreak of COVID-19, emerging economies and developing countries are facing an unprecedented threat to their development achievements, human life, social cohesion and have been facing socio-economic hardships due to fragile health care systems and socio-economic vulnerabilities. The current COVID-19 pandemic calls for unprecedented efforts and coordinated action. It requires more than ever strengthening public institutions, implementing innovative measures and a collaborative spirit by all countries and the global community to contain the spread of the pandemic and mitigate its far-reaching socio-economic, and even political repercussions.
Focused on the needs and responses from the Arab region, the United Nations Economic and Social Commission (UN ESCWA) and the Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UN DESA) -Division for Public Institutions and Digital Government (DPIDG)- are jointly organizing a Webinar Series specifically dedicated to the Arab region on “Leveraging Public Governance & Exploring Innovative Solutions to Address the COVID-19 Pandemic. 

In the framework of the “Regional Initiative for Promoting Small – Scale Renewable Energy Applications in Rural Areas of the Arab Region (REGEND)”, the finalization of the selection of the local community and the establishment of the Local Facilitating Team (LFT) in Jordan necessitates a Focus Group Meeting.

The objective of the meeting is to finalize the assessment phase and the selection of the local community where the project activities will be undertaken as well to establish the Local Facilitation Team (LFT) in Jordan and the selection of its members.