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) in Tunisia, is organizing a capacity-building workshop on “Use of small-scale Renewable Energy for Rural Development in Tunisia”.
 
This workshop, through its first session, on 26 and 27 August 2020, aims to build the knowledge, scientific and technical capacities of local officials in the context of Rural Development in Chorbane, Governorate of Mahdia, Republic of Tunisia, on Renewable Energy use in the Agricultural Sector and in developing income-generating activities in rural areas, in addition to improving their competencies in order to better manage and accompany farmers and those wishing to benefit from Renewable Energy at all levels (administrative, technical, financing, ...). This session also aims to build the capacities of local officials on gender equality, women’s empowerment, and entrepreneurship in the context of income-generating activities in rural areas through the use of Renewable Energy as alternative, sustainable, reliable and affordable energy. Through its second session, on 28 August 2020, the workshop aims to raise the awareness of Rural Women in Chorbane, Governorate of Mahdia, Republic of Tunisia, on small-scale Renewable Energy use for income-generating activities in rural context and the reduction it can provide at cost production in the current context which is characterized by a significant and continuous rise of conventional energy prices, in addition to building their capacities on gender equality, women's empowerment and entrepreneurship in the context of income-generating activities in rural areas through the use of Renewable Energy as alternative, sustainable, reliable and affordable energy.

The event focused on innovation approaches and emerging and disruptive technologies that could aid in the achievement of the SDGs.

In the framework of addressing the Water - Energy nexus, the Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA) is organizing in collaboration with UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UNDESA) and support from the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development Sub-Fund, an Expert Group Meeting on “Enhancing capacity building addressing Water and Energy interlinkages for Sustainable Development in the Arab Region”.
 The objective of this Meeting is to strengthen the capacity of ESCWA member countries and other relevant stakeholders in terms of enhancing their ability to achieve an integrated and sustainable management of water and energy resources through South-South cooperation, thereby contributing to the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. It intends to facilitate exchange of lessons, insights and experiences to-date among Member States and all stakeholders and to consider challenges and opportunities for furthering progress towards 2030.