| |
Asia & the Near East-Selected IRG Projects
Regional - Asia
Environmental Cooperation - Asia Clean Development and Climate Program (ECO-Asia CDCP), 2006-2011 |
| USAID |
The downside of Asia’s economic growth over the past several years has been the region’s increasing its share of activities that contribute to global climate change. The USAID-funded Asia Clean Development and Climate Program (ECO-Asia CDCP) promotes regional policies and market transformations in Asia that encourage investment in clean energy technologies while addressing Asia’s economic productivity, energy security, and environmental challenges. With activities in China, India, Indonesia, the Philippines, Thailand and Vietnam, IRG is taking a regional approach to solving problems by sharing information, demonstrating solutions, and building partnerships with the private sector and civil society. IRG’s work focuses on three priority sectors: supply-side energy efficiency (coal fired power plants), demand-side energy efficiency (compact fluorescent lamps – CFLs), and financing for clean energy projects.
|
Blue Revolution Initiative – Regional Water Management Benchmarking in the Middle East North Africa Region, 2008-2010 |
| USAID |
Population and income growth, and accompanying increases in demand for water are placing growing pressure on the limited water resources of the Middle East and North Africa (MENA). In this context, the IRG team is designing and implementing a regional water governance benchmarking system – a strategic framework and a set of yardsticks to evaluate national water management institutions, mechanisms and processes, and to assist in defining objectives and targets for better water management and policy making. IRG’s approach assists MENA water policy makers and donors develop and employ a strategic framework to assess legal, institutional, and policy structures for water management; integrate social, economic, and environmental considerations into national water master plans; establish and build capacity to define and monitor benchmarks; identify standards to evaluate water services delivery; and provide a water management vision that stresses efficiency, participation, equity, and sustainability.
|
Lead Program Integrator for the Indian Ocean Tsunami Warning System
(2005-2007) |
| USAID |
| The task order for the Water IQC will provide quick response technical assistance plus coordination, logistical training and administrative support to USAID's Regional Development Mission/Asia, the US Government inter-agency team and international, national and local organizations involved in the development of the tsunami warning system. The program will be undertaken in coordination with the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC) of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, other donor nations, and national governments in the region. Seven program areas, including National Dissemination and Communication of Warnings, Regional and Sub-regional Exchange of Lessons Learned and Best Practices and a Small Grants Program will be among the components of this multi-targeted and multiple-country approach. |
Program for the Enhancement of Emergency Response (PEER), 2003-2008 |
| USAID |
| IRG is involved with disaster management agencies in India, the Philippines, Indonesia, Nepal, and Bangladesh to improve capacity in disaster response. Over the course of the program, technical assistance is provided to these countries through training and the development of a regional network of disaster managers. IRG also provides institution strengthening, small grants to ensure local participation, and a program to raise local awareness of disaster preparedness. Regular course monitoring, evaluation, and certification of trainees plays a pivotal role in the execution of this program. |
| US-Asia Environmental Partnership (US-AEP)
Technical Support Services, 1995-2001 |
| USAID |
| IRG provided technical support services to the US-AEP Secretariat,
matching Asian environmental needs to US environmental experience
and technology. The program brought together the resources of
25 US government agencies and thousands of businesses and NGOs
that work with 34 nations and territories in Asia and the Pacific.
IRG staff in Washington, Manila, and Jakarta provided technical
advice and services to the US-AEP Secretariat in environmental
policy and technology, risk assessment, waste reduction, renewable
resources, and other topics. IRG's systems supported the Secretariat
in program assessment, design, monitoring, and reporting. The
team identified opportunities to integrate economic development
and environment issues in Asia, transfer environmental technology
approaches and systems from the United States to Asia, and establish
a small grant facility to promote environmental technology transfer
and public-private partnerships. |
US-Asia Environmental Partnership
(US-AEP) Environmental Policy Support-
Phases I and II, 1998-2001 |
| USAID
|
| IRG received top marks for its technical support
to the US-AEP Secretariat for a policy agenda that seeks to
achieve a clean industrial transformation in Asia. IRG technical
assistance included policy analysis and network development
and environmental sector assessment, and strategic planning.
IRG worked with the Secretariat to co-sponsor a workshop featuring
environmental benchmarking and information disclosure. Participants
expressed interest in pursuing more technical aspects of corporate
environmental benchmarking and Global Reporting Initiatives.
One such study surveyed investment policies and practices and
their effects on the environment in Taiwan. The Greening of
Industry Network/Asia, which IRG supported, made important connections
among countries, sectors, ideas, organizations, and people.
Under this contract, IRG brought together more than 300 international
experts, researchers, NGOs, and policymakers at the Ninth International
Greening of Industry Network Conference. |
Regional - Central Asia
| Central Asian Republics
Water and Energy Policy, 1998-2001 |
| USAID/Central
Asian Republics |
| IRG helped develop, advocate, and implement environmental
and energy reforms that promoted regional cooperation, reduced
threats of political instability, and fostered sound and sustainable
economic development regionally and nationally. Technical assistance
included: developing long-term regional agreements on resource
management; guiding water management organizations to develop
pricing, management, and quality monitoring procedures; introducing
water user associations to support decentralized management;
demonstrating cost-effective approaches for water flow efficiency;
aiding the transition of oil and gas sectors to a market economy;
broadening democratic policy dialogue among stakeholders; helping
form the Central Asian Regional Environmental Center; and helping
develop policies and institutions to support participation in
the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change. |
| Integrated Water Resource
Management - Central Asia Case Study, 2002 |
| USAID |
| IRG helped prepare studies highlighting US experience and
lessons learned, both international and domestic, on integrated
water resource management for the Global Water Partnership Case
Studies Series. Focused on support that IRG provided for transboundary
water resource management, the studies documented the evolution
of an interstate agreement that serves as the basis for regional
cooperation in Central Asia on water resource management. The
landmark, four-country framework agreement, signed in 1998,
helped achieve a fragile balance between upstream hydropower
and downstream irrigation interests for the Syr Darya River
in the Aral Sea Basin. |
Regional - South Asia
| SARI Energy Training Program, 2000-2001 |
| USAID |
| The South Asia Regional Initiative (SARI) Energy Program was
designed to promote cooperation in energy issues and address
the challenge of energy supply in South Asia. As a subcontractor,
IRG developed and delivered courses in power regulation, pricing
and tariffs, sector restructuring and private participation,
grid codes, organizational change, billing and collection, environmental
impact assessments, and legal, policy, and regulatory frameworks. |
| South Asia Environmental Profile, 2000-2001 |
| USAID
|
| IRG reviewed environmental and natural resource conditions
and trends in South Asia and assessed the prospects for more
sustainable development through appropriate policy and institutional
reforms. The assessment is being used by USAID missions in South
Asia, the Asia and the Near East, and Global Bureaus, and the
US State Department, as well as stakeholders in South Asia,
as background for ongoing program planning and management of
environmental and natural resources. |
| FINESSE Activities in
Selected Countries in Asia, 2001-2004 |
| United
Nations Development Programme (UNDP) |
IRG supported UNDP's Energy and Atmosphere
Programme and the World Bank's Asia Alternative Energy Program
(ASTAE), which assists countries in Asia in promoting alternative
energy (renewable and efficient) development. IRG provided
technical assistance to leverage and support ASTAE's operational
work program in South Asia and East Asia regions. IRG provided
ASTAE with two project-dedicated staff seconded to World Bank
headquarters in Washington, DC. In addition, IRG experts provided
short-term technical assistance supporting World Bank preparation
and appraisal missions, conducted reconnaissance activities,
and analytical and advisory activities such as program evaluation,
feasibility studies, and legal, regulatory and policy reviews
of proposed operational activities. As a result of direct
support from IRG, ASTAE developed a portfolio of over
$500 million in alternative energy loans. Additionally, IRG
developed an intimate knowledge of the World Bank's lending
program for the energy sector in Asia. |
Afghanistan
| Afghanistan Clean Energy Project 2009-2013 |
| USAID/Afghanistan |
| IRG is working in Afghanistan to rehabilitate and build greenfield hydropower, solar, wind, and hybrid power systems.Ultimately reaching over a million Afghans, our efforts focus on villages that are currently unconnected to the grid. ACEP experts serve both as advisors and on-the-job trainers for public universities, the Ministry of Rural Rehabilitation and Development, the Ministry of Energy and Water, and private sector entities . An integrated communications plan will build Afghan ownership of program activities and assets with messages focused on the benefits of energy efficiency. |
| Afghanistan - Rule of Law Aspects of Land Titling and Economic Restructuring, 2004-2007 |
| USAID |
| IRG manages the human rights and legal aspects of USAID/Afghanistan’s Land Titling and Economic Restructuring project. Specific tasks include working with Afghan citizens and government officials to address legal framework and reform issues, informal dispute resolution, and legal assistance to women and other disadvantaged groups. IRG is a subcontractor on this project. |
| Afghanistan Judicial Conference, 2003 |
| US
Institute of Peace (USIP) |
| With the support of the United States Government, USIP and
IRG convened Afghan and international experts to discuss specific
challenges in advancing the rule of law in Afghanistan, and
explored practical solutions to some of the important issues
facing Afghan justice professionals. |
| Afghan Legal Seminars, 2003 |
| US
Department of State |
| IRG, in conjunction with Afghanistan's Judicial Commission,
planned and implemented three legal conferences on Afghan and
International Criminal Law and Procedure in Kabul over a 60-day
period. These conferences reinforced the Commission's work,
as well as the ongoing process of developing the Constitution.
Specific themes for the conference included prosecutorial independence,
Afghanistan's informal justice system, and selection of judges
and prosecutors. |
| Afghan Legal Codes, 2002 |
| US
Department of State |
| After the fall of the Taliban regime, IRG organized and synthesized
Afghanistan's constitutional and religious, secular, and customary
laws in time for the traditional gathering to choose national
leaders, the loya jirga. This project combined legal analysis
with the complicated logistics of rapidly collecting, formatting,
printing, and delivering copies of the law codes in Dari, Pashtu,
and English to judges and prosecutors, in a country where war
is ongoing. The contract was awarded in early May, and by early
June, Afghanistan's Ministry of Justice had received the texts. |
| Food Assistance Program, 2001-2002 |
| USAID
|
| IRG helped ensure that Afghan communities did not experience
acute food shortages. Recognizing that a large, centralized
operation would not have the necessary flexibility to respond
to unforeseen circumstances, IRG used an approach that was regional,
rapid, and flexible to respond to an unpredictable situation
on the ground. |
Related Publication:
2002-03
CRAFT - Afghanistan.pdf (680Kb) |
Bangladesh
| Integrated Protected Area Co-Management, 2008-2013 |
| USAID/Bangladesh |
IRG builds on the successful efforts of two predecessor projects, the IRG-implemented Nishorgo Support Project and the MACH project, to scale-up natural resource co-management at the policy and operational levels of the Bangladesh government in its field management. IRG is engaging senior ministry staff in Bangladesh’s environment, forestry, and fisheries agencies, providing them with technical expertise in natural resources inventory and mapping, biodiversity assessment and management methods, economics, adaptation to climate change, and water resources and watershed management. IRG is also expanding the geographic area under co-management to ensure nationwide, long-term success.
|
| Co-Management of Tropical Forest Resources
in Bangladesh, 2003-2008 |
| USAID/Bangladesh
|
IRG developed a working model of co-management that was feasible for government and community interests and met
development and conservation needs. Both real impacts and the
eventual replication of a co-management model depended on
an ability to address the challenges using an integrated, multi-disciplinary
and inter-institutional approach. IRG also implemented
a public awareness campaign that informed public opinion about
the importance of biodiversity conservation, outdoor recreation
and ecotourism, vital environmental services, and the rationale
for a co-management approach. IRG examined the immediate
needs and means for enhancing the capacity of the Forest Department
and local officials to ensure the integrity of the targeted
protected areas.
| Increasing Capacity for Energy Access in Bangladesh, 2008-2013 |
| USAID/Bangladesh |
| Under this project, IRG is providing high-quality technical advisory services to strengthen the capacity of the Bangladesh energy regulatory agency and the energy utilities it monitors. IRG’s approach delivers both policy support to improve the legal and regulatory climate for the energy sector and management support to make the operations of national and local energy authorities more efficient. IRG facilitated BERC’s first Energy Consumers’ Roundtable, with “standing room only” crowds in many of the sessions, evidencing BERC’s new found legitimacy and influence. At the same time, the IRG Team is building capacity to improve and promote the self-reliance of the Bangladesh rural electric cooperativesby improving financial viability and managerial independence. |
|
China
| Opportunities for the
Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) in the Energy Sector, 2002-2003
|
| Asian
Development Bank |
| This project provided direct technical assistance to the Peoples
Republic of China (PRC) to develop and implement strategies
and policies to reduce the emission of greenhouse gases by
capitalizing on the opportunities within the Kyoto Protocol's
Clean Development Mechanism (CDM). Specifically, IRG developed
guidelines for stakeholders and proposed a national strategy
to capitalize on CDM. In the process, IRG produced seven feasibility
studies for emission reduction project that are eligible for
CDM financing. This project has provided IRG with unique access
to senior government and policy decision makers in the PRC.
It has also established IRG as a key player in the emerging
market for CDM project finance. |
Related Publication:
2004-03
Opportunities for the Energy Sector.pdf (835Kb) |
Egypt
| Life – Integrated Water Resource Management II, 2009-2012 |
| USAID/Egypt |
IRG is assisting the Ministry of Water Resources and Irrigation to expand community and organizational development for integrated water resource management with a focus on sustainability and impact. The IWRM II program will extend previous successes at decentralized water management and decision-making by rural residents achieved under IWRM I. The results of the program will support recent reform efforts by the Government of Egypt to help promote the sustainability of the water and wastewater sectors in Egypt.
|
| Technical Assistance to Power Sector in Egypt, 2005 |
| USAID/Egypt |
| The Egyptian Electric Utility and Consumer Protection Regulatory Agency was required by Presidential Decree to regulate, monitor, and control all matters related to the supply of electricity in Egypt but had neither the power to set tariffs nor the authority to penalize licensees. The difficulty of regulating the electricity sector without the typical regulatory tools — the authority to set tariffs in particular—cannot be overstated. IRG was heavily involved in the formation and institutional strengthening of the Agency for several years. Under this Project, IRG provided the Agency with follow on technical support to allow the Agency to fully utilize key tools, conduct cost of service studies of licensees, analyze affordability and rationality of tariffs, evaluate and track customer service, and fully assume oversight of key aspects of utility performance. |
| Livelihood and Income From the Environment (LIFE) Integrated Water Resources Management Project, 2004–2008 |
| USAID/Egypt |
| Through decentralization of water management decision-making and increased participation of rural water users, the LIFE project builds capacity through technical assistance, training, commodities, and small grant resources. The project supports the establishment of well-functioning branch canal water user associations and integrated water management districts. The project assesses training for irrigation equipment maintenance, develops approaches for local management of wastewater and solid waste, demonstrates the economic benefits (and the safety) of reusing treated wastewater, and provides graduate-level training opportunities abroad. |
Related Website:
Livelihood and Income From the Environment (LIFE) |
| Egyptian Electricity Regulatory Project (EERP), 2001–2003 |
| USAID/Egypt |
| IRG provided long-term technical support and training to ensure the institutional development and operation of an effective electricity regulatory agency. IRG experts worked with the Managing Director and staff of the new Agency, to develop licenses for generation, transmission, and distribution companies. As the Agency lacks tariff setting authority, emphasis on performance monitoring surfaced as the most effective tool for regulation and IRG developed a unique performance benchmarking database to allow the Agency to monitor technical and financial performance of electricity companies. |
| Institutional Development
Assistance in Electric Utility and Consumer Protection, 2001-2003
|
| USAID/Egypt
|
| In support of Egypt's efforts to liberalize the power sector
and privatize distribution, IRG provided long-term, in-country
technical support and training for the development and operation
of Egypt's nascent regulatory commission. |
| Environmental
Policy Program, Support Unit, 1999-2002 |
| USAID/Egypt
|
| IRG provided core management and analytical support for environmental
reform efforts in Egypt. Technical support included improving
waste management, reducing industrial pollution, conserving
marine biodiversity, and overcoming institutional, financial,
and economic constraints to sound environmental management. |
Related Publication:
2002-09
EEPP Program Support Unit Final Report-Egypt.pdf (75Kb) |
| Water Policy Reform
Program, 1997-2003 |
| USAID/Egypt
|
| IRG and its partners worked to bring about integrated water
policy and institutional reforms based on the plan by the Ministry
of Public Works and Water Resources to increase the overall
efficiency of Nile water resources. Results of the technical
and policy changes included major water savings for rice and
sugar cane and reuse of drainage water — vital for meeting
new water demands in the lower Nile Delta and northern Sinai.
For the first time in Egypt's history, water-user organizations
were established and legally allowed at the branch canal level.
The basic water law was revised to promote improved water quality
and control waste and wastewater discharges. The distribution
of water shifted from a water-level to a defined-volume basis,
which saved considerable water at the farm level. |
Related Publications:
2002-12
APRP Water Policy Activity in Egypt-Final Report.pdf (188Kb)
2002-09
Survey of Nile System Pollution Sources-Egypt.pdf (296Kb)
2002-09
Water Policy Review and Integration Study-Egypt.pdf (94Kb) |
| Egyptian Regulatory Agency Consulting Services,
1995-1998, 2003-2005 |
| USAID/Egypt
|
| IRG first provided a fully integrated package of technical
assistance services to help the Egyptian Electrical Utility
and Consumer Protection Agency between 1995-1998. In 2003, IRG
began helping the Agency develop and employ the skills, tools,
data, and processes necessary for efficient market regulation.
This will provide the Agency with the capacity to develop rational
tariff rates, analyze important performance trends, and undertake
market design activities that sustain economic efficiency, productivity,
and dynamic market development. Drawing upon experience in electricity
trade around the globe, our experts assist the Agency in developing
legislation for improvement of the electricity market and assist
in the evaluation of purchase and sale agreements that come
before the Agency for approval. At the same time, IRG advises
the Agency in regulation and oversight of the emerging power
pool, including advice on the instruments needed for a power
pool to function according to international best practices. |
India
| Energy Conservation and Commercialization (ECO III) Project, 2006-2011 |
USAID/India |
Under Energy Conservation and Commercialization (ECO) III, IRG is working to enhance the commercial viability and performance of India's energy sector and reduce greenhouse gas emissions by promoting access to and utilization of clean, efficient energy technologies. The project is assisting the Indian Bureau of Energy Efficiency to develop its institutional capacity by expanding energy efficiency initiatives to the State level, improving energy efficiency in buildings and small- and medium- enterprises, providing professional curriculum development and training for energy professionals, and building upon the framework for energy efficiency risk financing.
|
India Disaster Management Support (DMS) Project, 2005–2009 |
USAID |
| IRG provides support, coordination, logistics, and technical assistance to USAID, India's Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), and other partners to address both natural and human-caused emergencies. Because India is a vast and diverse nation with communities that have various degrees of capability in disaster response and management, IRG coordinates activities from a national perspective while simultaneously working closely with individual states to address their specific needs and objectives. IRG also helps the MHA in executing its larger vision for the country while coordinating with individual Indian states, U.S. Government agencies, and internal and international programs. |
| Biomethanization Training and Study Tour, 2002 |
| United
Nations Development Programme and Global
Environment Facility |
| This program instructed senior officials of the Indian Ministry
of Nonconventional Energy Sources in using the Clean Development
Mechanism as part of their strategy to ensure sustainable financing
of waste-to-energy projects. Instruction included a combination
of classroom training and site visits to waste-to-energy facilities
in California and the Netherlands. |
| Energy and Environment Strategy Development,
2001 |
| USAID/India
|
| IRG assisted USAID/India in developing a strategy to determine
training needs across its energy and environment programs and
identify training activities in regulatory reform and restructuring. |
Indonesia
| Coastal Resources Rehabilitation and Sustainable Coastal Communities: A Needs Assessment for Aceh Province (2005) |
| USAID/Indonesia |
| In response to the December 26, 2004 earthquake and tsunami disaster, USAID requested a needs assessment to address the damage to the coastal communities, as the first task order for the IRG - Tetra Tech Joint Venture under the Water IQC. The Team provided detailed information and recommendations on: 1) rehabilitation of the environment, 2) opportunities and constraints of restoring the ecological functions of the coastal ecosystems, 3) assistance for coastal-dependent communities to re-establish livelihoods, and 4) developing local institutional/government capacity for participatory coastal planning and management. |
Related Publication:
Needs Assessment for Aceh Province. (1.75Mb) |
| Design and Construction Supervision of the Aceh Road/Bridge Reconstruction Project (2005-2009) |
| USAID/Indonesia |
Intended to provide assistance in rehabilitation, livelihood, and rebuilding of economic and social infrastructure in the Aceh and North Sumatra provinces damaged by the December 26, 2004 earthquake and tsunami, the Road/Bridge reconstruction is USAID's "signature" contribution to the Aceh disaster relief effort. This west coast highway is crucial to economic growth in the region, as well as infrastructure and environmental services. IRG, as a major subcontractor on this project, will take the lead in developing communications and outreach, as well as consulting on environmental compliance and management and select training on road operations and maintenance. |
| Coastal Resources Management Program II (CRMP II) (2003-2005) |
| USAID/Indonesia |
| Under CRMP II, IRG provided technical assistance to strengthen the operational capacity of national agencies, regional and local governments, and NGOs and universities to participate more effectively in coastal management. The project also promoted local government, national government and civil society collaboration on integrated coastal management in several of Indonesia 's provinces, including Kalimantan (Borneo) and Sulawesi. In addition, in collaboration with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's Sea Grant Program (Mitra Pesisir), CRMP II helped promote international research, educational activities and technology transfer related to the marine and coastal environment. Finally, the project helped the Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries to position boats to undertake a damage and needs assessment for immediate relief in isolated coastal areas during the tsunami disaster of December 2004. |
| Natural Resource Management II Program, 1997-2001 |
| USAID/Indonesia |
| To further sustainable natural resource management in Indonesia, IRG clarified the roles and responsibilities of those involved in the use and management of forests, protected areas, and coastlines; developed broad-based articulate constituencies for sustainable local use of natural resources; and rationalized the local planning process related to natural resources utilization and management. IRG analyses have informed policy and planning decisions, and project efforts achieved significant results, including acceptance of the importance of democratic, participatory natural resource management. IRG developed practical tools and policy instruments for local planners and the forestry industry, and formed cadres of Indonesian analysts, technical experts, and policy implementation facilitators. |
| Indonesian Natural Resource Management (NRM)
III, 2002-2004 |
| USAID/Indonesia |
| NRM III builds upon the key results achieved since IRG began
implementing the initial NRM program in1997. IRG is clarifying
the roles of various interested parties, both public and private
sector, developing broad-based articulate constituencies for
resource management at the local level, and rationalizing and
informing both planning processes and policymaking by providing
clear examples of successes elsewhere. IRG has established strong
relationships and considerable credibility in Indonesia. Previous
efforts have laid the groundwork for a variety of tools, such
as resource valuation, conservation finance techniques, collaborative
management, and participation with partners at local and governmental
levels. IRG will continue to function both as a support and
as an intermediary by facilitating relations between private
and public entities with the goal of expanding and firmly cementing
the tools required for effective natural resource management. |
Related Publication:
Building
Effective Co-management Systems document (1.93Mb) |
| Decentralized Environmental
Management for Yogyakarta, 2002 |
| USAID
and the International
City/County Management Association
|
| This activity supported USAID's strategic objective for decentralization
and participatory government. For the assessment phase, IRG
examined the structure and functions of an inter-governmental
secretariat set up by three districts in Yogyakarta city, assessed
demand for environmental services, and identified opportunities
for improving the delivery of environmental services. The analytical
phase derived three task areas from the assessment: strengthening
of the joint secretariat, improving the solid waste management
system, and enhancing integrated water quality management. |
| Country Strategy Report, 2002 |
| World
Bank |
| Country strategy reports are used by the World Bank's Asia
Alternative Energy Unit to determine the potential for scaling
up contributions for alternative energy. For this project, IRG
compiled, reviewed, and evaluated key documentation on the energy
and economic situation in Indonesia and prepared a draft paper
addressing overall sector characteristics, key sector challenges,
Indonesia's objectives, developments and dilemmas in energy
policy and legislation, and statistical trends and forecasts
for electric power from 2002-2010. |
| PFC Cement Sector
Baseline Issues Study, 2003-2004 |
| World
Bank |
| IRG is assisting the Prototype Carbon Fund (PFC) to review
proposals from project sponsors involving greenhouse gas emission
reductions in cement manufacture in several countries, notably
in Asia. During the course of this project, IRG prepared a framework
for baseline analysis that explains how site specific, country
specific and sector specific data would be applied to develop
project and non-project CO2 emissions scenarios. IRG also provided
international best practices comparisons to assist in developing
benchmarks for consideration in baseline analysis. |
| New Implementation System for PROPER, 2003 |
| World
Bank |
| In June 1995, Indonesia became the first developing country
to introduce a public environmental reporting initiative, the
Program for Pollution Control, Evaluation and Rating (PROPER).
The World Bank worked closely with the Indonesian government
from 1995 to 1997 to design the program and bring it successfully
through its pilot stage. IRG implemented this program, making
it fully operational in the newly-decentralized government structure
of Indonesia. IRG also facilitated a more widespread, cross-regional
uptake of the PROPER approach. IRG has incorporated lessons
learned from the pilot stages of this program with recent experiences
in other countries to increase environmental awareness and management
capacity in district governments that are committed to implementing
PROPER. |
Iraq
| Disaster Assistance, 2003 |
| USAID/Iraq
|
IRG provided immediate short-term disaster relief assistance
through the distribution of food and non-food aid to disaster-stricken
areas in Iraq. IRG specialists provided translation and interpreting
expertise to the Disaster Assistance Response Team (DART),
and acquainted them with the social, political, and economic
issues of the area and of team operations in Iraq. They also
established storage facilities, handled field logistics and
transportation needs, and helped relief teams relate with
local communities in the development of rehabilitation projects.
|
Implementation of Emergency
Relief and Short-Term Rehabilitation Response, 2003- 2005 |
|
IRG participated in the overall planning,
monitoring, coordination, management, and reporting on reconstruction
and rehabilitation activities across a variety of sectors,
including education, health, agriculture, civil society
strengthening, and infrastructure. |
Jordan
|
Wastewater Treatment/Reuse Activity, 2004-2008 |
USAID |
| As one of the world’s most water scarce countries, Jordan is working to optimize water use to meet its most pressing needs. IRG and its partners were tasked with selecting sites and developing pilot activities to demonstrate feasible approaches for wastewater treatment and reuse in small communities. Other activities include preparing feasibility studies for selected communities, conducting environmental impact assessments, developing and overseeing construction, monitoring plant operations, building local capacity, and assisting the Government of Jordan in formulating policies, guidelines and standards related to wastewater treatment and reuse. |
| Conservation of
Medicinal and Herbal Plants, 2002 |
| Jordan Ministry of Agriculture's National
Center for Agricultural Research and Technology Transfer |
| Jordan's Ministry of Agriculture was mandated to establish
and manage wildlife reserves and preserve biodiversity. IRG
assisted the Ministry in developing a preparation report that
led to a grant from the Global Environment Facility for work
in the conservation of medicinal and herbal plants, and identification
of cultivation practices that can give field crops industrial
value. |
Lebanon
| Litani River Basin Management Support Project, 2009-2012 |
USAID |
| IRG is installing modern irrigation systems (drip, sprinkler, and gated pipe) and providing new irrigation technology to Lebanese farmers in the Litani River Basin such as soil moisture sensors, water measurement devices, and crop water use estimating equipment that will be purchased, installed, and demonstrated in the area. IRG performed a needs assessment that provided the basis for determining appropriate infrastructure. To provide credit to upgrade farmers’ irrigation systems, IRG is helping farmers establish credit worthiness with written market plans and cash-flow analysis. The IRG team will train local extension counterparts in these support skills who are responsible for training local farmers in financial planning. |
| Empowering Municipalities through Local Economic Development , 2008-2011 |
USAID/Lebanon and Relief International |
The Baladiyat Program is supporting the Lebanese people in their efforts to make smaller, socio-economically disadvantaged municipalities more effective, democratic, and empowered to build a more vibrant local economy. As a subcontractor on the program, IRG is helping to achieve both of Baladiyat’s objectives: (1) empower municipalities to support local level economic development through public-private partnerships and increased employment opportunities, and (2) promote effective, democratic collaboration between municipalities, communities, and the public and private sectors. |
Nepal
| Increased Private
Sector Participation in Environmentally and Socially Sustainable
Hydropower Development, 2001-2006 |
| USAID/Nepal
|
| IRG provided technical assistance and training services to the Government of Nepal to improve the enabling environment for hydropower development. IRG also worked to strengthen environmental and social rules, regulations, and assessment processes and broadened stakeholder participation in the project development process. Both national and international private sector investment in hydropower reached $360 million during the project period. The project has also brought access to electricity for an additional 5% of the population, improving the lives of 1.2 million Nepalese. |
| Private Sector Hydropower Development, 1998-2006 |
| USAID/Nepal |
IRG is helping Nepal attract and realize greater private
sector involvement in electricity generation and increased
private investment in environmentally and socially sound hydropower.
The enabling environment for private investment in hydropower
is being improved through a series of policy recommendations
that were adopted by the Nepalese government. In addition,
IRG has helped establish strict environmental guidelines and
monitoring procedures to ensure compliance of hydropower development
in Nepal. The project is also increasing public and private
sector stakeholder understanding of the environmental, social,
and economic benefits of hydropower investment. Finally, IRG
is assisting the Government of Nepal in exploring and developing
markets for export of electricity generated from hydropower,
including drafting and negotiating long-term export purchase
agreements. |
| Power Sector Reform,
2003-2004 |
| Asian
Development Bank |
| IRG is assisting in the reform and restructuring of Nepal
Electricity Authority (NEA) as an agency, as well as the restructuring
of NEA's distribution system to improve accountability and efficiency,
and to reduce costs. Improvements are underway in NEA's performance,
operations, and power distribution. Further improvements depend
upon structural changes resulting from the company's reorganization,
with greater autonomy, more commercial orientation, and decentralization
of NEA business units. Under this project, IRG's activities
are focused on preparation of overall planning for power sector
restructuring, analysis of monthly costs, and a demand-side
management study. |
Pakistan
| Pakistan Integrated Energy Development |
USAID/Pakistan |
IRG is assisting the Government of Pakistan to establish an integrated model that allows energy planners to analyze the impact of different policies and strategies on Pakistan’s energy sector. MARKAL/TIMES, the modeling framework being used to develop the model, is a well developed national energy system planning tool that has been used for over 30 years in more than 40 countries. The goal of the project is to develop a sustainable planning capability that will enable a national team of experts to use the model to assess the impacts of various strategies for meeting the country’s future energy requirements in the most cost-effective manner. The model, called Pak-IEM, integrates issues related to national resource utilization, energy supply, power sector development, energy demand, technology improvement, energy efficiency, and environmental impact across all sectors of the energy economy to assess the costs and benefits of policies that will shape the evolution of the country’s energy system for the coming decades. In addition to designing, populating, and establishing the model of Pakistan’s energy sector, IRG is training the Pakistani professionals who will staff the new energy planning unit. |
Philippines
| Pre-Investment
Studies for Off-Grid Rural Electrification, 2001-2002 |
| Global
Environment Facility |
| IRG worked with the Philippines Department of Energy to prepare
a pipeline of area-specific renewable energy investment packages
for off-grid rural electrification. Specific objectives included
identifying least-cost energy options, estimating investment
and cost-sharing requirements, obtaining the commitment of local
government units and rural electric cooperatives, involving
potential private sector participants in the study, and determining
potential funding from the Global Environment Facility. |
| Technical Support to the Development Bank of
the Philippines, 1998-2001 |
| United
Nations Development Programme Energy and Atmosphere Programme |
| IRG provided expertise to help staff of the Development Bank
of the Philippines strengthen technical knowledge and skills,
improve internal lending procedures, and marshal resources to
establish the bank as a lender for renewable energy projects.
The objective was to develop and strengthen the bank's technical
capability to evaluate and manage projects and generate a pipeline
for financing. |
Sri Lanka
| Evaluation of
Energy Service Delivery, 2002 |
| World
Bank and Global
Environment Facility
|
| IRG performed an independent, comprehensive assessment to
document the impacts made and lessons learned under its Energy
Service Delivery Project. Following extensive data collection,
which involved a comprehensive review of existing reports, interviews
with stakeholders, and field visits to the project sites, IRG
provided an assessment of the institutional effectiveness of
the project's administrative unit, a review of the technical
and implementation issues, and an analysis of financial and
affordability issues. IRG also identified weaknesses in the
project design and recommended specific interventions in order
for the project to meet its targets. As a result of these interventions,
the project exceeded all targets and is showcased by the World
Bank as a success story in renewable energy and rural electrification. |
| Sustainable Natural Resource Management for
Development, 2000-2001 |
| Asian
Development Bank |
| IRG helped establish a draft policy for integrated management
of scarce natural resources. The policy included recommendations
on the restructuring of the environment ministry; restructuring
of institutions to integrate environmental and economic development
policies; and legal reforms to improve the implementation of
natural resource management programs and policies. |
| Integrating Cleaner Production into Industrial
Processes, 2001-2002 |
| Asian
Development Bank |
| IRG assisted the Government of Sri Lanka in reducing industrial
pollution by employing clean production strategies in industrial
development. IRG helped formulate draft policies for cleaner
production into Sri Lankan industrial development, encouraged
industrial estates to employ cleaner production strategies and
practices, and promoted cleaner production in industrial activities. |
| Eastern Province Coastal Community Development,
2001-2002 |
| Asian
Development Bank |
| IRG helped prepare an integrated development project document
on improved natural resource management in the Ampara, Batticaloa,
and Trincomalee districts of Sri Lanka 's Eastern Province.
IRG focused on coastal zone planning and project management,
economic and financial analysis, and credit mechanism analysis. |
Vietnam
| System Efficiency Improvement, Equitization,
and Renewables Project, 2002 |
| World
Bank |
| IRG provided short-term supervisory services in support of
the World Bank's Vietnam Demand-Side and Energy Efficiency Management
Project. IRG reviewed loan preparation documents submitted by
Electricity of Vietnam for World Bank appraisal and negotiations. |
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