Supporting increased energy security and resilience through energy transition

Energy systems around the world are under increasing strain amid a series of overlapping shocks, including climate-related disasters, geopolitical tensions and fossil fuel volatility. These pressures have exposed critical vulnerabilities in energy security, access and resilience, particularly in the Arab region and beyond. 

In response, ESCWA and the other regional commissions are implementing a global initiative to support increased energy security and resilience through regional integration and energy transition. The initiative focuses on enhancing policy design capacities to support energy connectivity, enabling countries to build inclusive, secure and decarbonized power systems. 

This effort forms part of the broader mandate of ESCWA to advance the implementation of Sustainable Development Goal 7 (SDG 7) and foster regional cooperation on sustainable energy.

Our approach

ESCWA supports this initiative through a range of activities that strengthen regional cooperation and knowledge exchange. These include regional policy dialogues and cross-regional stakeholder engagement, as well as capacity-building workshops and peer exchanges. ESCWA also develops toolkits and guidance documents focused on interconnected power systems, and contributes to efforts aimed at advancing cross-border cooperation, regional energy market development, and resilience-building.

In particular, ESCWA contributes to delivering Output 2.1, which focuses on cross-regional multi-stakeholder dialogues, and Output 2.2, which involves the development of policy briefs and knowledge products. Through these contributions, ESCWA facilitates the exchange of knowledge to and from the Arab region, ensuring the integration of regional perspectives.

Our partners

This joint initiative is led by the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE), the Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP), and the United Nations Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (UNECLAC), with implementation support from ESCWA and the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA). 

Key partners include:

• Ministries of energy and infrastructure in Costa Rica, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Panama and Uzbekistan;
• National utilities and research institutions;
• Regional grid authorities (e.g. SIEPAC)
• United Nations system partners (United Nations Development Programme, United Nations Trade and Development, United Nations Industrial Development Organization, International Renewable Energy Agency, Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank)
• Multilateral organizations (Asian Development Bank, World Bank, Global Energy Interconnection Development and Cooperation Organization)

Our activities

As part of the initiative, ESCWA organizes cross-regional, multi-stakeholder dialogues at key international platforms such as the International Forum on Energy for Sustainable Development (IFESD), the Conference of the Parties (COP), the High-Level Political Forum (HLPF), and other relevant events. ESCWA also develops regional policy briefs that focus on cross-border energy trade and resilience. The initiative also integrates ESCWA existing tools and expertise in regional cooperation.