25 Oct 2005 - The reception was
opened by Griffin Thompson, a member of the REN21 Steering Committee, who
welcomed delegates and informed them about the way in which REN21 had been
set up. In closing he invited delegates to attend the forthcoming meeting
in Beijing.
After a period during which delegates were able to meet and discuss among
themselves, Paul Hassing, GVEP Board Chairman added his welcome to
delegates.
He drew
attention to a number of key events, the first of which was the setting up
of the GAPfund. He told delegates that this has now been achieved and
Winrock International have been appointed as the Manager of the activity
and will be issuing a notice to all GVEP Partners before the end of
October. He introduced Dick Jones who would be available to provide any
further information.
He then mentioned that GVEP has been developing links with a number of
other initiatives over the past year and first introduced Ray Holland who
is the Manager of the Partnership Dialogue Facility of the EUEI and
invited him to say a little about the Facility.
Next there followed the signing of three Memorandums of Understanding.
Paul Hassing, Griffin Thompson
Firstly with
Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Partnership (REEEP), represented by
Mark Lambrides who is Director of the REEEP Secretariat for Latin America
and the Caribbean, and a GVEP Partner. This was followed by the Global
Network on Energy for Sustainable Development (GNESD). Finally with CAIXA
ECONOMICA FEDERAL who was represented by Jorge Fontes Hereda, Vice
President of Urban Development
The first GVEP Awards Ceremony then took place. The first award was for
the Best GVEP Partner in a Developing Country, which was sponsored by
Noble Energy Solar Technologies of India, who's CEO is Mr. Barki. The
award went to Fondacion Solar of Guatemala in recognition of their
contributions to GVEP from its launch right up to the finalization of the
Guatemala Action Plan. The South African Deputy Minister of Energy
presented the award to Marta Riveira of Fondacion Solar.
The second award was for Best GVEP Partner in an Industrialized Country
and was sponsored by ITC. The award went to Electricite de France in
recognition of their contributions to GVEP objectives including through
their Access programme and in providing resources to the Monitoring and
Evaluation working group. Andrew Scott, a member of the GVEP Board,
presented the award to Sarah Adams of the EdF Access Programme.
Griffin Thompson welcomed the delegates
The third
award was for Best GVEP Country Programme and was sponsored by SELCO Solar
Light. The award went to Senegal in recognition of the way they have
re-oriented their rural electrification programme to make links with wider
development objectives. Harish Hande, CEO of Selco and GVEP Board member,
presented the award to Aliou Njang from Senegal.
Finally Paul Hassing thanked departing Board members who leave following
the recent elections, and welcomed joining Board members. He presented
citations to Adelia de Melo Branco, Rachel Polestico, Griffin Thompson and
Njeri Wamukonya. He then called up Ndika Charles Akong of Human Hope, Jose
Carlos Gomes Costa of the Ministry of Mines and Energy of Brazil, Matthew
Mendis of IRG and Gordon Weynand of USAID. He also welcomed Gustavo Best
of FAO and Kurt Hoffmann of Shell Foundation who were unable to attend the
Assembly.
He closed by inviting delegates to continue enjoying the reception and
thanking all for their participation.
