SCANDAL: - in Nepal, UNDP subsidesed a "Clean Energy" project with $26 Million from world taxpayers - calls it a success, but doesn't bother to think of how would Nepalese sustain such costs in long term

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United Nations Capital Development Fund : CleanStart Programme launched in Kathmandu

10/10/2012| 12:09pm US/Eastern
CleanStart, a joint global programme of theUN Capital Development Fund (UNCDF) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), was launched today at a function attended by key members of the government, academia, financial sector, development sector and energy sectors. The CleanStart programme seeks to expand access to clean energy for the poor through microfinance and responsive energy value chains.

In Nepal, CleanStart aims to support 600,000 poor households and micro-entrepreneurs to have access to modern energy services through microfinance. It also seeks to build end-user confidence in the reliability of technologies chosen for lending by strengthening supply chains.
The panel discussion, while marking the rollout of the CleanStart programme in Nepal, explored issues around financing access to clean energy for the poor. Discussions centred on the necessary actions to expand the energy value chain for poor people in Nepal, with a particular focus on the role of finance. The panel was comprised of Govind Raj Pokharel, Executive Director, Alternative Energy Promotion Center (AEPC); Ashoke SJB Rana, CEO, Himalayan Bank Ltd and Chairperson of Nepal Banker's Association (NBA).; Bibek Chapagain, Energy Adviser, Royal Norwegian Embassy; Vijaya Singh, Assistant Country Director, UNDP Nepal and Ana Klincic Andrews, Chief Technical Advisor, UNCDF Nepal. The panel was moderated by Robert Piper, UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator, Nepal.
"The key drivers to provide access to clean energy are equity and social inclusion and AEPC seeks to rectify regional disparities within Nepal" said Govind Raj Pokharel from AEPC. He continued  by stating that "although this sector receives a subsidy of about €20 million, this goes towards ensuring quality of the products and services available and in generating demand among individuals at the bottom of the pyramid. This sector however still requires end-users financing. Financial institutions therefore need to focus on providing access to energy through financing schemes and products".
"The banking community, as well as financial institutions, face significant challenges in providing access to finance to the poor especially with regards to transaction costs, lack of financial literacy among the poor and complying with regulatory issues" explained Ashoke SJB Rana, Chairperson of Nepal Banker's Association.
Introducing the CleanStart programme, Ana Klinic Andrews CTA of UNCDF in Nepal affirmed that "CleanStart and this event seek to 'localize' the commitments made during Rio +20  within the Nepalese context". During her intervention in the panel, she outlined the four main components of the programme: 1) end user financing for clean energy, 2) technical assistance for responsive energy value chains, 3) knowledge and learning and finally 4) advocacy and partnerships. UNCDF also announced that an Expression of Interest will shortly be announced, inviting Financial Service Providers and Microfinance Institutions to join the CleanStart Programme and move into the energy lending sector.
After a lively discussion from the floor Robert Piper, UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator, concluded the event stating that "CleanStart comes at a very timely moment in Nepal, and marks the beginning of a long term sustainable effort to provide access to clean energy for the poor, and we invite all development partners to join us in this initiative".

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David Morrison's new "NetAid Scheme" called Micro-finance

BUSINESSDAY

CBN, UNDP train microfinance bank operators on quality services

WEDNESDAY, 11 AUGUST 2010 01:08 HOPE MOSES-ASHIKE

After a seemingly failed attempt at extending banking services to the poor in the rural areas, concerned parties such as the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) have resolved to take both managers of microfinance banks and other stakeholders for a re-training in a bid to reduce the un-banked population.

It has been discovered that majority of the poor, but economically active, meant to be served by microfinance banks do not know about the operations of the industry. Some of them, according to BusinessDay investigations, shy away when they hear about saving or borrowing from microfinance banks.

Observers say this is a major challenge which the operators need to tackle in order to achieve the objective of the institution. Evelyn Nwaka, soup condiment seller, does not know about the operations of microfinance banks, but expressed willingness to open an account with one. Also, Yemi Jamiu, a groundnut seller, needs money to grow her business but said she was afraid of borrowing from a microfinance bank.

In a move to assist such a population, the UNDP, in conjunction with CBN has begun a two-week training programme for managers and stakeholders in the micro-finance industry. The training progamme is scheduled to hold in two batches, commencing from August 2, to 13, and 16 to 27 for the first and second batches, respectively.

In a telephone interview, Uche Ubani, managing director, Peniel Microfinance Bank Limited, Lagos, said the essence of the training was to make sure that the stakeholders saw the need of taking to their responsibilities. Kabiru Nasidi, UNDP representative, urged participants at a formal opening of the programme in Abuja to make use of the opportunity presented by the programme to upgrade their knowledge on how to provide small loans to the poor to enable them grow their businesses.

Olubunmi Adetunbi, development associate of the programme, said the training would broaden participants' understanding on how to deliver inclusive operations and provide them with tools to improve performance. Nasidi further assured that the training would help the participants to develop practical skills to manage, improve and expand microfinance services to the poor.

Kingsley Moghalu, deputy governor, Financial System Stability, CBN, had stressed the need for regular training sessions for microfinance bank operators as against so much emphasis on capital by most people.

"People emphasise too much on capital in this country, they do not understand that you can have all the capital in this world, yet your bank can fail because you have poor corporate governance. There are other things you have to do; people who run microfinance banks need to be well-trained. They need to understand the concept of microfinance bank. It is not commercial banking. They have different models. It was for this reason we are undertaking the training programmes for operators in the sector. Henceforth, before you run a microfinance bank you have to pass an examination that the CBN will organise so that you are sure you know what you are doing," Moghalu said.