🌟 Join us for an enlightening discussion on the Evaluation of SDG7 Policies and Programs! 🌍 under the Energy Evaluation Asia Pacific Webinar series.

🗓️ April 16, 2024
🕒 10: 00 AM IST (Indian Standard Time)
📍 Zoom

📝 Registration: https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZwscO-grDwoHd31vgdVslHNPoT6PImPUPKn

The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) were approved by the UN General Assembly in 2015 and underpin the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development that officially came into force in January 2016. There are 17 SDGs, and access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy is the focus of SDG7. It is underpinned by three targets: ensuring universal access to energy services (7.1), increasing the share of renewables in the energy mix (7.2), and improving energy efficiency (7.3). The priorities for implementing SDG7 are to enhance international cooperation and promote investment (7.a) and to expand infrastructure and upgrade technology in developing countries (7.b).

Achieving the targets of SDG7 will impact, and be impacted by, progress along the many other SDG dimensions. Additionally, there are interlinkages between the three energy targets themselves. For example, distributed sources of renewable energy (solar, biogas) could help rural communities achieve energy access. And the energy efficiency target is a ‘win-win’ strategy on essentially all accounts. Every unit of energy saved, either through technological or behavioral/ conservation means, is a unit that does not need to be produced. This, in turn, lowers the energy requirements for the expansion of renewables and universal access, thereby easing the burden of attaining each.

The SDGs are the major international development commitment for at least the next 7 years. It is essential to know if SDG7 works, and if the money is well spent. The evaluation process is country-driven and participatory: SDGs are “owned” by the countries, and national governments are the key agencies responsible for the implementation of the evaluations of SDGs in each country. Evaluation will play a critical role in ensuring the success of this major international effort.

EEAP has planned a series of webinars in 2024, dedicated to exploring and analyzing SDG7 policies and programs. Our primary focus is to delve into the role of evaluation in these initiatives while discussing the challenges, successes, and lessons learned in addressing SDG7 and other Sustainable Development Goals.

The 4th session in our series will focus on examining SDG7 programs and policies, the status and role of evaluation of these programs and policies for addressing SDG7 targets, and the challenges and successes in addressing other SDGs besides SDG7.