Of the sustainable development challenges facing the world today, none is more cross-cutting and deeply embedded in our daily lives and livelihoods than energy. Energy is the life blood of our civilization. The well-being of our people and economy and the health of our environment depend on safe, clean, secure, sustainable and affordable energy.rnrnPowering the Future We Want offers a grant in the amount of one million US dollars to fund future capacity development activities in energy for sustainable development. The Grant is awarded to an individual, institution or partnership based on past and current achievements.

A small Secretariat to support the implementation of the project will be established within UN-DESA, to carry out all activities related to the project, including the preparation of its Advisory Council meetings, High-level Steering Committee meetings, as well as implementation of capacity building and training activities. The project is funded exclusively through extra-budgetary contributions, with the initial contributions provided by the China Energy Fund Committee

The projects funded by the Powering the Future We Want Grant will be carried out in close collaboration with the Capacity Development Office of the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs. The Capacity Development Office provides broad substantive guidance and management to the implementation of the Department’s capacity development work, promoting effective translation of intergovernmental outcomes into the Department’s operational programmes and capacity development work.

The High-level Steering Committee is responsible for the selection of candidates for the UN Energy Grant from the names submitted by the Advisory Council. It is established to oversee application, review and selection processes in relation to the Grant and to provide independent guidance on all aspects relating to the management of the Grant. The Advisory Council consists of 10 members, including representatives of relevant UN entities, academic institutions, business, and civil society groups. The term of the membership of the Advisory Council is for one year, renewable annually, depending on the future thematic focus of the Grant. The Council meetings will be chaired by the Under-Secretary-General for Economic and Social Affairs.The Advisory Council is established to identify the criteria, as well as modalities, for the submission, review and selection processes in relation to the Grant. It will meet twice during its one-year term, to review and vote on applications.The Advisory Council members review the applications received and recommend a short list of institutions/individuals for Grant consideration and decision by the High-level Steering Committee.

China Energy Fund Committee, United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UN-DESA), and Grant Winners