I. Technology Needs Assessment
The Technology Needs Assessment (TNA) is the first step in understanding the needs for technology transfer in the country. It provides an opportunity to identify the need for new technology, equipments, knowledge and skills for mitigating greenhouse gas (GHGs) emissions and reducing vulnerability to climate change. Countries that wish to develop a TNA have been invited to do so under their GEF national resource allocation.
Based on the TNA, a national Technology Action Plan (TAP) may be developed. The plan recommends an enabling framework for the diffusion of the prioritized technologies and identifies the actions necessary to reduce or remove policy, finance, and technology related barriers. The goal of this GEF-supported global program is to enable all parties to better understand their technology needs, prepare TAPs and facilitate their implementation in a collective and coordinated manner. Read more+
Since 2010, 36 countries have undertaken TNAs.
- Africa: Cote d’Ivoire*, Ethiopia, Kenya*, Ghana, Mali*, Morocco*, Mauritius, Rwanda, Senegal*, Sudan, Zambia
- Asia and Europe: Azerbaijan, Bangladesh*, Bhutan, Cambodia*, Georgia*, Indonesia*, Kazakhstan, Laos, Lebanon, Moldova, Mongolia, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Thailand*, Vietnam*
- Latin America and the Caribbean: Argentina*, Bolivia, Colombia, Costa Rica*, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala*, Peru*.
II. Technology Transfer Pilot Projects
Once the Technology Needs Assessment (TNA) is completed, the implementation follows. The GEF created a funding window for technology transfer pilot projects to support the deployment, diffusion, and transfer of technologies.
Under the Poznan Strategic Program, the GEF has supported 11 pilot projects on technology transfer. They cover 13 countries and are supported by seven GEF Agencies (UNEP, UNDP, UNIDO, IFAD, IDB, World Bank, and AfDB). Total GEF funding to support these pilot projects amounts to $52 million. Cofinancing for these projects is over $229 million.
Through pilot projects, countries can acquire environmentally sound technologies needed to move toward a low-carbon development. In addition to the benefits to be gained within each country, pilot projects enable the GEF to explore ways to strengthen the linkages among project development, technology needs, and priority identification exercises. Practical experiences will allow all partners to better deliver comprehensive strategy and focused technology programming in the future. Read more+
The innovative and diverse technologies piloted in these projects are in the following fields:
- Renewable energy: solar, biomass, wind, wave, and hydrogen production and storage
- Energy Efficiency: construction and insulation materials such as bamboo and typha, efficient and hydrofluorocarbon-free appliances
- Transport: green trucks
- Waste management: solid waste composting for energy recovery
- Carbon capture and storage: renewable carbon capture and storage from sugar fermentation
- Water management: membrane drip irrigation
Below is the list of ongoing projects:
|
Country |
Project Title |
Description |
|
Cambodia |
The project brings about transfer of sustainable, efficient, cost effective and low carbon agro waster bio-mass based energy systems to replace fossil fuel powered generators and boilers for power generation and thermal energy applications. |
|
|
Chile |
Promotion and Development of Local Solar Technologies in Chile |
The objective of this project is to support the development of solar technology industry, for both solar water heating and power generations in Chile. It will be the first project in Chile to promote distributed generation with solar power applications installed in households, with the benefit of reducing the amount of energy losses in transmission. |
|
China |
Green Truck Demonstration Project
|
The project supports green truck demonstration in Guandong Province to accelerate the transfer and deployment of clean transport technologies in road freight sector. The technologies and practices include improved aerodynamics, tire systems, enhanced truck maintenance, driver training on fuel efficiency and improved logistics management. |
|
Columbia, Kenya |
SolarChill: Development, Testing, and Technology Transfer Outreach |
The project aims to commercialize and transfer the SolarChill vaccine refrigerator and to begin the process of commercializing and transferring the SolarChill household and light commercial refrigerator. |
|
Cote d'Ivoire |
Construction of 1000 Ton per day Municipal Solid Wastes Composting Unit in Akouedo Abidjan |
The project will help develop the capacity in waste treatment and build consensus on climate change mitigation technologies. |
|
Jordan |
DHRS Irrigation Technology Pilot Project to Face Climate Change Impact
|
The objective of the project is to reduce vulnerability to climate change change in Jordan’s agricultural system, particularly in the area of water resources, by testing an efficient water-use technology called Dutyion Root Hydration System (dRHS). It focuses on promoting a pro-poor community based approach to technology transfer by directly engaging farmers and local stakeholders in the installation, use, maintenance of the new technology. |
|
Mexico |
Promotion and Development of Local Wind Technologies in Mexico |
The project will support to develop a value chain for the domestic production of wind turbines adapted to local conditions. |
|
Russia |
The primary objective of this project is the direct phase out of 600 ODP tones of HCFCs in the foam and refrigeration manufacturing sectors in the Russian Federation to help meet the 2015 Montreal Protocol target. The secondary objective of the project is to introduce more energy efficient designs and practices, through technology transfer, during the conversion of refrigeration and air conditioning manufacturing facilities. |
|
|
Senegal |
Typha-based Thermal Insulation Material Production in Senegal
|
The objective of the project is to facilitate the transfer of technology for producing innovative thermal insulation materials using typha. The project includes research and development, certification and patenting, establishing the local production chain through investment in a production facility for the innovative insulation materials, and adapting the materials to local condition. |
|
Sri Lanka |
The project seeks to develop a bamboo supply chain and production industry in Sri Lanka. It involves South-South transfer of technologies in bamboo processing chain, and developing new bamboo plantations on degraded land to serve as an industry cluster. |
|
|
Thailand |
The targeted technology for transfer is simultaneous saccharification and fermentation. The project also aims to further increase fermentation efficiency in ethanol production, to promote private sector engagement, and to transfer the technologies to other countries in Southeast Asia. |
III. Dissemination of Experience
The GEF launched an initiative to support the dissemination of its experiences and successfully demonstrated environmentally sound technologies (ESTs) to achieve two main objectives:
- To provide a better, more in-depth understanding of the technology transfer process and the role of the GEF by developing case studies for specific technologies;
- To disseminate successfully demonstrated GEF-supported technologies to more countries and wider audiences.
The experience and lessons learned are being drawn for dissemination so as to benefit the design of the new projects in the future. The GEF holds meetings and side events, and publishes documents and publications to share the potential for wider technology application in developing countries. Read more+
The 11th meeting of the Technology Executive Committee: The GEF organized the side event during the TEC11 meeting in Bonn on September 7, 2015. The purpose of the event was to share experiences and lessons from the pilot projects.
Presentations
- Promotion and Development of Local Wind Technologies in Mexico, Mr. Jaime Agredano Díaz, Electric Research Institute, Ministry of Energy, Mexico.
- Green Freight Demonstration Project, Mr. Weng Xinggen, Guangdong Provincial Transport Department, China.
- Public-Private Partnership Program, Mr. Mahamat Assouyouti and Mr. Joao Cunha, AfDB.
IV. Long-Term Implementation
The GEF’s role in the program is to support developing countries and economies through the means of technology transfer, as they move towards a low-carbon development path.
The GEF Secretariat has established and implemented the following five elements to further scale up investment in Environmental Science and Technology in developing countries, and to enhance technology transfer activities under the UNFCCC Convention:
1. Support for Climate Technology Centers and the Climate Technology Network+
The GEF is supporting four regional projects for Climate Technology Transfer and Finance Centers. They are expected to generate lessons learned to inform the Technology Mechanism, in particular the Climate Technology Center and Network (CTCN), in conjunction with other efforts underway to facilitate coordination and cooperation.
2. Piloting Priority Technology Projects to Foster Innovation and Investments+
Since 2009, the GEF has funded 11 technology transfer pilot projects, now under implementation, under the Poznan Strategic Program.
Beyond these pilots, the GEF continues to support technology transfer for mitigation. In GEF-5, the GEF supported 221 projects with technology transfer objectives with $1.5 billion in GEF funding and $11.1 billion in cofinancing.
In the first year of GEF-6, 14 projects with technology transfer objectives were approved with $221.4 million in GEF funding and $2.5 billion in cofinancing. They include the Sustainable Cities IAP and projects addressing the transition from fossil fuel to renewable energy in SIDS.
3. Public-Private Partnership (PPP) for Technology Transfer+
PPP Program aims to support businesses that seek to commercialize or scale up Environmental Science and Technology in developing countries. During GEF-5, the GEF supported five innovative PPPs with a total fund commitment of $70 million. GEF-6 Non-Grant Instrument Pilot continues to support innovative financing models.
4. Technology Needs Assessments (TNAs)+
The GEF supported the development of TNAs and Technology Action Plans (TAPs) in 36 developing countries through the project approved by the LDCF/SCCF Council in April 2009. The GEF Council later approved in April 2013 a new project by UNEP supporting additional TNAs and TAPs focusing on 27 low- and medium-income countries. In addition, the GEF Council has approved several national projects incorporating TNA support activities in initiatives otherwise focused on the preparation of National Communications and Biennial Update Reports.
5. GEF as a Catalytic Supporting Institution for Technology Transfer+
The GEF participated in key international discussions to support the development of technology transfer initiatives. The GEF also has submitted reports in its progress of the implementation of the Poznan Strategic Program to the Subsidiary Body for Implementation.
Documents summarizing the most up to date progress on the implementation of the Poznan Strategic Program on Technology Transfer are regularly reported to the GEF reports to UNFCCC COP.